Indicators of lupus vary widely in occurrence and severity among patients. A butterfly-shaped rash over the nose and cheeks is a common sign. However, a butterfly rash can also be caused by an inflammatory skin and muscle disease called dermatomyositis.

Other signs and symptoms of lupus, which can also suggest many other conditions, may include:

• Red rashes or changes in skin color
  
  
• Sensitivity to the sun (photosensitivity)
  
  
• Skin, nasal or mouth sores
  
  
• Arthritis-like joint pain or swelling (edema)
  
  
• Muscle pain
  
  
• Fatigue
  
  
• Unexplained fever
  
  
• Hair loss
  
  
• Chest pain, especially when breathing in deeply, and shortness of breath (caused by inflammation of membranes covering the lungs or heart)
  
  
• Kidney problems, which may cause hematuria (blood in the urine) or proteinuria (protein in the urine, detectable in a urine test) or be marked by abdominal, pelvic or back pain
  
  
• Pale or purple fingers or toes due to impaired circulation, called Raynaud's phenomenon
  
  
• Swollen lymph nodes and sometimes an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
  
  
• Swelling around the eyes or in the legs
  
  
• Blood clots
  
  
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or unexplained weight loss
  
  
• Miscarriages

Less commonly, according to the U.S. government's National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may experience:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Anemia (insufficient number of red blood cells)
• Depression
• Confusion
• Seizures

Signs of SLE may also include epilepsy, personality changes, psychosis, neuropathy (nerve damage), paralysis or stroke, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.