Who might get Sjögren’s disease and what causes the condition?

Sjögren’s is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the entire body. It’s often characterized by dryness and other severe symptoms, such as profound fatigue and chronic pain.

Having an autoimmune disorder means that the immune system mistakenly attacks parts of the body. With Sjögren’s, the immune system attacks the glands that produce tears and saliva, slowly impairing the glands’ ability to secrete these fluids, which results in severely dry mouth and dry eyes. The immune system may also attack other organs and tissues, leading to numerous symptoms, including painful inflammation of joints and muscles, persistent cough, prolonged fatigue, vaginal dryness, and dry skin.

Sjögren’s can exist as a primary or secondary disease. Primary Sjögren’s occurs unrelated to other conditions, whereas secondary Sjögren’s occurs in relation to other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

 

Who’s affected by Sjögren’s?
Sjögren’s is a relatively common condition that’s been estimated to affect up to four million people in the United States. People can develop Sjögren’s at any age, but most are diagnosed after age 40, and women are nine times more likely to develop the condition than men.

Treatment and outlook for Sjögren’s
The symptoms and severity of Sjögren’s vary greatly from one individual to another. Some people report unbearable pain or debilitating fatigue, while others have only a few mild symptoms. Most people with Sjögren’s will experience some degree of dry eyes and mouth, and often dry skin. The dry skin may be accompanied by fine white or skin-colored scales known as acquired ichthyosis or fish scale skin.

Acquired ichthyosis is caused by persistent skin inflammation that compromises the skin’s barrier function by reducing the production of filaggrin. While acquired ichthyosis symptoms are often mild, it’s undoubtedly uncomfortable constantly having dry, scaly skin that may itch or even crack.

76% of people with Sjogren’s experience frequent issues with dry or itchy skin*.

There’s no known cure for Sjögren’s, but the right treatment can relieve the symptoms and improve comfort. The choice of treatment will depend largely on the extent and severity of the symptoms. Some symptoms will require prescription medications, but many can be treated with over-the-counter products.

Would you like to learn more?
For more information about Sjögren’s syndrome, visit the website of Sjögren’s Foundation or read the article listed below.

All information in this article is provided purely for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. It is not intended to be used as the basis for the treatment of medical problems or other health issues. Please consult a medical professional if you suspect you have a medical condition.

 

References:
  1. Understanding Sjögren’s | Sjögren’s Foundation (sjogrens.org)
  2. Vitali C. et al. Management of Sjögren’s Syndrome: Present Issues and Future Perspectives. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8: 676885.
* Sjogren’s Foundation (published in 2017), Living with Sjögren’s-report.

 

Back

Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis (IAD)

Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is a common form of irritant contact dermatitis caused by prolonged skin contact with urine. Moisturizing and restoring the skin barrier function are vital to treating IAD.

Read More

Dry skin in children with atopic dermatitis (AD)

Atopic dermatitis (AD) causes dry skin, itch, and rash. Up to 50% of people with AD lack the natural protein filaggrin in their skin. Therefore, their skin becomes dry, cracked and prone to infections.

Read More

Dry “fish scale” skin

1 in 250 people has dry “fish scale” skin. It is caused by a lack of filaggrin – a protein that occurs naturally in the skin and plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy skin.

Read More

83.6% of people surveyed prefer biomee™ skincare to other products

A recent survey of biomee™ customers found that 83.6% prefer biomee™ to other products for relieving symptoms like dry, itchy, and red skin related to Sjögren's, atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, and other conditions.

Read More

contact us

Would you like to know more?

Do you have any questions, or would you like to know more about our biomee™ skin care line?

You are welcome to contact us at [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as possible.