Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your doctor.

Conditions

• A recent medical treatment, such as major surgery
• A recent serious illness, particularly if it caused a high fever
• Malnutrition or severe dieting

Lifestyle choices

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal

Medicines

• Birth control pills
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• High doses of vitamin A
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Prescription medicines for gout, arthritis, depression, heart problems, or high blood pressure
• Blood thinners

Diseases

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Eczema (atopic dermatitis) or seborrhea
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Lichen planus
• Lupus
• Malnutrition or starvation
• Psoriasis
• Skin allergies
• Thyroid disease