Does your skin turn darker when you take tuberculosis medicine?

It is true that some of the drugs can make the skin darker, mainly for reasons related to photosensitivity and liver damage. 1. Photosensitization: For example, pyrazinamide, levofloxacin and other drugs have photosensitive reactions, which can promote the enhancement of melanocyte activity in the skin, and long-term oral intake can cause the skin to become dark or appear spots. This situation is mainly desensitization treatment under the guidance of doctors, such as oral calcium, vitamin C, etc.. In addition, patients can be given sun protection measures during the medication period, such as wearing a hat, umbrella, while applying sunscreen, etc., to minimize the time of light exposure, and can also intermittently take oral vitamin E and other drugs that reduce melanocyte activity. 2, liver damage: many of the anti-tuberculosis drugs can cause liver damage, such as isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, etc., patients with liver damage can appear transaminases, bilirubin Patients with liver damage may experience elevated transaminases and bilirubin, as well as darkening and yellowing of the skin. In addition, severe tuberculosis can lead to wasting and the patient may also look darker. Dose reduction or discontinuation is mainly considered based on the indicators of transaminases and bilirubin. If the bilirubin is 2 times or more elevated and the transaminases are 5 times or more elevated, consider stopping the TB medication and giving liver-protective treatment and monitoring liver function. If the transaminase is 5 times or less elevated and the hyperbilirubin is 2 times or less elevated, reduce the dosage of tuberculosis drugs and give aggressive liver-protective therapy and monitor liver function. If liver function indicators become increasingly heavy during liver-protective therapy, the drug needs to be discontinued promptly.