WebMD Ask the Pharmacist

Acne, Blemishes, and Rashes: Ask the Pharmacist

Pharmacist, Maria Marzella Sulli, PharmD, answers questions about treating acne, skin blemishes, and rashes.

Question:

My daughter is currently taking an antibiotic for impetigo, and prescription eye drops for her allergies. Is it safe for her to also take something to reduce her fever?

Answer:

Before making any recommendations, I would really need some additional information about your daughter and the medications she is using. Based on what you said in your post, my initial answer would be that it is unlikely that a medication for impetigo, or an eye drop medicine, would interfere with any over-the-counter fever reducers. So it is likely to be fine. I would suggest you ask your pharmacist to recommend a medication to reduce your daughter's fever based on her age, weight, and the other medications she's taking.

Question:

I have taken Valtrex for years and have had very few breakouts. Recently, the pharmacy I go to switched me to the generic. And now I'm having monthly breakouts. Where can I find the list of active and inactive ingredients for these two medications to see what the difference is? Thank you!

Answer:

The active ingredient in Valtrex is valacyclovir. The generic version of Valtrex has exactly the same ingredient. The inactive ingredients should not affect the efficacy of the medication, and you should expect the same results with both the brand and generic versions of the medication, if you are purchasing it from a licensed pharmacy. Your pharmacist should be able to provide you with a list of all the ingredients in each of the tablets. This information can be found on the package insert that comes with the bottles supplied to the pharmacy.

Question:

My son is taking doxycycline for his acne and wants to use Clean & Clear Advantage 2-in-1 acne medicine. Is there any drug interaction with these two?

Answer:

It is safe for your son to use Clean & Clear Advantage while taking doxycycline for his acne. The Clean & Clear system contains two medications to treat acne – salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. When he first starts using these medications, he may notice that his skin is dry and red. If the dryness and redness is bothersome, or if it persists, he should discontinue the Clean & Clear and talk to his dermatologist about what is best to use for his acne.

Question:

I was recently prescribed Renova for my face. The pharmacy phoned to inform me that my insurance doesn't cover it and that the cost is $186.00. I tried the samples and it was starting to help me. Is there a generic I can get in place of it?

Answer:

Renova contains tretinoin. I suggest you talk to your dermatologist and tell him/her that the cost of the Renova is too much for you and you would like to try the generic version of tretinoin. Your pharmacist is a great resource for assisting you with getting the best medication to treat your condition, at the best price possible.

Question:

If I am taking a biologic for psoriasis, what medications should I avoid? Antibiotics, birth control pills? Anything else?

Answer:

This question is a bit too vague for me to answer comfortably, especially without knowing which biologic you're taking.

Question:

Is it still safe to use a prescription antibiotic cream a year after it has expired?

Answer:

Expiration dates are provided to you on prescription products as a way to ensure that you are using a product at its best. Many medications lose potency over time, and some even can become dangerous to use after they expire. While in most cases it is not dangerous to use a product beyond its expiration date, if the antibiotic cream you are using has lost its ability to treat your infection, it may get worse and require even more extensive treatment. I suggest you contact your doctor for a new prescription and replace your expired medication with a new one.

Question:

What is triamcinolone acetonide cream used for?

Answer:

Triamcinolone is a steroid that is used topically for a number of conditions. Steroids are most commonly used for allergic-type rashes, such as allergic dermatitis or eczema, or for conditions like psoriasis.

Question:

If you put steroid cream on your legs for psoriasis, can it lead to weight gain?

Answer:

No. Applying steroid creams to your skin should not cause you to gain weight. One of the reasons topically applied steroids are favored over those taken systemically is that you can avoid most of the unwanted side effects of steroid use.

Question:

I recently got a rash on one side of my face. Could a change in birth control pills be causing this rash?

Answer:

It is possible. Any time you change medications, you could experience a new side effect. However, not all new symptoms are caused by medications. You would need to have your rash examined by a doctor in order to see if it is simply a drug side effect, or if something unrelated to the medication is causing the rash.

Question:

Can an antihistamine and amoxicillin be taken at the same time?

Answer:

Yes. Antihistamines are safe to take with amoxicillin. There are no drug interactions between any of the readily available antihistamines and amoxicillin. If you need an antihistamine to treat your allergies, you should consult your pharmacist, who can recommend the best one for you and your symptoms.

Question:

What is Nystatin prescribed for?

Answer:

Nystatin is a medication used to treat fungal infections.

Question:

My father has swelling in each of his legs, from the knee down. He is currently taking cyclosporine. Could the swelling be a side effect of the drug?

