Have you ever noticed that half of your body felt different from the other — that, say, the left side of your body seemed hotter, sweatier, or more uncomfortable than the right? Perhaps this sensation occurred in the middle of the night or maybe as you went about your day. What might cause this lopsided feeling, and what can you do to control it?

If you’re living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs, symptoms like this may seem confusing and overwhelming. It’s possible that one-sided heat could be related to your lupus.

In this article, we’ll explore the reasons someone with lupus may experience one-sided warmth and how to turn down the heat.

What Does One-Sided Heat Feel Like?

One MyLupusTeam member asked, “Has anyone experienced heat on just one side of the body? The left side of my body feels so much hotter than my right side.” Another agreed, “My lupus tends to swell my left arm and leg more than my right.”

Lupus symptoms involve the whole body and are often asymmetric, so it’s not surprising that many MyLupusTeam members have mentioned that one side of their body is often hotter than another. Some say that it affects one half of their face or one arm, while others describe the heat as a sensation that generally and repetitively occurs on one side of the body.

Lupus-Related Causes of One-Sided Heat

Feeling heat on one side of your body could be related to your lupus, your treatment, or an unrelated condition. Lupus causes many symptoms that may present differently in different people, and some of these symptoms could increase the likelihood of one-sided heat.

Sun Sensitivity

People with lupus often experience heat intolerance and photosensitivity. Exposure to sunlight can cause rashes, fever, and joint pain that may affect one or both sides of the body. If you take a long drive with exposed skin or sit on the beach while the sun sets, you might get more sun on one side of your body than the other.

Circulation Problems

People with lupus are at a higher risk of blood clots and problems with blood vessels. Blood clots usually occur in one leg at a time and may cause pain to the touch, as well as discoloration, swelling, and heat. Blood clots are a dangerous condition that may require emergency treatment.

Rashes

Rashes, a common symptom of cutaneous lupus, are most likely to occur on skin that has been exposed to the sun, including the face. The thick, discolored, scaly rashes and sores can be symmetrical but usually show up on one limb at a time. A rash may feel itchy and produce a burning sensation that could be described as hot.

Muscle and Joint Pain

Musculoskeletal issues are extremely common in people with lupus. Pain and stiffness usually migrates around the body and is not symmetrical. One member said, “I have experienced the one side hot feeling. My doc says it happens when your muscles or joints are inflamed.” If you have had any sort of injury or stress to one part of your body — perhaps from doing yard work, cleaning your home, or working out — this injury may feel hot to the touch. The immune system’s inflammatory response to injured muscles and joints leads to swelling, skin discoloration, and heat at the affected location.

Treatment-Related Causes of One-Sided Heat

Some MyLupusTeam members wonder if side effects of lupus treatment include one-sided heat. One member shared, “I experienced one-sided heat this summer. Half of my face felt like it was burning up. When I mentioned it to one of my doctors, he said it might have come from whatever meds I was on at the time.”

Common treatments for SLE include corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). People with lupus may also take antihypertensive medications for related heart problems. One-sided heat is not a common side effect of NSAIDs, steroids, or hypertensives.

However, most medications that are injected or infused have the potential to cause unwanted effects that can begin at the injection site. Most often — and of least concern — these symptoms include injection site soreness, swelling, heat, and discoloration. Usually, these side effects are related to the temporary pain at the site where the drug was delivered.

More rarely, a type of drug allergy called a hypersensitivity reaction can happen, causing a rash, hives, itching, fever, and swelling. These symptoms, which usually arise on both sides of the body within 24 hours of receiving a new drug, signal an emergency situation.

If you recently began a new intravenous infusion or injectable biologic, such as rituximab (Rituxan), belimumab (Benlysta), or anifrolumab-fnia (Saphnelo), speak to your doctor about any side effects you are experiencing.

Other Causes of One-Sided Heat

There is always a chance that this symptom is unrelated to your lupus. Many people with lupus also have other chronic conditions and may be more susceptible to infectious conditions.

If you have a fever, swelling, abnormal skin markings, chills, or flu-like symptoms along with the sensation of one-sided heat, this could be a sign of infection. Take note of other symptoms you are experiencing, and if you’re worried about a potential infection, speak to your doctor to get medical advice and proper testing.

One-sided symptoms can sometimes signal an emergency. For example, a stroke often causes sudden numbness or weakness in the face, an arm, or a leg, especially on one side of the body. This is often accompanied by overall vision problems, weakness, dizziness, and lack of coordination. If you believe you may be having a stroke, call your doctor immediately.

A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, may present with left-sided discomfort, burning, squeezing, pain, or pressure in the right chest, arm, jaw, and back. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these symptoms often present differently in women, who are likely to have other, nonspecific symptoms. If you have a history of cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure and are experiencing these symptoms, seek emergency care.

Managing the Sensation of One-Sided Heat

You can take a few steps to help prevent and alleviate the feeling of heat on one side of your body. If your symptom is related to a lupus flare, controlling your condition can help stave off this symptom. You can also help control common symptoms such as photosensitivity by wearing sunscreen, full-coverage clothing, and a hat when outdoors.

If one-sided warmth does occur, you can follow some of these general tips to cool down when you’re overheated:

• Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing when going outside to prevent overheating.
• Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
• Rest and avoid strenuous activity to avoid elevating your body temperature.
• Take a cool shower or apply cool water to the hot area.
• Keep your home at a comfortable temperature by using fans or air-conditioning.

When To See a Doctor

If you are experiencing persistent, repeating, or worsening one-sided heat as a potential lupus symptom, it’s important to talk with your doctor right away. Your health care team can help determine the underlying cause and suggest the best ways to treat, manage, and reduce this and other symptoms. If you believe this sensation is the side effect of a drug, tell your doctor so that they can determine if your treatment plan is safe and effective for you.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyLupusTeam is the social network for people with lupus and their loved ones. On MyLupusTeam, more than 222,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with lupus.

Have you experienced heat on one side of your body while living with lupus? What worked best to help manage this symptom? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.