Question
What can I do about darkening of the skin and thinning of the limbs and face?
3 April 2009. Related: All topics, Side effects.
I am on Truvada and nevirapine for HIV, I am also on a preventetive antibiotic Septrin, because my CD4 count is below 200 (i.e 156). I was dignosed with TB but have since finished treatment for TB. My problem is that since I started treatment I developed changes in my body that might be noticed by those who knew me before. Changes include darkening of skin, especially face, thinning of face, arms and legs. Are these changes due to the medication I am taking? If yes, what can be done with the problem? Thank very much and keep on doing the good job you are doing for us.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Darkening of the skin may be a result of low levels of vitamin D. I have replied to a similar question here. Hope you find the answer useful too.
As for the thinning of the face, legs, etc, this may be a condition called lipodystrophy. There is a very detailed information about it here.
Please note that taking the ARVs is still very important, as your CD4 count is still low. Your doctor may decide to make changes after you talk to him/her. It is important, however, that you do not interrupt or change medicines on your own.
Hi Spha,
Please see the above comment.
My skin is getting dark everytime when i am talking a arv wat mst i do to get my skin of my colour back
Hi Zandile,
You can ask at the clinic about all these meds. If you had a low CD4 count they would have given you the TB meds and other antibiotics to stop infections. But you can check with them and find out how long you’ll have to take all the meds. ART will help your CD4 to recover. Once your immune system is stronger it will help keep other infections away without antibiotics.
Am feeling sick because of taking ARV n ART.Firstly Before i wasn’t have any symptoms of Hiv bt when i go to clinic they give me ARV n TB pill after amonth i go to clinic again n they give me ARv,TB,n other pills so now this affect me becoming sick n weak by not eating coz i loose appetite
Hi Matthew,
It’s good that you’ve started HIV treatment. Starting ART with CD4 count below 200 means that you’ll need to take an antibiotic to stop other infections. Nucotrim and Durobac are the same antibiotic but they are made by different companies. That’s why they have different names. The same thing applies to Atroiza and Odimune, please see Atripla.
Winthrop isoniazid can help prevent or treat TB.
But it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor and show them the blisters and skin problems so that they can work out what’s causing these symptoms. Now that you’re on ART your CD4 count is expected to recover. So you can also ask how long you’ll have to take the other meds.
Hi
I started treatment on the fourth of October with a cd4 count of 173 and the past week get blisters on my arms and my completion is getting darker ..first month was atroiza with nucotrim and second month was given odimune with durobac and Winthrop isoniazid.will this improve??
Hi Mpho,
Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Please tell your HIV doctor and the dermatologist about all the meds you’re taking.
I have dark skin and rash pimples, and been taking ARV’S ( Atroiza) NOVAVIT MULTI VITAMINS AND PURBAC DOUBLE STRENGTH FOR 8 months. So can I ask G.P refer me for a skin doctor(DERMATOLOGY ) for my skin problem?? Please help me
Hi Sibo,
AZT can darken nail and skin pigment in Africans and African-Americans, but this drug is now rarely used. The drugs in Atroiza are, efavirenz, emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir.
Emtricitabine (Emtriva) has been reported to cause pigment changes (mainly to the palms of the hands or soles of the feet) in African people. You can talk to your doctor and ask if switching to a tablet that has lamivudine (3TC) instead of FTC would make a difference. These tablets are called Tenarenz, Telura and Eflaten.
My complexion is darker since I started antiretroviral called atroiza.what can I do to get back my bright complexion?