Hair loss is one of the most common—and misunderstood—parts of living with lupus. But not all lupus-related hair loss is the same. This article breaks down the different causes, including alopecia areata, what symptoms to watch for, and why early treatment matters. If hair loss has affected your confidence, mental health, or sense of identity, you’re not alone—and you deserve real answers.

Digestive symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloating are common in lupus, but they aren’t always caused by lupus itself. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, can occur alongside lupus and shares overlapping immune pathways. Understanding the difference between lupus-related gut symptoms, IBD, and IBS can help patients seek the right diagnosis and treatment.

For people living with lupus, thyroid problems are more common — and their symptoms can overlap with lupus flares, making them difficult to spot. Fatigue, weight changes, sensitivity to hot or cold, and mood changes could all point to thyroid imbalance. Understanding how lupus affects the thyroid can help you recognize symptoms early and ask your doctor about testing.