Lupus erythematosus is a multisystem disorder that predominantly affects the skin. There are many types of lupus, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), drug-induced lupus erythematosus, neonatal lupus erythematosus, and cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The most common types of cutaneous lupus erythematosus include acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, and chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus; discoid lupus erythematosus is a subtype of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Dr James Gilliam described the most commonly used classification of cutaneous lesions in lupus erythematosus. He distinguished lesions as either specific or nonspecific, based on the presence of interface dermatitis on histopathologic examination. Within the category of specific cutaneous lesions, he subdivided these into acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, and chronic cutaneous erythematosus. Discoid lupus erythematosus is the most common subset of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Patients may or may not report photosensitivity, but lesions are frequently photodistributed and often exhibit secondary atrophy or scarring. Most patients with discoid lupus erythematosus do not have significant systemic disease. Discoid lupus erythematosus can also occur as a manifestation of SLE in approximately 20% of patients. Other less common variants of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus include hypertrophic lupus erythematosus, tumid lupus erythematosus, lupus erythematosus panniculitis (also known as lupus profundus), chilblain lupus erythematosus, oral discoid lupus erythematosus, and discoid lupus erythematosus lesions on the palms and soles.
红斑狼疮是一种主要影响皮肤的多系统疾病。皮肤型红斑狼疮有几种类型。最常见的类型是急性皮肤型红斑狼疮（ACLE）、亚急性皮肤型红斑狼疮（SCLE）和盘状红斑狼疮（DLE）。詹姆斯·吉列姆博士描述了红斑狼疮中最常用的皮肤病变分类。吉列姆根据组织病理学检查中是否可见界面性皮炎，将皮肤病变分为特异性病变和非特异性病变。在特异性皮肤病变类别中，他将其细分为急性皮肤型红斑狼疮、亚急性皮肤型红斑狼疮和慢性皮肤型红斑狼疮。慢性皮肤型红斑狼疮最常见的亚型是DLE。这些患者可能有或没有光敏反应，但病变常呈光分布，且往往有继发性萎缩或瘢痕形成。大多数DLE患者没有明显的系统性疾病。在大约20%的患者中，DLE也可作为系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）的一种表现。慢性皮肤型红斑狼疮的其他较不常见形式包括肥厚性红斑狼疮、肿胀性红斑狼疮、红斑狼疮性脂膜炎（LEP或深部红斑狼疮）、冻疮样红斑狼疮、口腔DLE以及手掌和/或脚底的DLE病变。
