Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system attacks your body's healthy tissues. Lupus may cause problems with your skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, nerves, or blood cells.

When you have lupus symptoms, you are having flares or relapses. When your symptoms get better, you are in remission. Lupus can't be cured, but home treatment and medicine can help control the symptoms.