A large amount of cholesterol is found in your skin. It helps retain moisture and keep out toxins. It's no wonder then that both elevated blood cholesterol and cholesterol medications also affect your skin. One major source of complaints regarding medications to lower your cholesterol is the often uncomfortable side effects they have on your skin -- from itching to reddening. Your health care provider can advise you on some techniques you can use to lower your chances of having a skin-related side effect from cholesterol medicines.
Niacin
Niacin is one of the most cost-effective cholesterol treatments, but is also the most notorious for causing skin problems. One of the most common side effects of niacin is skin flushing, or the sudden onset of reddening of the skin. If you take nicotinic acid for cholesterol treatment, you could experience skin flushing on your face and neck. You may also experience intense itching, dry skin and skin darkening. Taking the slow-release version of niacin, which has lower doses of the medication, may help reduce the flushing. Your doctor may also advise you to take a low-dose aspirin 30 minutes before taking niacin to mitigate flushing. The skin symptoms you can experience as a result of taking niacin typically begin five minutes to a few hours after taking the medicine; the symptoms can last from a few minutes, to rarely, a few hours. You can build your tolerance to the medication over time, but about 25 percent of people who start the immediate-release version of niacin stop taking it due to its side effects, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Statins
Statins are arguably the most well-known cholesterol medications, and some authorities say they are among the most effective in lowering your bad cholesterol. However, skin rashes are a side effect of taking statins. Taking an aspirin before you take a statin may help, but MayoClinic.com advises that you consult your doctor first.
Fibrates
Fibrates are important components of cholesterol treatment because they help increase your good cholesterol levels. Like statins, however, they sometimes cause skin rashes. Your skin may also peel, and you can experience jaundice, or yellowing of the skin, if you take certain kinds of fibrates, notes Drugs.com. Skin-related problems are not the most common side effects of fibrates, however, so you should contact your doctor immediately if you experience these problems.
Combination Prescriptions
Because different types of cholesterol medications work in different ways, your doctor may prescribe more than one type of medication or prescribe a single medication that is a combination drug. According to MayoClinic.com, you have a greater chance of experiencing a rash and flushing if you take a combination of a statin and niacin rather than taking just one of these medications. Be sure to talk with your doctor about your skin concerns before you begin taking medication.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Cholesterol - Medications; Harvey Simon; May 5, 2009
- Hepatitis A-Z; The Cholesterol Controversy; Mark Johnson
- Cleveland Clinic: About Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs;
- Harvard Health Publications; Help for Your Cholesterol When the Statins Won't Do; March 2005
- MayoClinic.com; Statin Side Effects: Weigh the Benefits and Risks; Oct. 28, 2010
- Drugs.com; Fenofibrate Side Effects; April 2011
