HIVinfection canimpact the immune system’s abilityto fight against infection.
It can make people more susceptible to disease.
HIV-related skin lesions are resulting from a variety of infections.
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Some of these sores and rashes may also occur in people without HIV.
However, they may be more serious and/or more common in individuals with uncontrolledHIV or AIDS.
HIV-Related Herpes
Herpesis an extremely common viral illness.
It refers to infections sparked by two different types of herpes simplex virus (HSV)HSV-1 or HSV-2.
Symptoms of herpes infection include one or more sores that break open to become ulcers.
These may be preceded by tingling or pain in the affected skin.
Genital herpes may also cause pain with urination or sex.
These symptoms usually resolve within a few weeks but may recur repeatedly.
However, there are also two types of diagnostic tests available for herpes.
Tests for the virus in sores include viral culture and molecular testing for HSV viral DNA.
These tests have a risk of false negatives if the sore is sampled at the wrong time.
throw in-specific blood tests look for the existence of antibodies to HSV in the blood.
With this test, there may be a risk of false positives for people with asymptomatic infection.
Managing Herpes
Antiviral treatments for herpes infections are available.
Acyclovir and valacyclovir are both widely used in individuals who have HSV and HIV coinfection.
Shingles
Shinglesis also sparked by a jot down ofherpes virusthevaricella zoster virus(VZV).
VZV is more often known as the virus that causes chickenpox.
Shingles can be more serious in people who are immunocompromised.
Cancer
Kaposi’s sarcoma is a key in of skin cancer that is primarily associated with HIV.
In other words, if HIV-positive people develop Kaposi’s sarcoma, they will also be diagnosed with AIDS.
Diagnosing and Managing Kaposi’s Sarcoma
Kaposi’s sarcomais diagnosed by biopsy.
A piece (or all) of a lesion is removed and examined by a pathologist.
Samples may also be tested for signs of HHV-8.
Treatment withhighly active antiretroviral therapycan effectively treat Kaposi’s sarcoma in some HIV-positive individuals.
Another form of treatment for Kaposi’s sarcoma includes the removal of lesions.
Chemotherapy is also used for treatment, particularly when lesions are spread throughout the body.
This condition is benign and does not require treatment.
Unlike thrush, which may look similar, leukoplakia sores cannot be scraped off the tongue.
When required or desired, treatment for oral hairy leukoplakia is with acyclovir or similar antiviral medications.
Unfortunately, therapy is generally only effective short term, and lesions are likely to recur.
Antiretroviral therapy for HIV reduces but does not eliminate the risk of oral hairy leukoplakia.
Although not generally thought of as a sexually transmitted disease, it can be transmitted during sex.
Molluscum contagiosum appears as raised, fluid-filled bumps on the skin.
These bumps can range in size, and individuals with HIV may experience more and/or larger bumps.
The bumps associated with molluscum are generally painless, although they can become itchy or irritated.
If scratched or broken open, the sores can spread or become infected.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two topical agents for the treatment of MC.
Ycanth (cantharidin) is a topical treatment for people aged 2 and older.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitiscausesred patches on the skinthat are covered in moist scales.
These scales are generally yellowish in color.
As many as 40% to 80% of HIV-positive individuals may experience seborrheic dermatitis.
Individuals with HIV may also be more likely to experiencepsoriatic arthritis.
The most common jot down of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis, which causes silvery scales on the skin.
Other forms of psoriasis can cause different types of bumps or lesions.
Psoriatic arthritis causes joint pain and swelling.
Diagnosis is through examination of lesions or the use of a biopsy.
Some research suggests that acitretin or apremilast may be good options for treating psoriasis in individuals with HIV.
Scabies
Scabiesis a skin infestation due to a mite.
It causes a red or purple rash that is extremely itchy.
This rash may contain lines, or burrows, connecting infected areas.
It may also have pimples, bumps, or pus.
Scabies is very easy to transmit by skin-to-skin contact.
As the rash is similar to many other rashes, it must be diagnosed by a doctor.
Diagnosis is usually through examining a scraping of skin under a microscope.
They appear as crusted, grey, raised plaques on the skin.
These sores may cause skin breakdown and become infected with bacteria.
This can potentially cause severe side effects including skin abscesses, kidney disease, and even rheumatic heart disease.
Managing Scabies
Both oral and topical treatments are available for scabies.
Although most people haveCandidaon their skin and in the mouth, thrush takes place if this yeast overgrows.
The most common symptom of thrush is thick, whitish patches in the mouth and throat.
Unlike oral hairy leukoplakia, these patches may be scraped off.
Thrush can also occur in other areas of the body such as in the vagina and the rectum.
Symptoms in these locations may include changes in discharge.
Severe thrush, and thrush outside the mouth, are more common in individuals with HIV.
Systemic thrush and disseminated thrush occur when the yeast infection spreads throughout one or more organs.
These conditions can occasionally become very serious or even fatal in individuals with advanced HIV disease.
Thrush is diagnosed by the examination of scrapings forCandidaspecies.
Managing Thrush
Treatment for thrush uses oral or topical antifungal medications.
In both adults and children, oral fluconazole is the preferred treatment for oral thrush.
Topical treatment with nystatin or clotrimazole is also an option.
A Word From Verywell
Many HIV-related skin lesions are treatable.
Where treated, the prognosis of these infections is generally good.
Daily use of antiretroviral therapy can reduce the risk of severe HIV-related skin lesions.
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