Why should dermatovenereologists test for HIV?

More than 90% of people living with HIV, if their HIV is untreated, experience one or more skin conditions during the course of their infection. 1  This means that dermatovenereologists can play a vital role in diagnosing previously undiagnosed HIV infection.

In some cases, pre-existing conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis or psoriasis are exacerbated as HIV lowers the CD4 count and affects the immune response, while in others the skin problems are of new onset. Some conditions, such as Kaposi’s sarcoma, strongly indicate the presence of HIV.

When to test for HIV in dermatology and venereology