Medications and Skin Reactions

Advertisements for medications always come with a long list of the possible side effects that may include stomach upset, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and more. You may be surprised to learn, however, that many medications-even those that we consider common over-the-counter solutions-can cause side effects particularly on the skin. These may include dryness, itchiness, irritation, redness, acne, and even rashes, eczema, photosensitivity, and other more serious skin conditions.

The connection between medications and skin conditions may be overlooked during diagnosis. Skin conditions can be difficult to treat, often because of the detective work needed to discover what causes them in the first place. Potential culprits include allergens, genetics, sun exposure, immune system malfunctions, harsh cleansers and dyes, chemical irritants, environmental conditions, stress, and harsh weather, among others. Keeping track of your personal reactions and exposures can help your doctor narrow down the list-which is why you want to be aware of which medications may also be to blame.

Often we need medications to manage health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and more, so the answer is not to stop using the medication, but to search for the one that causes the least problems for your system, and then to employ other preventative measures to help safeguard your skin.

The list below presents several common medications and their possible side effects on skin. As always with any side effects, you may or may not experience any of them, and cases may range from mild to severe. This is not a complete list, so if you believe your medication may be contributing to your skin condition, talk to your doctor or dermatologist, and then refer to one of our condition pages or to our blog for more information on how to keep your skin as healthy as possible.

Protect Your Skin, Protect Your Health
No matter what type of compromised skin you may have, you’re more at risk from exposure to toxic chemicals. Since most personal care products and cosmetics contain potentially harmful ingredients, it’s important to always read labels and use only safe, nurturing formulas that will enhance the condition of your skin. Click here for a list of ingredients to avoid in your personal care products.

Acne Medications (prescription, and including Retin A)

• Include topical and oral
• Redness
• Scaling
• Burning
• Itchiness
• Peeling
• Dryness

Drugs include: adapalene, azelaic acid, clindamycin, erythromycin.

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• Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp: soothes and hydrates dry, flushed skin while valerian and comfrey provide anti-inflammatory benefits. BUY NOW!

Anticoagulants (blood-thinning medications)

• Hives
• Rash
• Itching
• Purplish bruise-like rash (rare)

Drugs include: clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix), dalteparin, dipyridamole & aspirin (Aggrenox), enoxaparen, (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), tinzaparin (Innohep), warfarin (Coumadin).

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• Rescue + Relief Spray: cools and relieves itching, burning and inflamed skin; unique Tri-Rescue Complex provides anti-inflammatory benefits. BUY NOW!
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• Body Repair Lotion: deeply hydrating body lotion replenishes and soothes dry, inflamed skin. BUY NOW!

Anti-Depressant Medications

• Rash
• Bruise-like marks
• Blushing/redness in the face
• Itching
• Purplish spots on the skin (rare)
• Skin inflammation
• Sensitivity to sunlight

Drugs include: sertraline (Zoloft), bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), duloxetine (Cymbalta), maprotilin (Ludiomil), mirtazepine (Remeron, Soltab), nefazodone (Serzone).

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• Rescue + Relief Spray: cools and relieves itching, burning and inflamed skin; unique Tri-Rescue Complex provides anti-inflammatory and antihistamine benefits. BUY NOW!
• Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp: soothes and hydrates dry, flushed skin while valerian and comfrey provide anti-inflammatory benefits. BUY NOW!
• Body Repair Lotion: deeply hydrating body lotion replenishes and soothes dry, inflamed skin. BUY NOW!

Anti-HIV Medications

• Mild skin rashes
• Serious skin rashes
• Often appear within a few weeks of starting new medications
• Flat or raised red spots on the skin that may blister
• Peeling skin that results in painful sores

Drugs include: nevirapine (Viramune), abacavir (Ziagen), amprenavir (Agenerase), tipranavir (Aptivus).

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• Rescue + Relief Spray: cools and relieves itching, burning and inflamed skin; unique Tri-Rescue Complex provides anti-inflammatory and antihistamine benefits. BUY NOW!
• Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp: soothes and hydrates dry, flushed skin while valerian and comfrey provide anti-inflammatory benefits. BUY NOW!
• Body Repair Lotion: deeply hydrating body lotion replenishes and soothes dry, inflamed skin. BUY NOW!

Antibiotics

• Allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching)
• Red, swollen skin
• Blisters
• Peeling
• Yellowed skin
• Rashes
• Flushing
• Itching
• Dermatitis
• Photosensitivity
• Rashes
• Nail discoloration

Drugs include: amoxicillin (Augmentin, Amoxil, Larotid, Polymox, Trimox), azithromycin, cefazolin, ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, doxycycline, erythromycin, gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, minocycline, moxifloxacin, norfloxaqcin, ofloxacin, tetracycline, trovafloxan, roxithromycin, and more.

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• Rescue + Relief Spray: cools and relieves itching, burning and inflamed skin; unique Tri-Rescue Complex provides anti-inflammatory and antihistamine benefits. BUY NOW!
• Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp: soothes and hydrates dry, flushed skin while valerian and comfrey provide anti-inflammatory benefits. BUY NOW!
• Body Repair Lotion: deeply hydrating body lotion replenishes and soothes dry, inflamed skin. BUY NOW!

Cholesterol Lowering Medications

• Flushing
• Rash

Drugs include: atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor), niaspan (prescription niacin), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), simvastatin (Zocor).

