Any ideas what this is?

[BM]

Shortly after I started my meds (Kivexa + Viramune), I developed very severe dandruff and was experiencing what I can only term 'prickly heat'. A couple of weeks later, I started to develop what I thought was acne. The doctors diagnosed 'folliculitis' and I was given ketoconazole shampoo and Daktacort ointment (hydrocortisone + miconazole). The shampoo cleared up the dandruff, but the ointment has had no effect. My chest and back are covered in what looks like acne, but the individual red bumps are not filled with pus. I also have this across my nose and cheeks. My forehead is similarly affected, but the bumps there are not red. It's all INCREDIBLY itchy. I've now been started on Doxycycline "to see if that works". Does anyone have any idea what this could be or what might clear it up? My doctors seem clueless. I'm also taking Dapsone, Cetirizine and Omeprazole.

Thanks for any ideas.

[Assurbanipal]

Hi

Just wondering if you have you seen a dermatologist who has experience in HIV issues?  I know my GP initially thought I had folliculitis.  But when I saw a dermatologist and told him I was +, he looked for about 5 minutes and then said that they were molluscum contagiosum.  According to him molluscum are again fairly rare now that HAART is so effective, but he used to see a lot of it 15 years ago.  (Nice older chap -- he went into his closet and pulled out a 10 year old brochure on them for me   .

The moral of this story being not that you necessarily have molluscum contagiosum, but that a dermatologist with HIV experience may be your best bet for figuring out what you do have.


Good luck

Assurbanipal

[J.R.E.]

Hi Brian,

See if any material here, will help you out a little :

http://www.aidsmap.com/en/docs/6A20614D-5C53-444F-BAAB-07C48213F1C2.asp

Also:


http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/MC_6812.shtml


Ray