Lupus is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly identifies the its own healthy tissues as foreign substances and attacks them, causing inflammation and pain to its own healthy cells. Symptoms may be limited to the skin, but more often Lupus also causes internal problems. The damage that results from the disease is relatively unpredictable, cycling between flare-ups and periods of remission. In severe cases, it can damage the heart, kidneys, and other vital organs. While the disease affects over five million people worldwide, few people know about Lupus. It is one of the world's least recognized major diseases.