World AIDS Day 2023: How AIDS affects your skin; measures to prevent infections

HIV/AIDS can make you susceptible to diseases and infections due to weakened immune system and this can include skin disorders. Individuals with AIDS are particularly susceptible to various skin conditions due to their compromised immunity," says Dr Rinky Kapoor, Consultant Dermatologist, Cosmetic Dermatologist & Dermato-Surgeon, The Esthetic Clinics. "Seborrhoeic dermatitis is one of the earliest and most common manifestation in which the patient presents with itching and widespread and excessive greasy flakes over scalp, face and skin folds like underarms and groin. "Due to reduced immunity, bacterial skin infections also become more common and recurrent leading to painful wounds with pus discharge, including tuberculosis of the skin which presents with non-healing deep wounds and ulcers," says Dr Gupta. "Other viral infections that are common in AIDS include Molluscum contagiosum which presents as multiple painless skin coloured dome shaped bumps and viral warts which present as multiple painless, finger like rough projections over the body.