🍂 Is the Change of Season Really Causing Your Lupus Flare?

If you spend time in lupus support groups online, you’ve probably seen posts like this:

“Does anyone else get a flare every time the season changes?”

And you’ll often see dozens of comments saying, “Yes! Me too!”

It’s comforting to know others experience the same thing. But here’s something important to remember: just because many people notice a flare at the same time doesn’t mean the weather or the change of season itself is the cause.

Let’s look at what might really be happening.

1. Seasons Change — and So Do Our Habits

When the weather cools, many of us naturally shift what we eat and do.
Think about it:

• We start making soups, stews, and comfort foods — which may include ingredients like wheat, dairy, or nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes). All of those can be hidden flare triggers for some people.

• We spend more time indoors, cleaning or organizing — and that can mean breathing in cleaning chemicals, bleach, ammonia, or even dust full of microplastics and household toxins.

• We might do a little extra shopping for warm clothes and end up handling lots of thermal paper receipts that contain BPA or BPS — known endocrine disruptors.

• Maybe we buy a new shampoo, lotion, or scented candle, unaware that synthetic fragrances and certain chemicals can quietly erupt the immune system.

When you start connecting those dots, it becomes easier to see that it might not be “the season” itself — but rather what we’re exposed to during the season change.

2. The Body Reacts to More Than Just Weather

Temperature and humidity can influence how we feel, but lupus flares are complex.
Your immune system reacts to stress, toxins, food, hormones, sleep, and even emotions. All of those can shift when the weather changes.

So instead of thinking, “Fall causes my flares,” it’s more helpful to ask:

“What might have changed in my daily routine, diet, or environment this week?”

Sometimes, the smallest things — a new cleaner, a new recipe, or even staying up later — can tip the balance.

3. Curiosity Is Your Best Tool

The goal isn’t to live in fear of triggers — it’s to become gently curious about them.
When you notice a flare, pause and reflect:

• What did I eat differently?

• What products did I use?

• Did I clean, shop, or handle anything new?

• Have I been sleeping, hydrating, and resting enough?

Write down what you find. Over time, patterns often appear — and they rarely point to “just the weather.”

4. You Have More Power Than You Think

When you start seeing your body’s reactions as information, not punishment, you gain control.
You can adjust what you eat, the products you use, and how you support your immune system — and that’s where healing begins.

Inside The Lupus Remission Protocol, I teach how to recognize hidden triggers and create an environment — both inside and outside your body — that helps calm inflammation naturally.

👉 Learn more about The Lupus Remission Protocol

The next time you hear someone say, “It must be the season,” remember — your flare probably has less to do with the calendar, and more to do with the quiet, everyday exposures your body is sensitive to.

Awareness is power — and that power is the first step toward remission.