From the FDA Drug Label
Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, serum sickness, angioedema, urticaria, rash, erythema nodosum, and erythema multiforme have occurred. Hypersensitivity reactions were reported in <1% of DUPIXENT-treated subjects. These included anaphylaxis, serum sickness or serum sickness-like reactions, generalized urticaria, rash, erythema nodosum, and erythema multiforme
Dupixent can cause a rash. This is stated in the warnings and precautions section of the drug label, which lists rash as a potential hypersensitivity reaction 1, 1.
From the Research
Dupixent (dupilumab) can cause skin reactions, including rashes, in some patients, but the most recent and highest quality study 2 suggests that these reactions are generally mild to moderate and do not require discontinuation of treatment. The most common skin-related side effect is injection site reactions, which may appear as redness, swelling, or itching at the location where the medication was administered. Some patients also experience more widespread rashes or eczema-like symptoms.
- These skin reactions typically occur in about 10-15% of patients using Dupixent.
- If you develop a rash while using Dupixent, it's essential to contact your healthcare provider, as they can determine whether the rash is related to the medication and recommend appropriate management.
- Dupixent works by blocking certain inflammatory proteins (IL-4 and IL-13), which can sometimes lead to paradoxical skin reactions as the immune system adjusts to the medication. According to the study 2, dupilumab in combination with topical corticosteroids resulted in significant improvement in overall Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) compared with placebo plus TCS, and the benefits were sustained through 52 weeks.
- The study also found that dupilumab significantly improved the severity of all individual AD signs to a similar extent across four anatomic regions.
- Another study 3 found that dupilumab provided rapid and sustained clinically meaningful responses in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, with 80.2% of dupilumab-treated patients achieving improvement in signs, symptoms, or quality of life at 6 months. Overall, while Dupixent can cause skin reactions, including rashes, the benefits of treatment often outweigh the risks, and the majority of patients can continue treatment with appropriate management of any skin-related side effects.