Is the typical butterfly-shaped rash of lupus painful or it doesnt hurt?

Sometimes painful: The classic malar butterfly rash is a red, scaling rash on the cheeks extending over the bridge of the nose but not in the grooves between the nose and the cheeks (nasolabial folds).The rash can be painful or itchy but you must have other features of lupus for the diagnosis.A rheumatologist can make the diagnosis based on lab tests, symptoms, physical exam, and history.Call your doc if concerned