A 2019 study indicates that there is an increase risk of skin infections to those that are taking statins. Statins are a popular class of drugs used to treat patients with high cholesterol. A physician may prescribe statins to lower the cholesterol if you are at risk for heart disease and your blood cholesterol test levels are outside normal limits. There are many articles promoting the benefits of statins and others that list the side effects and downsides of being on statins.
Once on a statin to lower cholesterol, most people are on it for life. Unlike dietary changes that can permanently lower cholesterol, statins will lower cholesterol chemically and it will be a medication that is needed in perpetuity in order to continue to work.
One of positive sides of statins, as promoted by some physicians, is that a persons reduces their Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD) risk. The cholesterol is lowered by the statin and creates less cholesterol in the body and reduces plaques in the arteries.
Some negative sides of statins are the side effects. Some people have an increased risk of diabetes, memory issues and muscle pain. The study referenced above showed some people on statins get statin-induced diabetes. The statin affected their blood sugar significantly which subsequently increased the risk of skin infections. If you are having issues with increased blood sugar after starting a regimen of statins, talk to your physician. It’s also possible you can lower your cholesterol through life style changes, although that can be challenging for some people, it is effective and has no side effects.
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