Patients with HIV disease often have several simultaneous or sequential cutaneous conditions with a progressively more intransigent clinical course, a key to suspecting underlying HIV infection. In general, noninfectious cutaneous abnormalities are not prognostic of rapid progression of immunosuppression, but they may be specific markers of the stage of HIV disease. For instance, eosinophilic folliculitis virtually always occurs in persons with helper T cell counts below Cutaneous abnormalities may worsen as HIV disease progresses e. This chapter addresses cutaneous abnormalities in the following four groups: infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, and hyperpigmented conditions.
Rashes and Skin Conditions Associated with HIV and AIDS
Skin disorders are commonly encountered in HIV-infected patients, and they may be the first manifestation of HIV disease. The spectrum of skin disorders depends on:. In general, declining immunity is associated with increased number and severity of skin disorders. The advent of HAART has changed the spectrum of skin disorders by improving host immunity, which in turn reduces the occurrence of Kaposi's sarcoma and some of the skin infections Box
Your immune system controls every part of your body, including its largest organ: the skin. Skin lesions from HIV are a response to related immune function deficiencies. Skin lesions can differ in appearance and symptoms. The severity of your condition can also vary, and it may even coincide with the effectiveness of your current HIV treatment. Your doctor can help you treat them and make adjustments to your overall HIV treatment plan if needed.
This open enrollment, choose a plan that includes access to our world-class providers. Get better care now. The good news is that with good viral control and preservation of the immune system, skin problems have become far less common. Often, the skin is just extra sensitive to chemicals and sunlight. The typical HIV rash is often a flat red area on the skin that is covered with small bumps.