Evaluation of dermatologic disorders in HIV

Last reviewed: 9 Apr 2025
Last updated: 03 Jan 2025

Summary

Differentials

Common

  • Psoriasis
  • Seborrheic dermatitis
  • Atopic dermatitis
  • Xerosis
  • Perioral dermatitis
  • Acne vulgaris
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) - warts or condylomata acuminata
  • Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
  • Varicella zoster virus (VZV)
  • Folliculitis
  • Syphilis (Treponema pallidum)
  • Scabies
  • Insect bite
  • Candida
  • Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
  • HIV-related lipodystrophy
  • Nail lesions
  • Gonorrhea
  • Chlamydia/lymphogranuloma venereum
  • Aphthous ulcers
Full details

Uncommon

  • Photodermatitis
  • Prurigo nodularis (PN)
  • Papular pruritic eruption of HIV (PPE)
  • Eosinophilic folliculitis
  • Cutaneous manifestations of reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)
  • Molluscum contagiosum virus
  • Oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) (Epstein-Barr virus)
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (primary or acute infection)
  • Bullous impetigo
  • Ecthyma
  • Botryomycosis
  • Bacillary angiomatosis
  • Leishmaniasis
  • Dermatophytosis
  • Kaposi sarcoma
  • Melanoma
  • Squamous cell carcinoma
  • Morbilliform rash
  • Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)
  • Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)/Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)
  • Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS)
  • Chancroid
  • Merkel cell carcinoma
  • Leiomyosarcoma
  • Mpox
Full details

Contributors

Authors

Anja Potthoff, MD

Senior Doctor

Walk In Ruhr

Center for Sexual Health and Medicine

Department of Dermatology

University of Bochum

Borkum

Germany

Disclosures

AP is a co-author of a reference cited in this topic.

Norbert Brockmeyer, MD

Senior Doctor

Walk In Ruhr

Center for Sexual Health and Medicine

Department of Dermatology

University of Bochum

Bochum

Germany

Disclosures

NB is a co-author of some references cited in this topic.

Acknowledgements

Dr Anja Potthoff and Dr Norbert Brockmeyer would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Patrick Unemori and Dr Kieron Leslie, the previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

PU and KL declare that they have no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Viroj Wiwanitkit, MD

Professor of Tropical Medicine

Visiting Professor

Hainan Medical College

Haikou

China

Disclosures

VW declares that he has no competing interests.

Michael A. Waugh, MB, FRCP, FRCPI, FRChSHM, Dip. Ven, DHMSA

Retired Consultant Genitourinary Physician

Leeds General Infirmary

Honorary Sub Dean Northern and Yorkshire

Royal Society of Medicine

UK

Disclosures

MAW declares that he has no competing interests.

Jacqueline C. Dolev, MD, FAAD

Assistant Clinical Professor

Department of Dermatology

University of California San Francisco

San Francisco

CA

Disclosures

JCD declares that she has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

World Health Organization. Guidelines on the treatment of skin and oral HIV-associated conditions in children and adults. 2014 [internet publication].Full text

Maurer TA. Dermatologic manifestations of HIV infection. Top HIV Med. 2005;13(5):149-54. Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.

Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer