Pharmacoderma is a set of reactions of the skin and body, caused by the use of medications, which can manifest themselves in various ways, such as red spots on the skin, lumps, rashes or even skin detachment, which can be very serious.
Any medication can trigger these reactions on the skin, but the ones that most commonly cause these problems are antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, anticonvulsants and psychotropics.
Main signs and symptoms
Pharmacoderma can manifest itself in different ways, the main types of presentation being:
- Urticaria: forms reddish spots or plaques, scattered or localized, which can cause a lot of itching, being the most common type of allergy manifestation; Acneiform eruption: causes lesions, called exanthema, in the form of vesicles and which have the appearance of pimples; Erythroderma: is another type of rash that leaves the skin of the entire body red, followed by peeling; Pigmentary or multiform erythema: appearance of red or purple circular spots, with a small bubble in the center, common on the palms. It is common for the person to have the stain in the same place when using the medication again; Erythema nodosum: presence of hard nodules that are under the skin, with a red or purple color; Bullous eruptions: bubbles of different sizes and shapes, which are at risk of igniting and infecting; Photosensitivity: patches of varying colors, such as red or brown, triggered after exposure to the sun.
These reactions may be accompanied by other symptoms such as generalized itching, swelling in the mouth or eyes, upper respiratory symptoms, such as difficulty in breathing, such as rhinitis, cough or difficulty in swallowing, pain in the muscles and joints, fever above 40ºC, pain in the joints or, in more severe cases, difficulty in blood clotting.
To diagnose these changes, caused by drugs, the general practitioner or dermatologist must exclude other causes of skin blemishes, such as Zika virus infections, measles and reactions to products or clothing, for example. See which diseases cause red spots on the skin.
In addition, there are some syndromes that manifest themselves in a serious way, which may arise in some people due to the use of medicines, such as:
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome: presence of spots, blisters and even skin detachment, which may appear in the mouth mucous membranes; Toxic epidermal necrolysis: there is also skin detachment, which is quite intense and causes wounds that can reach the whole body, associated with fever, sore throat, cough and burning in the eyes; Drug hypersensitivity syndrome or DRESS: it is a reaction characterized by red spots, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and inflammation of organs, such as hepatitis.
These types of reactions are more common in women, people who are treated with various medications, who are exposed to the sun, with kidney or liver diseases, with genetic predisposition, who have some immunity alteration, as carriers of the HIV virus, babies, elderly or who have a history of food allergies.
How the treatment is done
In general, pharmacoderma is resolved after the drug is discontinued, or it is also possible to relieve symptoms with the use of anti-allergy agents or corticosteroids, for example, prescribed by the doctor.
In addition, during treatment, it is recommended that the person follow a light diet, with fewer products that can worsen skin reactions or cause allergies more easily, such as industrialized products, sausages, canned goods, milk, peanuts and tomatoes, for example. example. See what type of food you should have to improve dermatitis.
Signs of improvement
Signs of improvement start to appear when new lesions stop appearing, and the lesions start to decrease progressively. It is common, however, for some types of stains to last for some time, especially when they are dark residual stains or when they are triggered by the sun.
After improvement, it is important to follow up with the dermatologist, who can request an exam to assess the types of allergies that the person has, to better guide the drugs or products that should be avoided. See how the allergy test is done.
Signs of worsening
There is a risk of worsening in cases where the lesions may increase, or when the symptoms that accompany the skin lesions worsen, such as swelling, fever and joint pain. In these cases, you should go to the emergency room as soon as possible for treatment with medications, such as antiallergic and corticosteroids, to prevent the progression of the reaction and prevent it from turning into serious allergic reactions, such as anaphylactic shock or glottis edema, for example. example.
