To control arthritis & pain, I take plaquenil, sulfasalazine & Cimbalta. Can medications slow down skin healing?

Question

Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis. Plaquenil: 400mg per day, Sulfasalazine: 500mgx6 per day, Cimbalta: 60mg per day. I notice that my skin takes a long time to heal (I have a lot of acne). Could this be related to the medication? If so, a possible treatment?

Alexandre Chagnon · Accepted Answer

Hello Ma'am, Yes, Plaquenil™ can cause a slowing of healing. But this slowing is still less than when someone has untreated arthritis. This is because the presence of inflammation in the body can greatly reduce the speed of healing. The best treatment is to make sure your arthritis is under control, and to leave the pimples alone. They will tend to heal more markedly if touched. Happy day, Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist