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Drug Rashes

By

Julia Benedetti

, MD, Harvard Medical School

Reviewed/Revised Apr 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
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Drug rashes are a side effect of a drug that manifests as a skin reaction.

  • Drug rashes usually are caused by an allergic reaction to a drug, but some drug rashes are not allergic.

  • Typical symptoms include redness, bumps, blisters, hives, itching, and sometimes peeling, or pain.

  • Every drug a person takes may have to be stopped to figure out which one is causing the rash.

  • Most drug rashes resolve once the drug is stopped, but mild reactions may be treated with creams to decrease symptoms and serious reactions may require treatment with drugs such as epinephrine (given by injection), diphenhydramine, and/or a corticosteroid to prevent complications.

The word "rash" refers to changes in skin color (such as redness) and/or texture (such as bumps or swelling). Many rashes itch, such as those that often develop after an allergic reaction, but some rashes are painful or cause no symptoms. Drugs can cause rashes in several ways.

Allergic drug rashes

Most drug rashes result from an allergic reaction to a drug Allergies to Drugs People sometimes mistake many adverse drug reactions for allergies. For example, people who experience stomach discomfort after taking aspirin (a common adverse reaction) often say they are... read more . Usually the reaction is to a drug taken by mouth or by injection. The drug does not have to be applied to the skin to cause a drug rash. When the immune system comes into contact with a drug, it can become sensitive to that drug (a process called sensitization). Sometimes a person becomes sensitized to a drug after only one exposure, and other times sensitization occurs only after many exposures. Once a person is sensitized to a drug, later exposure to that drug triggers an allergic reaction, such as a rash.

Nonallergic drug rashes

Sometimes a rash develops directly without involving an allergic reaction. For example, corticosteroids and lithium may cause a rash that looks like acne, and anticoagulants (blood thinners) may cause bruising when blood leaks under the skin.

Certain drugs make the skin particularly sensitive to the effects of sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet light (photosensitivity Photosensitivity Reactions Photosensitivity, sometimes referred to as a sun allergy, is an immune system reaction that is triggered by sunlight. Sunlight can trigger immune system reactions. People develop itchy eruptions... read more Photosensitivity Reactions ). These drugs include certain antipsychotics, tetracyclines, sulfa antibiotics, hydrochlorothiazide, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). No rash appears when the drug is taken, but later exposure to the sun while taking the drug can cause photosensitivity.

Symptoms of Drug Rashes

Drug rashes vary in severity from mild redness with tiny bumps over a small area to peeling of the entire skin. Rashes may appear suddenly within minutes after a person takes a drug, or they may be delayed for hours, days, or even weeks. Rashes may cause red, purple, blue, or gray discoloration. Some rashes are painful and may cause sores to form in the mouth.

People with an allergic rash can have hives Hives Hives are red, itchy, slightly elevated swellings. The swelling is caused by the release of chemicals (such as histamine) from mast cells in the skin, which cause fluid to leak out of small... read more Hives and/or other allergic symptoms, such as runny nose and watery eyes. They also may develop more significant symptoms such as wheezing or dangerously low blood pressure. Hives are very itchy, whereas some other drug rashes itch little, if at all.

Diagnosis of Drug Rashes

  • A doctor's review of all current prescription and over-the-counter drugs

  • Stop drugs most likely to have caused the reaction to see whether rash goes away

  • Sometimes skin biopsy

Figuring out whether a drug is responsible may be difficult because a rash can result from only a tiny amount of a drug, it can erupt long after a person has first taken a drug, and it can persist for weeks or months after a person has stopped a drug. Every drug a person has taken is suspect, including those bought without a prescription, such as eye drops, nose drops, suppositories, and herbal products, so doctors review all of the prescription and over-the-counter drugs Overview of Over-the-Counter Drugs Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are those available without a prescription. OTC drugs enable people to relieve many annoying symptoms and to cure some diseases simply and without the cost of seeing... read more a person is currently taking. Doctors try to determine whether the rash started shortly after a person began taking a drug. The drug most likely to be causing the rash will probably be stopped to see whether the rash goes away.

Sometimes the only way to determine which drug is causing a rash is to have the person stop taking all but life-sustaining drugs. Whenever possible, chemically unrelated drugs are substituted. If there are no such substitutes, the person starts taking the drugs again one at a time to see which one causes the reaction. However, this method can be hazardous if the person has had a severe allergic reaction to the drug.

Occasionally, doctors apply reaction-causing substances, known as allergens, to the skin (called patch testing Skin Tests Doctors can identify many skin disorders simply by looking at the skin. A full skin examination includes examination of the scalp, nails, and mucous membranes. Sometimes the doctor uses a hand-held... read more Skin Tests ), which may be helpful for diagnosis of certain rashes. Sometimes, a sample of skin is removed and examined under a microscope (called a skin biopsy Biopsy Doctors can identify many skin disorders simply by looking at the skin. A full skin examination includes examination of the scalp, nails, and mucous membranes. Sometimes the doctor uses a hand-held... read more Biopsy ), particularly if doctors suspect a person has one of the more severe or unusual drug reactions.

Treatment of Drug Rashes

  • Stopping the responsible drug

  • For mild reactions, sometimes antihistamines and corticosteroid creams to relieve itching

  • For severe reactions, sometimes drugs given intravenously and hospitalization

Most drug reactions disappear when the responsible drug is stopped.

Severe allergic skin reactions, particularly those accompanied by serious symptoms such as wheezing or difficulty breathing (called anaphylaxis Anaphylactic Reactions Anaphylactic reactions are sudden, widespread, potentially severe and life-threatening allergic reactions. Anaphylactic reactions often begin with a feeling of uneasiness, followed by tingling... read more ), are treated with epinephrine (given by injection), usually an antihistamine, and a corticosteroid.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
Adrenaclick, Adrenalin, Auvi-Q, Epifrin, EpiPen, Epipen Jr , Primatene Mist, SYMJEPI, Twinject
Aid to Sleep, Alka-Seltzer Plus Allergy, Aller-G-Time , Altaryl, Banophen , Benadryl, Benadryl Allergy, Benadryl Allergy Children's , Benadryl Allergy Dye Free, Benadryl Allergy Kapgel, Benadryl Allergy Quick Dissolve, Benadryl Allergy Ultratab, Benadryl Children's Allergy, Benadryl Children's Allergy Fastmelt, Benadryl Children's Perfect Measure, Benadryl Itch Stopping, Ben-Tann , Children's Allergy, Compoz Nighttime Sleep Aid, Diphedryl , DIPHEN, Diphen AF , Diphenhist, DiphenMax , Dytan, ElixSure Allergy, Genahist , Geri-Dryl, Hydramine, Itch Relief , M-Dryl, Nighttime Sleep Aid, Nytol, PediaCare Children's Allergy, PediaCare Nighttime Cough, PediaClear Children's Cough, PHARBEDRYL, Q-Dryl, Quenalin , Siladryl Allergy, Silphen , Simply Sleep , Sleep Tabs, Sleepinal, Sominex, Sominex Maximum Strength, Theraflu Multi-Symptom Strip, Triaminic Allergy Thin Strip, Triaminic Cough and Runny Nose Strip, Tusstat, Unisom, Uni-Tann, Valu-Dryl , Vanamine PD, Vicks Qlearquil Nighttime Allergy Relief, Vicks ZzzQuil Nightime Sleep-Aid
Eskalith, Eskalith CR, Lithobid
Esidrix, Ezide, HydroDIURIL, Microzide, Oretic, Zide
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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