{"id":629592,"date":"2024-08-29T13:08:11","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T17:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=629592"},"modified":"2026-06-04T18:08:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T22:08:00","slug":"dupixent-face-rash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/dupixent-face-rash\/","title":{"rendered":"Dupixent face rash and redness: Causes and treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Around <\/span>1 in 10 Americans have some type of eczema<\/span><\/a>, which means 10% of the country deals with dry, itchy, inflamed, scaly skin or lesions. <\/span>Dupixent<\/span><\/a> (dupilumab) is a biologic monoclonal antibody medication that can help treat moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), as well as asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, and nasal polyps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although it can relieve some of this skin disease\u2019s most irritating symptoms, dupilumab treatment may also cause side effects, specifically a facial rash and facial erythema (redness). Not everyone experiences these reactions, but it\u2019s important to understand how and why a Dupixent face rash and other symptoms occur.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Dupixent works in the body<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s still <\/span>unclear what causes atopic dermatitis<\/span><\/a>, the most common form of adult and pediatric eczema, but it\u2019s <\/span>commonly regarded as an immune system and skin barrier condition<\/span><\/a>. This is when the layer of the skin that would typically keep out things like allergens and bacteria doesn\u2019t properly do its job. Those intruders trigger the immune system, which releases certain proteins that cause skin inflammation. It\u2019s essentially an immune response gone wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n

The proteins released by the immune system are called interleukin-4 and interleukin-13, and they\u2019re Dupixent\u2019s targets. It blocks them from binding to their designated receptors, curbing the immune system\u2019s response and reducing or preventing atopic dermatitis symptoms. Systematic reviews and clinical trials have shown that <\/span>Dupixent is safe and effective<\/span><\/a> for patients ages <\/span>6 months and older<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dupixent is a biologic drug, which means it\u2019s <\/span>created from living cells<\/span><\/a> rather than synthetic chemicals. Biologics can target very specific cells or proteins within the immune system, giving them a more pointed attack on certain conditions. As such, Dupixent isn\u2019t a broad immunosuppressant like other <\/span>eczema drugs<\/span><\/a>, so it won\u2019t increase the risk of infections.<\/span><\/p>\n

Does Dupixent cause a face rash?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Facial rashes and redness aren\u2019t listed as adverse effects in Dupixent\u2019s clinical trials, but they\u2019re <\/span>well-documented in case reports<\/span><\/a> and other research. In fact, researchers have estimated that anywhere between 4% and 44% of patients may experience facial dermatitis or neck erythema after taking dupilumab, the active ingredient in Dupixent, according to the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Michael O. McKinney, MD, primary physician at <\/span>Healthy Outlook<\/span><\/a> in Jacksonville, Florida, facial skin reactions may \u201coccur due to the paradoxical local skin inflammation caused by the suppression of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 as it interferes with erythema.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The underlying cause of these side effects may vary by patient. \u201cDupilumab facial redness (DFR) has many different causes, including dupilumab hypersensitivity, inflammation from Malassezia yeast or Demodex mites, allergic contact dermatitis, and a reaction to the drug itself,\u201d says <\/span>Amy Huang, MD<\/span><\/a>, board-certified dermatologist with <\/span>Medical Offices of Manhattan<\/span><\/a> and contributor to <\/span>LabFinder<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Malassezia is a particular strain of yeast that\u2019s common around the body\u2019s sebaceous glands, so it can accumulate near the head, neck, and scalp, and it\u2019s a common culprit in head and neck dermatitis. <\/span>One hypothesis says<\/span><\/a> that dupilumab might activate the immune system to cause Malassezia-induced inflammation.<\/span><\/p>\n

If a Dupixent-related face rash occurs, a healthcare provider can diagnose and treat it. This characterization may require patch testing, a skin biopsy, or other tests, but diagnosis often only requires a visual examination.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other Dupixent side effects<\/span><\/h2>\n

Facial dermatitis is one of the most visible Dupixent side effects. However, other adverse events are less obvious. Some main <\/span>side effects of Dupixent<\/span><\/a> include:<\/span><\/p>\n