They are almost always taken along with corticosteroids, to treat people who have not responded to other drug therapies. Examples of immunosuppressive drugs are Imuran and Cytoxan. Eating a well balanced, healthy, nutritious diet is important for the patient with lupus. They do not have to avoid any foods except alfalfa sprouts because they increase inflammation and cause flare-ups. Exercising is also important.
Exercise can help to avoid muscle weakness.
During flare-ups, doing range of motion and strengthening exercises are important to keep from getting stiff. Because ultraviolet light is known to make skin rashes worse and may cause generalized flares, excessive sun exposure should be avoided. Oral lesions usually begin as petechia on the buccal mucosa, palate or gum, that develop into a shallow, painful ulcer increasing to 1-2 cm in diameter, covered with a grayish base and surrounded by a halo of erythema. They are often painful and cause difficulty swallowing and recurrent sore throat. When lesions appear on the lips they are associated with fissuring, oozing blood, and edema.