Sjogren's syndrome is a systemic condition, which means it can affect the entire body. Other symptoms can include: swelling and tenderness of the glands around your face, neck, armpits and groin.
Dry skin that cracks and itches is common with Sjögren's syndrome. The lips are also frequently affected. In some people, Sjögren's is associated with skin rashes. These first appear most often as areas of dark blotches on the legs and feet that grow together.
Sjogren's syndrome patients often develop a purple-to-red rash that does not lighten when pressure is applied. They may also show purpura (rashes with blood spots) that's indicative of vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels). If you observe any of these rashes on your skin, consult a dermatologist.
Skin signs
Dry, rough skin (xerosis), in 50% of patients. Reduced sweating (hypohidrosis) Vaginal dryness. Small vessel vasculitis (in up to 30% of patients with SS, usually affecting the legs)
Avoiding foods that tend to exacerbate symptoms including alcohol, caffeine, acidic foods, and spicy foods.
Dry eyes, corneal ulcerations and infections. Dry nose, recurrent sinusitis, nosebleeds. Dry mouth, mouth sores, dental decay, difficulty with chewing, speech, taste and dentures. Swollen, painful parotid/salivary glands.
Global cognitive impairment in Sjögren's
Most patients experience “brain fog” symptoms, which manifest as memory lapses, forgetfulness, mental confusion, and difficulties in concentrating, organizing, or anticipating future events.
These and previous studies suggest a model for pSS that separates the disease into several stages: 1) initial injury to the submandibular and lacrimal glands via an environmental insult and LTα; 2) amplification of local injury via the production of type 1 IFN; injury to the parotid glands, lungs, and kidneys is seen; ...
A small percentage of people with Sjogren's syndrome develop cancer of the lymph nodes (lymphoma). Nerves. You might develop numbness, tingling and burning in your hands and feet (peripheral neuropathy).
Sjögren's (pronounced "show grins") syndrome is a chronic (or lifelong) condition that causes dry mouth and dry eyes. The syndrome also can affect any of the body's glands, including those that secrete sweat, saliva and oil.
In response to the sun, Sjögren's patients can experience skin rashes, ocular sensitivity, pain, and disease flares.
Sjogren's Syndrome
According to Dr. Cram, the signature white spots of thrush may appear. Or, your tongue may become red and smooth if the little hairs disappear. Some people with Sjögren's syndrome also have a burning sensation and cracking of the tongue.
We divided SS patients into three stages: stage I is glandular SS, stage II is extraglandular SS, and stage III is extraglandular SS with lymphoid malignancy.
Falk: What kinds of factors can make Sjogren's worse? What is the effect, for example, of stress? Jonas: Well, like all autoimmune diseases, patients who feel stressed or are under unusual stress will often have exacerbation of their symptoms. Learning to manage that stress in your life is very important.
It may include forgetfulness, spaciness, confusion, decreased ability to pay attention, an inability to focus, and difficulty in processing information.
The patients with Sjogren's had an overall lower quality of sleep [8]. All of the studies in the systematic review noted that there is an increased number of nighttime awakenings in Sjogren's patients.
Of the patients with pSS, 95% suffered from abdominal symptoms (median global symptom score 7.5 ± 5.5 points out of 30). More than half of the patients experienced abdominal tension (68%), upper abdominal pain (54%), abdominal discomfort (58%) and/or constipation (54%).
But those with primary Sjögren syndrome had a higher prevalence of hearing loss than those with RA. Specifically, RA hearing loss was present in 36.8 percent of patients with frequencies between 500–3,000 Hz, while in this range the hearing loss affected 60 percent of the Sjögren syndrome patients.
The disorder can affect the nervous system, muscles, joints, kidneys, lungs, blood vessels, liver, and pancreas. Sjögren's syndrome is a long-lasting disorder that affects females more often than men.
Symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe, and the progression is often unpredictable. Women are most commonly affected by Sjogren's syndrome. There is no cure, but it can be managed effectively. In rare cases, organs such as the liver and kidneys may be involved, which can increase the severity of the condition.
Sweet & Spicy : Sjogren's syndrome tends to cause a dry and irritated mouth. By eating spicy or sweet food, the irritation can become worse. The lack of saliva might also create an environment ripe for cavities as saliva usually protects the teeth from such a problem.
The following tips help to reduce dry mouth symptoms: Sip water or sugarless drinks often. Let small ice chips melt in your mouth. Avoid drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and some sodas – caffeine can dry out the mouth.