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1. Thinking pink or blue? Plan your pregnancy

   Don't stop using birth control until your lupus has been stable in the mild to moderate range for at least six months. Identify an experienced, high-risk obstetrical team; a pediatrician experienced in caring for newborns from lupus pregnancies; and a hospital with the resources for specialized medical care during and after delivery, just in case.

2. Answer your questions about hair loss

   Generalized hair loss can be due to systemic lupus or the treatments. It is usually temporary and grows back. A severe flare may cause hair to be brittle and break off, but hair should grow normally after the flare subsides. If your hair loss occurs in patches on the scalp, find out whether advanced scarring is present: if so, hair is unlikely to grow back, but if not, it may regrow. Check with your health care professional to understand which situation is most likely to apply to you.

3. Cope with permanent hair loss

   Look for "alopecia" support sites: you'll find many others dealing with hair loss due to lupus or other diseases. Consider your options: they include changing your haircut, wigs, hats, scarves, turbans, hair weaves, hair growth products, hair replacement or not bothering to conceal it at all. If you choose a wig, look for good quality and a color that suits your skin tone. A different hairstyle can conceal patches of hair loss, and a shorter cut can make thinning hair look fuller. Choose a style that flatters your facial shape, whether it's the same as always or rounder due to corticosteroid treatment.

4. Care for your skin

   To avoid the effects of sunlight as a trigger for skin flares or simply as source of long-term damage to skin, use sunscreen daily, through all seasons. Ask at the cosmetics counter for facial and body moisturizers with sunscreen SPF 15 or more—many product lines have them. If possible, obtain a sunscreen that protects from UVA and UVB. Blend darker shades with your usual foundation to add contours and minimize "moon face" from steroid treatment. If you have skin lesions or scars that bother you, conceal them with makeup designed for the purpose.

5. Protect yourself from sunlight

   Though not all lupus patients experience sunlight as a trigger for skin flares, many do. Remember that windows don't block the ultraviolet (UV) light in sunlight, meaning that you can be exposed even when indoors or in a car or train, if you are near windows allowing light in. Fluorescent lights are also a source of UV light, but it may be possible to install filters. Use sunscreen year round; look for SPF 15 or higher and protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Wear wide-brimmed hats and protective clothing with a tight weave, to block out sunlight.