How does HIV affect the skin?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2013, about 1.2 million people were living with HIV in the United States.

HIV does not directly affect the skin. However, as HIV affects the body's ability to fight infection, people with HIV have an increased chance of developing certain health problems, including skin conditions.

Skin infections in people with HIV are often called opportunistic infections. Certain viruses and bacteria that may not cause illness in a person with a healthy immune system may be able to infect a person with a weakened immune system.

Skin lesions and rashes may also develop as a side effect of HIV medication.

The severity of skin lesions can vary. In some cases, only a small area of the skin is affected. In other instances, dozens or more skin lesions can develop.

Lymphocytes are white blood cells that help fight infection. CD4 is a blood test that measures the number of lymphocytes in your body.

The lower a person's CD4 count is, the more likely it is that they will develop certain skin lesions. The higher the levels of CD4 a person with HIV has the better they can fight infections, including those that affect the skin.

It's also important to understand that people who do not have HIV can also develop a variety of skin lesions. Having certain skin lesions does not necessarily mean that a person has HIV.