# Porphyria vs. Lupus in folklore

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porphyria-vs-lupus-in-folklore/209>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [September 17, 1999, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porphyria-vs-lupus-in-folklore/209 "1999-09-17T23:11:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Boris\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@Boris\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boris_B)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 1999, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porphyria-vs-lupus-in-folklore/209/1 "1999-09-17T23:11:00Z")

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In his article: [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/990507.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/990507.html)  
Cecil makes a persuasive case that porphyria can’t be an explanation for vampire legends. He also notes that porphyria had been proposed as an explanation for legends about werewolves.

This is interesting. I had always thought lupus was the classic explanation for werewolf legends. Is there anything to this, or am I just getting confused by etymology?

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**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 1999, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/porphyria-vs-lupus-in-folklore/209/2 "1999-09-18T03:10:00Z")

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Lupus erythymatosus (translated variously, often as “the red mask of the wolf” - but I think that’s a stretch) is often associated with a characteristic “mask” or reddish cast over the cheekbones, nose, and often forehead, among other things.

This ‘mask’ is not always present, but it makes for a cool name.

While I, too, believe that I’ve seen that explanation for werewolf lore, it would be quite a stretch. Aside from a not-infrequent photosensitivity, LE doesn’t explain much.  
I’d assume that you _have_ seen such articles, and that _the authors_ were confused, not you.