Answer:

There are many things that can cause swelling below the knee, known as edema. It is usually a result of fluid retention, and can be caused by several different health conditions. Cyclosporine has been associated with causing edema in less than 2% of the people that take it. I suggest you contact the prescriber and notify him/her of your father's swelling. They can tell you how best to handle it, considering his past medical history.

Question:

I am taking hydroxyzine every 8 hours. It's not helping my itching or rash. Can I take more than one dose at a time or closer together?

Answer:

It is not recommended to take more medication than you were prescribed. If a medication you were prescribed is not working, you should consult the health care professional that prescribed it, and let them know. It may be that the medication is not right for your condition, and that something else, besides an allergy, is causing your itching.

Question:

What are the side effects for silver sulfadiazine cream USP?

Answer:

Silver sulfadiazine cream (SSD) is commonly used to treat burns on the skin. The most common side effects of SSD cream are local reactions, such as redness, itching, and skin irritation. If you are experiencing any side effects that have you concerned, you should talk to your health care provider.

Question:

My 2 year-old is a thumb sucker, and her thumb is very chapped and sore to touch. But she keeps putting it back in her mouth. What can I put on it that help heal it, and is safe if she puts it in her mouth?

Answer:

The best way to heal your daughter's thumb is to get her to stop sucking it. You may have success by keeping it covered with a bandage. This way, you can apply something to it to help aid in the healing process, and it might deter her from putting the thumb in her mouth.

There are products sold over-the-counter to help stop thumb sucking. One such product will make her thumb taste terrible and help deter her from putting it in her mouth. They also sell a variety of thumb covers that help children break the habit. For most people, it is a matter of trial and error.

Question:

What OTC medicines are available for cold sores?

Answer:

There are many over-the-counter medications available for cold sores. Most of them treat the pain and discomfort of a cold sore with anesthetics. There is one product available that speeds up the healing process for cold sores called Abreva, which contains docosanol. This medication, when applied several times throughout the day at the first sign of a cold sore, can reduce the time the cold sore lasts. I suggest you talk to your pharmacist who can help you find a remedy for your particular situation.

Question:

Is it OK to spend a little time in the sun when taking hydrochlorothiazide? I take it once a day.

Answer:

Hydrochlorothiazide can make your skin extra sensitive to the sun, which means you will burn more easily, or get a rash from sun exposure. While it is OK to spend some time in the sun, I recommend you apply a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 before doing so, to avoid a reaction.

Question:

Can I drink alcohol while taking valacyclovir?

Answer:

It is safe to drink in moderation while using valacyclovir. There are no dangerous interactions.

Question:

I'm treating my 2 year-old with amoxicillin for an ear infection. Can this cause a rash?

Answer:

Yes. If your child develops a rash while taking amoxicillin it is important to contact his/her pediatrician immediately. It could be a sign of an allergic reaction, or a harmless side effect. But the only way to tell is to have it examined by a doctor.

Question:

I am using a cream with betamethasone, clotrimazole, and gentamicin in it. I was using it for my face and it seems to be working. But I wanted to know what these ingredients in this prescription do?

Answer:

Betamethasone is a steroid that treats inflammation. Clotrimazole treats infections caused by fungus. And gentamicin is an antibiotic that treats bacterial infections.

Question:

I recently started using the patch to quit smoking. Now I've developed an itchy, red area on my skin that's very warm to the touch. Did the patch cause this, and why?

Answer:

If the redness and itchiness is in the same spot as where you applied the patch, this is a common side effect of patches applied to the skin. It is important when you use a patch to rotate the sites of application each day and to try and avoid using the same spot for at least 7 days. This can help curb the local reaction caused by the patch. If it happens every day, wherever you apply the patch, you could be allergic to one of the ingredients in the patch. You can ask your pharmacist to suggest a different patch, or a different method to help you quit smoking if you are allergic to the patch you are using.

Question:

I am on prednisone and hydroxyzine for poison ivy. Is it safe to take an oral decongestant as well?

Answer:

There are no significant interactions between the medications prednisone, hydroxyzine, and oral decongestants, such as phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine. It would be safe with these medications to take an oral decongestant, but I would need to know more about you and your symptoms to tell you if it is safe for you to take a decongestant.

Question:

Since taking Plavix, I noticed a rash developing on my chest, arms, and back, accompanied by a lot of itching. Is this normal? Can anything be done about it?

Answer:

No. The reaction you described would not be considered normal. If you experience a rash from a medication, you should contact your doctor immediately. It could be a sign of an allergic reaction to the medication or a serious side effect.

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