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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Skin reaction to antibiotics?
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
Welcome to the DERMATOLOGY FORUM! Questions in this forum are answered by Dermatologists from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, under the direction of Andrew Alexis, M.D., M.P.H.
Skin reaction to antibiotics?
by mgcn, Sep 05, 2002 12:00AM
A year ago I was diagnosted with Chronic Prostatitis. I have been on antibiotics for over 8 months. First Levaquin,then Doxycycline, Levaquin again then Eurothomycyn. After two weeks of Levaquin I noticed A lump in my penis veins that I never had(could that be from abx?). As well as dark red patches on my penis glans, corona and head. Very distressful. All my doctors ignore or dismiss my complains because they simply don't know. I treated with pramosone cream 2.5% for over two months, no avail(help a bit,not enough to go away). We also thought it could be psoriasis, so I treated with protopic and dovonex. not too much help either. Then I read some of your posts and realize that this is probably a REACTION TO THE ANTIBIOTICS. not a fixed drug erythema,but some kind of reaction. I am convinced that is the antibiotics,what you think?if you agree, how long do you think that will take to go away?is there any cream I can put on to help,maybe cutivate? provide it that I stop the abx of course. Prostatitis is hard and painful enough without the eye sore of the redness, I wish I could make it go away. Looking at it, scares me,specially when I have an erection. It gets a furious red/burgundy look. I learn to live with the lump,but the redness is really bad. Hope you can help me.I also thought it could be an infection,bacteria or fungus,but realized that everytime i start a new abx it gets worst, any suggestion for treatment for this. I am hoping and praying that I wont have to take any more abx. Thank you so much!!G'd Bless! Regards MGCN
PS: years ago when i took SULFA , I had fixed drug eruption in my lips and penis. This is different but I am sure is a REACTION.
PS: years ago when i took SULFA , I had fixed drug eruption in my lips and penis. This is different but I am sure is a REACTION.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Sep 05, 2002 12:00AM
, Sep 05, 2002 12:00AM
The truth is, I'm not sure. Fixed drug eruptions are hard to diagnose. Doing so generally requires a biopsy (not as bad as it sounds, but still a proecedure in a sensitive area.)
Are you still taking antibiotics? Even if so, a reaction to the first one wouldn't persist soong after switching. Reacting to one antibiotic tells you nothing about reacting to another.
If I were you, I'd see a dermatologist, or reconsult the first. Another look, and perhaps a skin biopsy, may be in order to clarify and treat. But infection and allergy don't seem at all likely.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Are you still taking antibiotics? Even if so, a reaction to the first one wouldn't persist soong after switching. Reacting to one antibiotic tells you nothing about reacting to another.
If I were you, I'd see a dermatologist, or reconsult the first. Another look, and perhaps a skin biopsy, may be in order to clarify and treat. But infection and allergy don't seem at all likely.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
