Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Fixed drug eruption
Introduction
Prescription or over the counter medications can cause many skin reactions. A fixed drug eruption is an uncommon occurrence characterized by a specific area of skin on a person’s body becoming painfully inflamed after consumption of the drug. The face, genitalia, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, knees and elbows typically exhibit the reaction. The reaction will typically occur in the exact same(“fixed”) location each time the person takes the same medication again.