Table of contents:
- Symptoms of a skin rash in people with HIV
- Causes of the rash on the skin of people with HIV
- 1. Side effects of drugs
- 2. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- 3. Seborrheic dermatitis
- When to see a doctor
- How to treat skin rashes for people with HIV
Launching UC San Diego Health, about 90% of people infected with HIV (PLWHA) tend to experience skin symptoms in the form of a rash in the first few months after contracting the virus. A rash is one of the earliest symptoms of HIV on the skin that usually lasts 2-4 weeks. What is the cause and what are the characteristics of a rash on the skin that indicates HIV infection?
Symptoms of a skin rash in people with HIV
The characteristics of HIV on the skin are characterized by the formation of a maculopapular or skin rash. The rash is a small red patch that usually collects together at one point.
The rash may appear bright red in people with white or pale skin. While on darker skin, the rash tends to be purple in color. The appearance of this HIV rash can be accompanied by the appearance of ulcers in the mouth, aka HIV canker sores or sores on the genitals.
Symptoms of HIV / AIDS on the skin are actually almost similar to rashes in general, such as:
- The rash is in the form of red spots that are spread evenly
- The center of the rash has a small bump
- Feels itchy
- The rash can spread from the face to the rest of the body, including the feet and hands
The rash does not feel itchy for the first 2-3 weeks of it appearing. If HIV is not treated immediately, the body's resistance will decrease and it can make the rash even red, itchy, and sore.
Even though it doesn't look dangerous, these early symptoms of HIV on the skin should be checked by a doctor immediately so that HIV complications do not occur in the future.
Causes of the rash on the skin of people with HIV
The cause of HIV itself is a viral infection that attacks and destroys CD4 cells in the body. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell in the immune system that fight infection.
Well, the appearance of a rash on the body is closely related to decreased immunity due to HIV infection. Initially, HIV symptoms only gave rise to vague and common complaints resembling flu symptoms, namely HIV fever, headache, and sore throat. These flu symptoms are generally accompanied by the appearance of one or two rashes on several parts of the body.
These symptoms are the natural response of the immune system when fighting inflammation due to viral infection in the body. Unfortunately, the immune system is not strong enough to kill the HIV virus.
In addition, the appearance of a rash on the skin of PLWHA can also be a symptom of certain opportunistic infections, such as Candida yeast infection. The appearance of an opportunistic infection signifies the final stage of HIV infection, aka AIDS. This means that not only does it appear as an early symptom of HIV, a rash can also be a symptom of AIDS on the skin.
Apart from immune factors, the onset of HIV symptoms on the skin can also be influenced by:
1. Side effects of drugs
People with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) who have started treatment with antiretrovirals may experience side effects in the form of a skin rash.
Reporting from HIV.gov, there are three groups of antiretroviral drugs that can cause skin rashes in people with HIV, namely:
- Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
- Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) or nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor
- Protease inhibitors (PIs) or protease inhibitors
The rash most often occurs as a side effect of the drug nevirapine. About 15-20% of users of this drug report developing a rash on their skin.
These HIV features on the skin tend to appear within one to two weeks after starting treatment. However, some appear within 1 to 3 days. In this case, the HIV rash generally looks like a measles rash.
The rash from the side effects of ARV drugs tends to spread to the limbs and neck in a symmetrical pattern. In some cases, the rash can also be more prominent, and sometimes discharge a little when exfoliated.
In general, the symptoms of HIV on the skin will disappear when the body gets used to the side effects of ARV treatment.
2. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a condition that occurs as a result of drug hypersensitivity and is life threatening.
SJS is believed to be an immune system disorder that is triggered by infection, medication, or both. SJS usually starts with a fever and sore throat about one to three weeks after starting ARV therapy.
Symptoms of HIV on the skin due to SJS can include ulcers or lesions of irregular shape. These skin lesions appear on the mouth, genitals, and anus. The lesions or ulcers are usually one inch in size, and are scattered over the face, abdomen, chest, legs, and feet.
Nevirapine and abacavir are the two antiretroviral drugs that are most at risk of causing SJS.
3. Seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is one of the most common causes of a rash in people with HIV / AIDS. These skin symptoms appear in about 80 percent of people with HIV, and are diagnosed as a complication of disease.
Seborrheic dermatitis rash is usually reddish and scaly, which likes to appear on oily skin areas, such as the scalp, face, and chest.
In more severe cases, an HIV rash on the skin can appear as scaly pimples around the face, back and inside of the ears, nose, eyebrows, chest, upper back, or armpits.
The cause of this rash is not certain. However, decreased immunity is one of the triggers.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor when the rash has spread rapidly, is accompanied by fever or with blisters. Moreover, if the HIV rash on the skin turns out to be a feature of the period when HIV infection has advanced to its late stages.
In addition, you also need to see a doctor immediately if the appearance of HIV symptoms on the skin is also accompanied by signs of a severe allergy, for example:
- Heart beat
- Hard to breathe
- Loss of consciousness
If the rash appears not long after you take a new type of medicine, immediately stop using the drug and discuss it again with your doctor.
How to treat skin rashes for people with HIV
The rash usually clears up and clears up within 1-2 weeks of starting an antiretroviral (ARV) treatment regime.
In order to accelerate the healing of HIV symptoms on the skin, generally a special drug is needed from a doctor which will be prescribed after further examination. Some examples of drugs that can be used include:
- Hydrocortisone cream
The steroid content in the cream or ointment works to reduce itching and swelling when the rash appears. - Benadryl or diphenhydramine
Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine can block the effects of the chemicals that cause itching, thereby relieving the sensation of itching skin.
However, keep in mind that the use of drugs can be successful if you follow the rules of use and according to the cause of the skin rash.
Apart from using drugs, you will be advised to avoid exposure to direct sunlight so that the HIV rash does not get worse.
Skin rash is one of the symptoms that can indicate that you have HIV. However, remember that You are not necessarily get HIV even if you have a rash on your body, especially if you don't have the risk of contracting HIV.
If you are still in doubt, consult your sexually transmitted disease problem with your doctor for the best solution.
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