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• Rescue + Relief Spray: cools and relieves itching, burning and inflamed skin; unique Tri-Rescue Complex provides anti-inflammatory and antihistamine benefits. BUY NOW!

Diabetes Medications

• Pale or yellowed skin
• Possible allergic reaction creating hives, itching, rash
• Irritation
• Photosensitivity

Drugs include: acarbose (Precose), exanatide (Byetta), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase), miglitol (Glyset), nateglinide (Starlix), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), sitagliptin (Januvia).

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• Rescue + Relief Spray: cools and relieves itching, burning and inflamed skin; unique Tri-Rescue Complex provides anti-inflammatory and antihistamine benefits. BUY NOW!
• Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp: soothes and hydrates dry, flushed skin while valerian and comfrey provide anti-inflammatory benefits. BUY NOW!
• Body Repair Lotion: deeply hydrating body lotion replenishes and soothes dry, inflamed skin. BUY NOW!

Hair Loss Medications (for baldness, alopecia)

• Skin irritation
• Itching
• Rash
• Contact dermatitis
• Dryness of the scalp or flaking

Drugs include: minoxidil (Rogaine, Avacor, Good Sense), finasteride (Propecia), spironolactone (Aldactone).

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• Body Repair Lotion: deeply hydrating body lotion replenishes and soothes dry, inflamed skin. BUY NOW!

High Blood Pressure Medications

• Skin rash
• Itching

Drugs include: aliskiren (Tekturna), amlodipine (Norvasc), captopril (Capoten), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), losartan (Cozaar), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), olmesartan (Benicar), penbutolol (Levatol), ramipril (Altace), valsartan (Diovan).

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Lupus Medications (rheumatologic drugs)

• Rash
• Hives
• Itching
• Acne
• Skin thinning
• Redness
• Increased risk of skin infections
• Bruise-like discoloration
• Yellowed skin
• Increased risk of skin cancers (if taking immunosuppressive drugs)

Drugs include: corticosteroids (prednisone, Medrol), antimalarials (hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, Quinacrine), immunosuppressives (Imuran, Cytoxan).

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• Rescue + Relief Spray: cools and relieves itching, burning and inflamed skin; unique Tri-Rescue Complex provides anti-inflammatory and antihistamine benefits. BUY NOW!
• Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp: soothes and hydrates dry, flushed skin while valerian and comfrey provide anti-inflammatory benefits. BUY NOW!
• Body Repair Lotion: deeply hydrating body lotion replenishes and soothes dry, inflamed skin. BUY NOW!

NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

• Rash
• Red patches and swelling
• Hives
• Red lumps on the shins, thighs, or forearms
• Allergic contact dermatitis (from topical creams and gels)
• Dryness (from topical creams and gels)
• Scaling (from topical creams and gels)
• Photocontact dermatitis (reaction to the sun from the use of topical creams and gels)

Drugs include: aspirin (Anacin, Bayer, Excedrin, Bufferin), celecoxib (Celebrex), choline salicylate (Arthropan), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), magnesium salicylate (Bayer Select, Doan’s Pills, Arthritab), naproxen sodium (Aleve, Anaprox), rofecoxib (Vioxx), and many others, including topical NSAIDS applied to painful joints and sports injuries.

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• Body Repair Lotion: deeply hydrating body lotion replenishes and soothes dry, inflamed skin. BUY NOW!
• Restorative Skin Balm: nourishing salve helps protect and instantly soften severely dry, rough or chapped skin. BUY NOW!

Oral Contraceptives (birth control)

• Melasma (patchy, darkening of the skin on the face)
• Skin reaction at the site of the patch (if a patch is used)
• Photosensitivity (pills containing estrogen)

Drugs include: Most birth control pills and patches. Pills-of a higher strength-may be slightly more likely to cause melasma than patches.

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Sulfa Drugs (sulfonamides)

• Allergic reactions (hives, itching, rash)
• Blisters
• Peeling
• Red skin
• Swollen skin
• Purple patches under skin

Drugs include: all sulfa drugs (sulfonamides) including those used as antibiotics, diuretics, and anticonvulsants, including sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, sulfasalazine, sulfadoxine, dorzolamide, acetazolamide, clopamide, furosemide, indapamide, hydrochlorothiazide, acetazolamide, sultiame, and more.

CV Skinlabs Products for You:

• Rescue + Relief Spray: cools and relieves itching, burning and inflamed skin; unique Tri-Rescue Complex provides anti-inflammatory and antihistamine benefits. BUY NOW!
• Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp: soothes and hydrates dry, flushed skin while valerian and comfrey provide anti-inflammatory benefits. BUY NOW!
• Body Repair Lotion: deeply hydrating body lotion replenishes and soothes dry, inflamed skin. BUY NOW!

Thyroid Medications

• Rash
• Hives
• Itching
• Flushing
• Dry skin

Drugs include: levothyroxine (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Tirosint), methimazole (Tapazole), propylthiouracil (PTU).

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• Rescue + Relief Spray: cools and relieves itching, burning and inflamed skin; unique Tri-Rescue Complex provides anti-inflammatory and antihistamine benefits. BUY NOW!
• Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp: soothes and hydrates dry, flushed skin while valerian and comfrey provide anti-inflammatory benefits. BUY NOW!
• Body Repair Lotion: deeply hydrating body lotion replenishes and soothes dry, inflamed skin. BUY NOW!

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