Drug-Induced Dermatitis: Causes, Common Triggers, and What to Do

When your skin breaks out in a rash after starting a new medicine, it’s not always just a coincidence. This is drug-induced dermatitis, a skin reaction triggered by medications that can range from mild redness to life-threatening blistering. Also known as medication rash or drug hypersensitivity, it’s one of the most common reasons people visit a doctor after starting a new prescription. It doesn’t mean you’re allergic to everything — just that your body reacted badly to something you took. Some drugs cause it more often than others: antibiotics like penicillin, seizure meds like phenytoin, NSAIDs like ibuprofen, and even common drugs like allopurinol or sulfa pills. The reaction can show up days or weeks after you start the drug, which makes it easy to miss the link.

Not all rashes from drugs are the same. Some look like hives — raised, itchy bumps. Others look like flat, red patches that spread. In rare cases, it turns into something serious like Stevens-Johnson syndrome, where the skin starts peeling off like a burn. That’s a medical emergency. If you notice blistering, peeling skin, or sores in your mouth or eyes after taking a new medicine, get help right away. Even mild cases matter: stopping the drug early can stop a small rash from turning into something worse. Doctors often have to guess which drug caused it, especially if you’re on multiple meds. That’s why keeping a list of everything you take — including supplements — is one of the smartest things you can do.

What you’ll find in the articles below are real-world examples of how medications cause skin reactions, how to tell if it’s a drug problem or something else, and what steps to take next. You’ll see how drugs like antidepressants, medications used to treat depression and anxiety can sometimes trigger skin issues, how generic drugs, lower-cost versions of brand-name medicines can still cause reactions just like the originals, and how even something as simple as a prescription verification, the process of double-checking your medication at the pharmacy can prevent a bad reaction before it starts. These aren’t theory pages — they’re guides from people who’ve been there. Whether you’re dealing with a rash now or just want to know what to watch for, this collection gives you the facts without the fluff.