Autoimmune Disease: The Enemy in the Blanket?

Autoimmune disease is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks healthy body tissues, including healthy skin. This disease causes the immune system to no longer recognize friends and enemies. Not a few patients also do not realize that they are autoimmune sufferers. Because many people think that what they suffer from is just allergies.

How do you tell the difference between allergies and autoimmune diseases?

Allergies occur due to triggers, also known as allergens. If this allergen is avoided, then the allergic disease will be cured or lost. Meanwhile, autoimmune disease does not have a trigger or cause.

Are autoimmune diseases contagious?

The cause of autoimmune disease is not a contagious disease. This disease attacks the body's own immunity, which is personal.

Autoimmune diseases can attack all ages and genders, but are generally found in people over the age of 25  and are often found in women.

Examples of autoimmune diseases that attack the skin include:

1. Psoriasis Vulgaris
Is an autoimmune disease that attacks the skin. This disease is characterized by dry, thick, and crusty skin. Usually appears in the area near the elbows, knees, and back of the waist. Psoriasis vulgaris must be treated immediately because it can attack the joints. In addition, if left untreated, it will collaborate with other diseases in our body, such as heart disease, cholesterol, and gout.

2. Vitiligo
Is an autoimmune disease that attacks the skin and specifically attacks melanocytes, causing a loss of natural skin color that makes the skin mottled in several areas.

3. Alopecia areata
Is an autoimmune disease that causes the sudden appearance of local bald spots or patches.

It is very dangerous if Hermina's friends do not know that they suffer from an autoimmune disease and think that they are just allergic and avoid foods that are actually needed by the body. Immediately consult a doctor to get the right diagnosis and the right treatment too. Because if it is not handled immediately, it will be destructive.

 

Watch the full episode of the Hermina Podcast about autoimmune skin diseases from Dr. Muhammad Sjahrir, Sp. DV, on the Hermina Hospitals YouTube channel (Click Here).