[Question #9613] skin peeling

31 months ago

Good afternoon

I am very sorry to be back asking questions over the same exposure. i have read that peeling skin of the foot and skin itching could be an early manifestation of hiv, and i wanted to know if that is correct, because both my girlfriend and i have our skin from our soles peeling and i dont really know what it is.

Does skin peeling mean an early infection of HIV? I have had itchiness over my body but no rash to be found, i am extremely confused, i did notice some slightly raised skin color dots on both my shoulders.

could it be that my previous tests post PEP missed the infection? i also still have some flakes coming out of my hair but it isnt dandruff. i keep worrying about it, i keep trying to move on but these symptoms weve had dont let me do so. i also read that people who had ART during the first weeks of infection went several months with negative serology and undetectable viral after treatment interruption.

31 months ago

i will be retesting at 6 months post exposure or i dont know if i should wait to 6 months after the last dose of pep, just be confident with my results. only becuase ive read that pep is possible to extend testing to swveral months more

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

31 months ago

*Sigh*. As Dr. Hook explained very directly and without equivocation, your tests prove you do not have HIV. It is not possible your tests missed it. Therefore no symptoms you have now or will ever have in the future are possibly due to HIV. And skin peeling definitely is not a symptom HIV. You do not need testing again for HIV, at 6 months or any other time, until and unless you have a future high risk exposure. Suck it up, believe it, and move on.

HHH, MD

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31 months ago

i understand it doesnt directly cause peeling but i read it can cause a psoriasis flare up and other skin conditions. i have no other explanation as to why my girlfriends feet are peeling and mine are dry and itchy. ive read that an early manifestion of HIV is that can cause skin diseases to flare up in the early infection

31 months ago

it has only been 5 months sinve i was possibly exposed. is that too early to cause skin complications?

31 months ago

i also have been experiencing green stool for the past 5 days

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

31 months ago

What exactly is unclear in my reply above: "no symptoms you have now or will ever have in the future are possibly due to HIV"???

"Skin complications" NEVER are the only sign of HIV. And stool color varies naturally and is not a symptom of HIV or any other significant medical condition. It is NOT POSSIBLE to have HIV and have negative HIV antibody test results. Skin peeling can follow minor viral infections like common colds. If you remain concerned, also please re-read our replies to your two previous questions, and concentrate on every word.

Your thinking about this is not normal. You might consider professional counseling to address whatever underlying psychological issues are making it difficult to understand and believe the repeated, reasoned, science-based advice you have had, probably from your own doctors as well as this forum.

That concludes this thread, which must be your last one. The forum does not permit repeated anxiety-driven questions on the same topic or exposure. Future new questions about this exposure, testing, and your fears about HIV will receive no reply and the posting fee will not be refunded. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is intended to reduce temptations to keep paying for questions with obvious answers. In addition, experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users' anxieties rather than reducing them. Finally, such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes. Thanks for your understanding.

I do hope this discussion (and the two previous ones) have been a little bit helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.

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