As often as Cipro is prescribed, patients may not know what to expect from symptoms of Cipro skin reaction.

Cipro, or ciprofloxacin, is the most frequently prescribed member of a class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones. After being on the U.S. market for over 25 years, Cipro is now prescribed to about 20 million U.S. patients every year.

According to the FDA’s Medication Guide for Cipro, treatment with this drug may lead to a number of possible skin reactions.

Cipro is known to make patients’ skin more sensitive to intense light, such as sunlight or the light from heat lamps or tanning beds. Too much exposure can lead to sunburn, blisters or swelling.

For that reason, the FDA recommends that patients avoid these light sources while taking Cipro. Patients who must spend time in sunlight are encouraged to use sunscreen and wear hats and clothing that covers the skin.

Yellowing of the skin can also happen on Cipro, as can yellowing of the eyes. These symptoms can be the sign of a serious liver condition, so the FDA recommends patients check in with their care providers immediately if these symptoms appear.

Another reported Cipro skin reaction is skin rash. While this symptom may only be a temporary nuisance that resolves on its own, it could also be more significant than it may seem.

The FDA recommends patients contact their doctor at the first sign of a skin rash, because it can be an early sign of a much more serious condition.

A rash that appears as a Cipro skin reaction could be one of the earlier signs of Stevens Johnson syndrome, a rare condition that attacks the skin and in the worst cases may threaten the patient’s life.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome as a Cipro Skin Reaction

Typically, Stevens Johnson syndrome begins with symptoms like fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough and body aches. These symptoms can be mistaken for those of the flu or a respiratory tract infection, and a misdiagnosis can result in a delay in treatment.

Cipro skin reaction symptoms usually appear within a few hours or a few days. A tender and painful rash breaks out on the torso and spreads quickly to the face and limbs.

As the condition progresses, the outer layer of skin within these areas of rash begins to come loose and peel away, exposing the dermis beneath it.

The loss of skin leaves the patient particularly susceptible to infection, both local infections of the skin and systemic infections like septicemia.

Eye symptoms may also occur. Conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the mucous membranes connecting the eyelid to the white of the eye, is a characteristic complication of Stevens Johnson syndrome.

It can leave the eyes inflamed, irritated and purulent. Damage to the cornea may leave it scarred, putting the patient at risk for permanent blindness.

Mucous membranes elsewhere in the body are vulnerable to Stevens Johnson syndrome lesions. These lesions can attack the digestive, respiratory or genitourinary systems.

Patients with Stevens Johnson syndrome typically go through a long and involved recovery. Treatment requires inpatient hospitalization to provide constant control of symptoms and to prevent infection.

Patients may have to submit to a long term of hospitalization, racking up medical bills while being unable to earn income by working.