Cutaneous adverse drug reactions

Abstract

Cutaneous adverse drug reactions are common and occur with around 2% of new prescriptions. They can vary significantly in their presentation and often mimic other skin pathologies. Most are mild drug eruptions, and management is largely supportive until resolution upon withdrawal of the causative drug. In rarer cases, they present as severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) with systemic involvement, which carry potential significant morbidity and mortality. Prompt recognition of SCARs results in better patient outcomes. Correct and timely diagnosis is often challenging because of clinical presentations that evolve over time and difficulty in identifying the culprit drug in multi-medicated patients.