Dry Skin and Rashes

Dry, itchy skin is called “pruritus” and is very common in people taking ribavirin and interferon.  Mild itching and rashes may also occur around the site of your interferon injection or anywhere else on your body.  
 
You should tell your health care provider as soon as possible if you experience pain, redness, or swelling at the site of injection! This could be a sign of infection.  To prevent infections from occurring, always clean the area well with alcohol before injecting your interferon.
 
Question:  What should I do if my skin is dry or irritated or has a rash?
 
Answer:  Sometimes curing dry skin can be difficult.  While scratching may temporarily relieve the itching, it can cause damage to your skin surface and should be avoided. Common ways to decrease dryness, rash, or itching include:
 
• Do not use harsh soaps, and avoid taking long hot showers, which can dry the skin. 

• Wearing loose-fitting clothes made of soft material. 

• Keep the dry skin covered!  This means wearing gloves, socks, pants, etc. when going outside in bad weather (either really hot or really cold). 

• Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream (1%) may help some more persistent itching. 

• Increase polyunsaturated fats in your diet (vegetable oils) such as olive oil and nuts. If skin on hands or feet cracks, apply pure lanolin and wear cotton gloves or socks to bed.  

• Use Aveeno®*, or Lubriderm®* after showering or washing with soap. 

• Keeping skin moisturized is most important.  Try using a hypoallergenic (non-scented) lotion like Eucerin®*,

Use of Medications 

There currently are some oral medications that may help relieve the itchiness caused by dry skin.  Talk to your health care provider to see if it is right for your symptoms.

You Should Know!

Show your health care provider if you have developed a rash anywhere on your body (injection site, hands, torso, etc.).  Most rashes that develop while on treatment are simply annoyances, but some rashes can indicate a problem, that requires specialized treatment or a referral to a dermatologist.