Discoid lupus is a benign, distinctive disc-shaped skin eruption. It affects only the skin and not internal organs.
Discoid lupus is neither cancerous nor contagious.
The disease spreads to other areas, but it may be confined to the exposed areas of the body, such as the face, scalp, ears, chest, and arms. The inflammation occurring on the skin may cause destruction of hair follicles and glands and thinning of the skin, with loss of normal color. These lesions may cause permanent scarring and loss of hair. The cause of the disease is an autoimmunity. Researchers believe that changes in the skin may be caused by an autoimmune reaction of the immune system, skin injury, or an inherited factor.