Anabolic steroids and adverse effects

Anabolic steroids may cause many adverse effects, depending on the dosage and period of use. An increase in blood pressure is the most common side effect, especially when the user already has hypertension. Steroid users also experience an increase in total cholesterol level and a decrease in HDL cholesterol in many cases. Testosterone increases the risk of heart disease. Acne is also a relatively common side effect of anabolic steroids. Testosterone is metabolized into dihydrotestosterone, which can increase the rate of male pattern baldness in users with this genetic predisposition. Testosterone can also produce baldness by itself in female users. Skin conditions are among the earliest predictors of the presence of HIV in the body, and are often viewed as markers for the disease’s progression. Approximately 90 percent of all HIV-infected individuals will present rash-like symptoms during the course of their disease. HIV-related rashes generally fall into one of three categories: generalized dermatitis; bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections and skin tumors. Generalized skin rashes are the most commonly experienced symptom of HIV.

Among the primary types of generalized dermatitis seen among HIV infected patients:  

Xerosis: Approximately 20 percent of all HIV-infected individuals will experience xerosis, which can be described as general dryness of the skin. This form of skin dryness often affects the body’s extremities and presents with dry, itchy, and scaly skin patches. Treatment of xerosis includes topical moisturizers containing urea and topical steroids.
Atopic dermatitis: This chronic inflammatory condition, often characterized with red, scaly, and itchy rashes, is seen in approximately 30 to 50 percent of HIV-infected patients. Typical treatment involves the application of topical steroids.
Prurigo nodularis: Prurigo nodularis can be characterized as lumps on the skin that cause scab-like appearances and itchiness. This type of dermatitis is typically seen among patients with extremely compromised immune systems. Current treatment protocol includes topical steroids and antiviral drugs.
Eosinophillic folliculitis: Characterized typically by itchy, red bumps centered on hair follicles, this form of dermatitis presents most frequently in patients in later stages of the disease’s progression. While it can appear on any bodily surface, it tends to cluster on the upper body. Current treatments include antiretroviral drug regimens to help restore the patient’s immune system, topical steroids, and antihistamines.