What does hepatitis C virus look like on your skin?

The article was consulted professionally with MSc Vu Tan Phuc - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine, Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by a virus. Although it is a liver disease, hepatitis C also has certain effects on other areas of the body, including the skin.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (hepatitis C virus - HCV). There are many different causes of hepatitis, but viral hepatitis is the most common, with three common viruses being hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus.

The skin is one of the extrahepatic areas affected by hepatitis C virus. Common manifestations include:
Jaundice: Jaundice is a common condition when the body has liver diseases. Jaundice not only causes the skin to turn yellow, but also causes the sclera of the eye to turn yellow. The cause of jaundice is due to excessive accumulation of bilirubin (a substance metabolized by the liver) due to impaired liver function that does not guarantee the metabolism. Jaundice due to viral hepatitis can appear very early, right after being infected with the hepatitis C virus, and is most common when the liver has cirrhosis and loss of function. Bruises, easy bleeding: Hepatitis C causes liver damage, and the liver is the organ that produces clotting factors, leading to an insufficient amount of clotting factors, resulting in the body easily bleeding, difficulty stopping bleeding and easy bruising on the skin. Itching: Itching in hepatitis C has two causes. One is liver failure, causing bilirubin to accumulate causing jaundice and itching, and in this case itching may be only on the hands and feet, but it can also itch the whole body. Second, treatments for hepatitis C can also cause itching.

Urticaria: People with hepatitis are very common with hives. Urticaria in hepatitis patients is often itchy, long disappears, and after the urticaria is gone, it often leaves bruises on the skin. Star angiomas: When a group of blood vessels near the surface of the skin in any part of the body dilate, a star is formed. Angioplasty is a clinical sign for doctors to make initial diagnoses of liver-related diseases. For hepatitis C, vascular asterisk is a predictor of disease progression. Lichen planus: A condition that appears on the wrist as lilac-purple papules that then spread to other areas is called lichen planus. In the mouth may also appear flat lichen and cause pain. People with hepatitis C often have lichen planus, but the cause of lichen planus is unknown. Necrolytic acral erythema (NAE): If the skin on the feet or hands suddenly develops a psoriasis-like appearance, it is necrolytic acral erythema - a rare skin condition that can be an early sign of an inflammatory infection. viral liver C. Necrolytic acral erythema has not yet been identified. Late cutaneous porphyria (Porphyria cutanea tarda - PCT): Late cutaneous porphyria is a condition that leaves the skin vulnerable, with painful blistering. The condition is made worse by sun exposure. The cause of delayed skin porphyria is porphyrin accumulation in the liver, circulating in the blood to the skin. Other manifestations of late skin porphyria include darkening or lightening of the skin, scarring, facial hirsutism, and hair loss. Cryoglobulinemia: Cryoglobulinemia in people with hepatitis C is manifested by a rash. Cryoglobulinemia is a condition that occurs in blood vessels when in cold weather, plasma proteins stick together, especially in small and medium blood vessels, causing blood vessel blockage. Raynaud's Syndrome: The manifestation of Raynaud's syndrome is that the fingers, toes, nose or ears turn white or blue when cold, which may be accompanied by pain, numbness or tingling. The reason is that the low temperature causes the blood vessels to constrict, the blood flow slows down. Terry's Nails: This is a nail condition specifically associated with cirrhosis, which presents as translucent white nails with pink or red-brown streaks at the tips.

Article reference source: webmd.com