Autoimmune Skin Disorders

Your Healthy Skin is Our Priority

Your Healthy Skin is Our Priority

General

What is an Autoimmune Skin Disorder?

An autoimmune disease is when the immune system doesn’t function correctly and starts attacking the body. Under normal conditions, white blood cells act as strong defenders against other harmful cells and objects, such as infectious bacteria, viruses, and foreign materials when they invade the body.

If someone has an autoimmune disease, the opposite happens, and the body’s white blood cells begin attacking their own healthy tissues as if it was a virus or bacteria. This misguided attack causes many different symptoms that affect the body, including the skin.

Have you been experiencing symptoms you might believe are due to an autoimmune disorder? This type of disease can impact the skin in a number of ways, including troublesome rashes, painful blisters, scaly patches, and more.

Learn more about autoimmune skin disorders and how our board-certified dermatologists treat them at The Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center of Wilmington.

Questions

Autoimmune Skin Disorder FAQs

Interested in learning more about autoimmune skin disorders? Read our dermatologists’ answers to frequently asked questions about autoimmune skin disorders below, and be sure to contact us with any additional questions or to schedule an appointment.

What does an autoimmune skin disorder look like?

An autoimmune skin disorder can show up on the skin in many different ways. For instance, symptoms of an autoimmune skin disorder can be:

Rashes
Blisters
Skin Redness & Irritation
Flaky or Scaly Patches
Lesions or Sores

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, we recommend visiting a board-certified dermatologist for a professional skin evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment plan.

What skin conditions can result from an autoimmune disease?

There are many different types of skin conditions that can arise due to an autoimmune disorder. Some common autoimmune skin disorders include psoriasis, lupus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, epidermolysis bullosa, and bullous pemphigoid.

Are autoimmune skin disorders common or rare?

Autoimmune skin disorders are more common than you might think. In fact, it’s estimated that more than 24 million people in the United States are living with an autoimmune disease. And researchers aren’t sure why, but the prevalence of autoimmune diseases seems to be increasing each year.

One well-known autoimmune skin disorder is psoriasis, which affects around 8 million people in the United States. At The Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center of Wilmington, our experienced dermatologists are familiar with psoriasis, as well as other types of autoimmune skin disorders, and we’re here to help you alleviate symptoms with a personalized treatment plan.

Can an autoimmune skin disorder be itchy?

Autoimmune skin disorders can certainly be itchy, especially if your symptoms are dry, flaky, or scaly skin. For instance, psoriasis, an autoimmune skin disorder, often causes irritated patches of dry, red, flaky skin that may be itchy.

What are treatment options for autoimmune skin disorders?

Although autoimmune skin diseases cannot be cured, our board-certified dermatologists can help manage symptoms and reduce flare-ups with a personalized treatment plan.

At The Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center of Wilmington, our experienced dermatologists give each patient extensive evaluation and treatment to help them find relief from their autoimmune skin disorder so they can get back to enjoying life.

PHOTOS

Autoimmune Skin Disorder Photos

Not sure what an autoimmune skin disorder may look like? Use the visuals below to get more familiar with how this condition may show up on your skin. If you have any other questions about autoimmune skin disorder symptoms, please get in touch with one of our board-certified dermatologists today.

GET IN TOUCH

Find Treatment for Autoimmune Skin Disorders in Wilmington, NC

Do you think you have an autoimmune skin disorder or have been diagnosed with one and are looking for treatment options?

At The Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center of Wilmington, our board-certified dermatologists are experienced in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating autoimmune skin disorders to help our patients find relief. Schedule an appointment today by contacting our North Carolina office at (910) 782-0028 or request an appointment online.

Have questions or concerns? Please call us at 910.782.0028.