What causes lupus?
Nobody knows exactly. Genes play a part, and things like sunlight, infections, some medicines, stress and smoking can trigger it or its flares.
The full answer, with the sources, is in the guide.
Sources
- Lupus Foundation of America: Common triggers for lupus
- Arthritis UK (formerly Versus Arthritis): Lupus (SLE)
Reviewed 2026-11-09 · next review 2027-11-09