Dry eyes, chapped lips... Could it be due to Sjögren's syndrome?

The characteristic symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome are dry eyes and dry mouth. As the eyes become dry, patients may experience eye fatigue, redness, and a burning sensation, and corneal damage may occur. Saliva production also decreases, making it difficult to swallow foods with little moisture or to speak for long periods, and the salivary glands may become swollen or cavities may increase.
 
Additionally, half of patients with Sjogren's syndrome experience arthritis, but bone erosion does not occur like in rheumatoid arthritis. About 10% of patients develop skin symptoms such as erythema, photosensitivity, vitiligo, and hair loss, and diseases like interstitial pneumonia can occur due to dryness of the airways. The main symptom at this time is a dry cough.
 
The likelihood of developing lymphoma is reported to be four times higher than that of the general population, and the incidence of diabetes, hypothyroidism, and kidney stones also increases. Additionally, unexplained fatigue may accompany these conditions, and in women, decreased vaginal discharge can lead to dyspareunia.

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease caused by confusion in the immune system, where lymphocytes that should protect the body instead attack it, causing problems in the body's organs and tissues. Lymphocytes infiltrate exocrine glands that secrete fluids, such as tear glands, salivary glands, sebaceous glands, and digestive glands, leading to decreased secretion and various health issues.
 
The causes of autoimmune diseases have not been clearly identified, but it is believed that there is a certain genetic component. Additionally, since the incidence rate is higher in women than in men, sex hormones are also thought to have an influence. It is also known that environmental factors such as lifestyle habits, severe stress, smoking, and exposure to ultraviolet rays are involved.

So, how can Sjögren's syndrome be diagnosed? Dr. Lee Ji-sun, a consulting physician in rheumatology at HiDoc, explained, "It cannot be diagnosed based solely on simple symptoms. Blood tests and other examinations are needed to identify related diseases and to assess the severity of the actual symptoms."
 
The diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome is based on international classification criteria, which include items such as dry eyes, dry mouth, tissue biopsy, salivary gland tests, and serum autoantibody tests. If a certain number of these conditions are met, Sjögren's syndrome is diagnosed.
 
Since symptoms vary from patient to patient, different treatment methods are applied. For dry mouth, frequent rinsing with a fluoride-containing mouthwash and chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva secretion can be helpful. If joint pain symptoms are present, corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
 
If you develop dry eye syndrome, frequently instill artificial tears or eye drops, and use ointments that soothe the eyes. Additionally, if you are regularly taking medications such as antidepressants or antihistamines, dry eye symptoms may worsen, so consulting a specialist is necessary.
 
Director Lee stated, "If symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome appear, it is important to evaluate and consider underlying chronic diseases, medications being taken, and other accompanying symptoms. Therefore, if you are on any medication, it is recommended to bring prescriptions or related documents and visit a rheumatology specialist."

I just realized that there is such a syndrome.

I think it would be good for you to know that there are also things like this.

Source: HiDoc