Types of HIV Rashes

HIV rashes are outcomes of HIV infection. Each type of HIV rash may appear at different phases of the infection. They may also be the side effects of HIV treatment medications.

Main types of HIV rashes:

• Drug Rashes

  These rashes grow because of side effects caused due to intake of antiretrovial drugs, like, abacavir, tipranavir, amprenavir etc. They cause peeling of skin, hives, and tiny bumps.

• Herpes rashes – It may grow in the oral and genital areas. These rashes are
  1. red in colour
  2. swelled
  3. fluid-filled
  4. they rupture when fully grown

• Acute Infection Rash

  These rashes occur during the seroconversion period, after about two or four weeks of HIV infection. They may accompany other types of non-HIV skin rashes as well. They usually appear on the trunk, palms and limbs. Acute infection rashes are not as harmful as other types of rashes, and perish in two or three weeks. However, a person belonging to high-risk groups should always go for a test, if rashes grow on their skin. However, one cannot diagnose HIV antibodies at this early stage of the disease.

• Symptomatic type of Hiv Rashes

  These rashes appear in the third stage, called the symptomatic stage of the disease, marking the development of chronic conditions. These rashes precede the final stage of AIDS. These rashes

  1. grow on the scalp, chest, armpits and face.
  2. They are mostly pink in colour
  3. they may be scaly

There are other types of HIV rashes, caused due to bacteria, fungi and other virus. They may occur as a result of other pre-existing rash tendency within the body. Despite some of them being contagious, these rashes do not contribute in propagation of HIV.

1. Virus
   • HPV Warts- they are small red swelled pimple like rashes grown on every part of the body, including the genitals.
   • Mollucsum contagiosum- It grows on the mucous membrane, and is contagious. They spread through clothes, towels and other shared objects.
2. Fungi
   • Tinea- They cause infections like ringworm, jock itch and athlete foot. This is a contagious rash, though it is temporary and harmless. However, they cause discomfort.
3. Bacteria
   • Bacterial follictus- they grow in the hair follicle and are yellow in colour.
   • Scabies- They grow in the palms and feet, causing itching, which intensifies during the night for the HIV positive people. They grow in areas like fingers, palms, feet, elbows and waist (all those places which remain moist)
   • Eosinophilic follictus- These red itchy rashes are called Ofuji Disease, when it occurs to HIV negative people. They grow around the hair follicle of the upper part of the body, except the legs and stomach.
   • Psopiaris- red scaly patches appear on the skin, when the immune system stars failing. It makes the cycle of skin growth faster
   • Hives- these are skin allergies caused due to food or medicines.

It is not necessary that all these types of rashes grow during the course of the disease. They may or may not appear at all. Some of them may not be harmful, or reveal any sign of HIV. However, it is always safe to go a HIV test, so that the reason for their growth gets evident and proper medication can be taken.