Dermatology
Autoimmune Skin Diseases
Our specialists collaborate across disciplines to provide whole-person care for the wide range of connective tissue and autoimmune skin diseases.
Medically reviewed by Danielle Tartar, M.D. and Alain Brassard, M.D. on June 15, 2026.
Ready to Diagnose and Treat Autoimmune Diseases
If you have a connective tissue or autoimmune disease, treatment depends on your symptoms and the organs involved. As an academic medical center, UC Davis Health offers a complete array of specialty services.
From rheumatology and dermatology to internal medicine, you’ll find all the services you need under one umbrella of care. In the UC Davis Dermatology Autoimmune Skin Disease clinic, we manage cutaneous manifestations of autoimmune disease.
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Types of Connective Tissue and Autoimmune Skin Diseases
Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system — which usually fights foreign invaders — attacks your own cells and tissues. In the Autoimmune Skin Disease Clinic, we manage many autoimmune diseases that can affect the skin. These include:
Lupus
Lupus can affect multiple organs in your body and often requires different specialists, including those in dermatology. Lupus can be associated with multiple types of skin disease, including facial rashes, photosensitive rashes, inflammation around blood vessels, and even rashes that scar.
Dermatomyositis
Like lupus, dermatomyositis can affect multiple organs in your body but most commonly affects the muscle and skin. Skin can be very sensitive to the sun, and prototypical rashes over the eyelids, hands, chest and back may occur.
Scleroderma
Like lupus and dermatomyositis, scleroderma can affect multiple organs in the body. Signs of scleroderma include tightening of the skin on your hands or around the mouth. It can also be more widespread. Patients may also note firm bumps in their skin from calcium or changes in their hands and feet when exposed to the cold.
Sjögren’s syndrome
Sjögren’s syndrome causes dryness in your mouth, skin and eyes as well as certain rashes.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Pyoderma Gangrenosum causes ulcers in your skin that don’t heal easily. It can be related to underlying diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis or blood cancers.
Morphea
Morphea is a skin-limited disease that can lead to thickening of the skin and loss of joint mobility.
Autoimmune Blistering Disease
Autoimmune blistering diseases like pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid, and paraneoplastic pemphigus can lead to blistering of the skin, the mouth, and the eyes.
Autoimmune Skin Disease Symptoms
Connective tissue diseases and autoimmune skin diseases affect different parts of your body. The symptoms vary depending on the condition. Joint pain, swelling and stiffness are common symptoms.
Common Dermatology Symptoms
Skin symptoms of autoimmune and connective tissue diseases include:
- Blisters, open sores, lesions or ulcers
- Rashes, often sensitive to the sun
- Itching
- Hands changing color in the cold (Raynaud phenomenon)
- Tight or thick skin
Causes of Autoimmune Skin Diseases
Health care providers do not fully understand what causes all autoimmune and connective tissue disorders. Some likely causes include:
Genetic Changes (Mutations)
Some connective tissue diseases are caused by specific changes in your genes.
Environmental Factors
Infections, chemicals or ultraviolet radiation may trigger an autoimmune reaction.
Inherited Genes
Your individual genetic makeup may cause a mistaken immune response.
Gut Bacteria (Microbiome)
New research suggests that the composition of bacteria in your gut may cause autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune Skin Disease Risk Factors
Certain factors are linked to an increased risk of autoimmune and connective tissue diseases. They include:
Biological Sex
About 80% of people with autoimmune diseases are female.
Family History
Some autoimmune and connective tissue diseases run in families.
Infections
Bacterial and viral infections, including COVID-19, may raise your risk of autoimmune diseases.
Medications
Certain medications can trigger autoimmune conditions such as lupus and dermatomyositis.
Smoking
Smoking is associated with autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Toxins
Environmental toxins, such as air pollution, hazardous chemicals and ultraviolet radiation may increase your chance of developing an autoimmune disease.
Weight
Being obese or overweight may increase your risk of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
Diagnosing Autoimmune Skin Diseases
Autoimmune and connective tissue diseases may mimic other conditions, making diagnosis difficult. Our providers have extensive experience diagnosing complex autoimmune diseases.
Diagnosis usually starts with a review of your symptoms, medical history and family history. We perform a physical exam and may order one or more tests, including:
- Imaging tests, such as X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan or MRI, to look at your internal structures
- Blood tests, to look for inflammation or antibodies (proteins involved in immune functions)
- Genetic tests, to check for genetic mutations
- Skin or muscle biopsy, to see any changes in your tissues
Autoimmune Skin Disease Treatments
Treatments for autoimmune and connective tissue diseases vary depending on the disease type. Medications are the most common treatment and can relieve symptoms or slow disease progression. At UC Davis Health, we offer the latest medications and other therapies.
Lifestyle Changes
Your provider may recommend quitting smoking, changing your diet and adjusting your exercise routine to help manage your condition.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids reduce inflammation. You may apply them directly to your skin (topical) or take them by mouth (oral).
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs are non-prescription medications that reduce inflammation and help relieve pain.
Immunosuppressants
Immunosuppressant medications reduce the activity of your immune system but may make you more susceptible to infections.
Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
DMARDs help slow disease progression and damage to your joints and tissues.
Biologic Agents
Most biologic agents are antibodies made in a laboratory. These drugs curb immune function and reduce inflammation.
Preventing Autoimmune Skin Diseases
You cannot change your biological sex or family history. But you can take steps to lower your risk of some autoimmune diseases by:
- Eating a healthy diet and reducing processed foods
- Exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight
- Quitting smoking
- Reducing your exposure to chemicals and toxins in your environment
- Talking to your provider about the risk of autoimmune diseases from your medications
“Sex Differences in Autoimmune Disease from a Pathological Perspective,” NIH, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2527069/
Who is affected?
15-24MPeople in the U.S. have an autoimmune disease
Sex-based differences
8 in 10People with autoimmune disease are women
Source: National Institutes of Health: About the Office of Autoimmune Disease Research (OADR-ORWH)
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