We report the case of a woman with clinical and histopathological features of reticular erythematous mucinosis syndrome (REM) who six years later developed diagnostic criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Two biopsies performed at the same area initially showed mucin dermal deposits and further development of characteristic dermo-epidermal changes of lupus erythematosus. Our findings suggest that SLE may present with an REM-like condition.