What Causes Dryness in Sjögrens Syndrome?
In the autoimmune attack that causes Sjogren’s, disease-fighting cells called lymphocytes target the glands that produce moisture–primarily the lacrimal (tear) and salivary (saliva) glands. Although no one knows exactly how damage occurs, damaged glands can no longer produce tears and saliva, and eye and mouth dryness result. When the skin, sinuses, airways, and vaginal tissues are affected, dryness occurs in those places, too.
