One of the state’s top Dermatologists spoke to the Wellness in Living with Lupus Successfully Support Group Saturday at Vaughan Regional Medical Center.

Dr. Porcia Bradford Love, founder of River Region Dermatology and Laser in Montgomery, discussed treatment options for Lupus. She’s also a Board Certified Dermatologist.

“Lupus is a complicated condition, but there are things that can help,” Love said. “You don’t know what causes lupus. It’s genetic.”

Love, who’s also a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, said lupus occurs in African-American women between the ages of 20 and 40.

Love also pointed out that the late King of Rock Michael Jackson had lupus and singer Toni Braxton and celebrity host Nick Cannon also have the disease.

While Love said skin lupus doesn’t affect the body organs, but Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) does.

Love offered ways to manage lupus: wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, a long-sleeved shirt, avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., use zinc-protected sunscreen and no smoking.

Love added that treatments for SLE are one or more of the following that includes Plaquenil, belimumab (Benlysta), rituximab (Rituxan), CellCept, dapsone and heliocare.  Love said heliocare can be found in Wal-Mart.

After the presentation, Love received a plaque and gift bag from Vaughn Regional Medical Center Dr. Jacqueline Moultrie, a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Registered Nurse.

Love is married to J.C. Love III, an Attorney with Rushton, Stakely Law Firm in Montgomery. They have a three-year old daughter, Caroline.