If you have Sjögren’s disease (formerly called Sjögren’s syndrome), you may already know that this autoimmune disease causes long-term dryness in the eyes, mouth, nose, throat, and other areas. Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. What’s less well known is that Sjögren’s can also affect the skin. This disease damages glands that produce moisture, often leading to chronic dry skin. Sjögren’s can also affect the body in ways that cause skin symptoms such as itching and rashes.

Around 75 percent of people with Sjögren’s develop some type of skin condition. Although there’s no cure for Sjögren’s, there are a lot of ways to manage the related skin issues. Read on to learn more about common skin conditions linked to Sjögren’s and what can help.

Dry Skin

The most common skin problem in people with Sjögren’s disease is dry skin. Chronic dryness can damage the skin barrier, leading to scaly, cracked, and sometimes painful skin. Also called xerosis, severely dry skin often affects the arms, legs, and waist. Because Sjögren’s also causes dry mouth, many people have very dry lips.

To help manage dry skin with Sjögren’s, doctors often recommend gentle skin care and thick moisturizers. Using fragrance-free products made for sensitive skin can help reduce irritation.

Gentle Skin Care Tips

A gentle, moisturizing skin care routine for Sjögren’s may include:

• Using ointments and creams instead of lotions, which are less moisturizing
• Bathing in lukewarm water and keeping showers short, since hot water and long showers can cause dryness or irritation
• Applying moisturizers right after bathing (the “soak and seal” method)
• Gently patting skin dry rather than rubbing
• Using a cool compress to relieve itching caused by dryness

For persistently rough, scaly skin, healthcare providers often recommend moisturizers containing lactic acid, urea, or salicylic acid. Many people can manage Sjögren’s-related dry skin with these steps and over-the-counter treatments, but others benefit from prescription corticosteroid creams or other topical anti-inflammatory medications.

Itching and Hives

Pruritus (itching) is very common in people with Sjögren’s disease. Among those with skin symptoms, pruritus and xerosis are the most frequently reported problems.

Allover Itching

For many people, itchiness is mostly due to dry skin. Others may feel itchy even when their skin doesn’t seem very dry. Researchers believe that Sjögren’s can damage sweat glands, making it harder to sweat, which may contribute to feelings of itchiness.

One study that surveyed people with Sjögren’s found that itchiness most often occurs in the shins (90 percent), back (80 percent), and forearms (70 percent). Itchiness may seem to be a minor symptom, but it can greatly affect your quality of life, especially if it keeps you up at night. Trouble sleeping can harm your mental and physical health. Certain creams, ointments, and topical medicines like corticosteroids can help with itchy skin and improve your sleep.

If you have ongoing itchy skin, it can help to mention it to your doctor, especially if it does not improve with basic skin care. In many cases, itching is related to dry or irritated skin, but sometimes it can be linked to a nerve-related condition such as notalgia paresthetica, which often affects the upper back or shoulder blades. Your doctor can help determine the cause and recommend appropriate treatment.

Hives and Other Itchy Rashes

Sjögren’s disease can also cause urticaria (hives), blisters, and other skin rashes. Hives are raised, discolored, itchy bumps that can appear in patches and may come and go. Many people notice that heat or sun exposure can trigger these rashes. In one study, 19 percent of people with Sjögren’s skin symptoms reported having hives.

Treatment for rashes often includes ointments, creams, or topical medications. Following gentle skin care tips may also help. Be sure to let your doctor know if you have hives so that they can make sure there isn’t a more serious cause.

Sun-Sensitive Skin

In a 2024 study of 185 people with Sjögren’s, about 28 percent reported photosensitivity (being sensitive to sunlight). People with the disease can also react to other types of ultraviolet (UV) light. Sun sensitivity is more common if you also have another autoimmune disease, especially lupus, and being in the sun or exposed to UV light can trigger an immune system response or a flare-up of symptoms.

Some researchers believe that a certain autoantibody called anti-Sjögren’s-syndrome-related antigen A, found in the blood of some people with Sjögren’s, might contribute to photosensitivity.

To help protect your skin, try to minimize sun exposure by wearing UV-protective clothing. It’s also important to apply a high-SPF, broad-spectrum sunscreen every day to protect against both UVA and UVB rays.

Vasculitis

Some people with Sjögren’s develop vasculitis. This condition occurs when blood vessels near the skin’s surface become inflamed and leak blood, causing purpura (discolored spots or patches). Although vasculitis can be itchy, it’s different from itching caused by dry skin or hives and is more serious. Vasculitis is less common than other Sjögren’s skin problems but affects around 10 percent of people with the disease.

Some key signs can help tell vasculitis apart from other rashes. A vasculitis rash:

• May be painful and tender
• Doesn’t fade when pressed
• May be red, purple, or brown, depending on your skin tone, and can be easy to miss — even for doctors — on darker skin

If you have signs of vasculitis, talk with your doctor right away. Vasculitis can damage your kidneys, lungs, nerves, and joints.

Cryoglobulinemia

A serious vasculitis-related rash called cryoglobulinemia happens when a certain protein in the blood clumps together as blood temperature drops. If you get a discoloring rash or widespread skin irritation — especially when you’re cold — see a doctor right away. Cryoglobulinemia can be life-threatening.

Treatments for Vasculitis

Doctors treat vasculitis with immunosuppressants — drugs that calm the immune system and reduce the inflammation in blood vessels. Common drugs for vasculitis include azathioprine, leflunomide, mycophenolate, rituximab, and systemic corticosteroids.

Advocate for Yourself

Sjögren’s disease is sometimes not taken as seriously as it should be. To protect your health, be proactive about monitoring any new or changing symptoms and share these with your doctor. If your concerns aren’t being heard, consider finding a new doctor or a Sjögren’s specialist. If needed, they can refer you to a dermatologist who can help improve your skin health.

Join the Conversation

On MySjögrensTeam, people share their experiences with Sjögren’s disease, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

How do you manage skin issues with Sjögren’s disease? Let others know in the comments below.