Question
Do HIV meds have any dermatological (skin) effects?
2 May 2009. Related: All topics, Side effects.
Answer
Thanks for your question and for allowing us to answer this online.
Some HIV drugs are definitely linked to some skin rash (including abacavir (Ziagen and Trizivir), FTC (Emtriva), nevirapine (Viramune) and efavirenz (Sustiva), fosamprenavir (Lexiva/Telzir), atazanavir (Reyataz), tipranavir (Aptivus) and T-20 (enfuvirtide, Fuzeon).
For more information see this link.
Skin rash can be very serious, so always contact your doctor if this occurs on treatment, especially in the first weeks or months.
Dry skin can also be related to HIV and a few drugs (mainly indinavir which is rarely used now. See this link for more information.
If you have any skin problems that are now explained by your doctor, ask for a referral to a specialist skin expert.
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