What is a Butterfly Rash ?

The word "rash" means an outbreak of red itchy bumps or scaly patches on the body. In Butterfly rash, the rash appears on the face spread across the nose and cheeks in the shape of a butterfly - hence, the name. It is also known as Malar rash, malar from Latin meaning cheeks. A butterfly rash is not a disease or a sickness by itself. It occurs as a symptom or sign of other diseases.

The most common condition that is characterized by a butterfly rash on the face is Lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease and is a type of self-allergy in which the immune system creates antibodies which instead of protecting the body from bacteria and viruses attack its own body tissues. As a result of this, the lupus patient suffers from extreme fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, anemia, and general malaise. This disease can result in the destruction of vital organs. Lupus can affect any part of the body including the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels and brain/nervous system. Though there is no cure for the disease, Lupus is treatable with immunosuppression drugs. Lupus is neither infectious nor contagious. The butterfly rash of lupus is typically painless and does not itch. As with inflammation in other organs, the butterfly rash of lupus can be precipitated or worsened by exposure to sunlight. The rash of lupus is red or purplish and mildly scaly. It is present in approximately 46-65% of lupus sufferers.

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A "butterfly" rash can also occur in other conditions such as Rosacea. Rosacea is a chronic disease that affects the skin and sometimes the eyes. The disorder is characterized by redness, pimples, and thickened skin. Rosacea usually begins as flushing and redness on the face and across the cheeks, nose, or forehead but can also affect the neck, chest, scalp or ears. As rosacea progresses, other symptoms such as permanent redness, red bumps, red gritty eyes, burning and stinging sensations, and in some advanced cases, a bulbous nose can develop.

There are numerous other conditions that can cause rashes with a similar appearance including dermatitis, scarlet fever, dermatomyositis, impetigo, and erysipelas.

Article Contributed By: Jaya Suresh


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