"HCV infection significantly lowered vitamin B(6) and folate (p<0.05). Therapy caused further decrease in vitamin B(6) (p<0.05), and also significantly decreased vitamins B(1) and B(2) (p<0.05). This anti-HCV therapy caused more patients to exhibit insufficient iron status.
HCV infection elevated plasma level of malondialdehyde and 8-isoprostane, and therapy further exacerbated lipid oxidation (p<0.05). HCV infection significantly lowered vitamin C and glutathione levels (p<0.05); therapy significantly reduced alpha-tocopherol and activity of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION:
This anti-HCV therapy elevated oxidative stress and depleted B vitamins and iron. Thus, the supplement of antioxidant agents, B vitamins and/or iron should be considered for patients with this therapy in order to avoid other healthy risk."
- Vitamins B depletion, lower iron status and decreased antioxidative defense in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated by pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin.
You need to discuss this with and endocrinologist and possibly a dermatologist. It would appear that some vitamin deficiencies are causing this, but without proper blood work and other tests, it is hard to discern.