Question
How do I treat or prevent skin problems?
20 May 2010. Related: All topics, Side effects.
My room-mate is HIV positive and he gets little red scabs on his arms and legs. They itch, and he scratches them to the point they can bleed and be highly irritated. I’m wondering if there is anything we can do to prevent them or treat them? Thank you.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Skin rashes are common amongst people living with HIV. To give you a more specific answer it would help if you could let me know your friend’s CD4 count, if he is on treatment and which treatments he is on. Some skin conditions are related to specific HIV medications and others to low CD4 counts.
Itchy skin can also be as a result of other underlying infections which are treatable. As with all symptoms your friend should speak to his HIV doctor about this. He should also try to get a referral to a dermatologist who specializes in skin conditions.
For more information on skin problems associated with HIV please follow this link
Hi Derick,
As long as your start HARRT and you take your meds, your CD4 count should actually get stronger. They will stop your CD4 count dropping any lower.
There’s info about this here:
http://i-base.info/guides/side
Hi Roy,
Im live in Malaysia, normally if i start haart treatment in cd4 433 , will my cd4 drop to AIDS level?
Hi Derick,
I’m sorry to hear your story, it sounds tough.
However, we are not doctors at i-Base. And so it’s important that you talk to your doctor about all your symptoms.
But please tell us what country you live in. There could be local support organisations that can help you to access treatment.
Hi there, I started my haart combination drugs efavirenz and tenofovir almost 5 month ady, I experienced Steven Johnson symptom after 1 month. And totally all faded, my doctor just let me continue and no plan to change another HAART and they said let my body to adapt the side effect as well, however , start early of January 2020. My body started itching until now, My last check before i started my haart , CD4 count was 433 . I am afraid i will experience chronic HIV disease and CD4 count decrease .
I got swollen lymph nodes on my neck and my doctor just tell me mostly HIV patient will experience it. But below my chin, i think i can feel another lymph node swollen . Not sore and i can feel it over there, i met few doctor to ask them help checking , they dont even get touching my lymph nodes. They just tell me is small. But i know is there.