Statins are a group of medicines that can help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol is a waxy substance that clings to the inside of your artery walls; a process that can raise your risk of heart disease. The effects of taking statins are not entirely benign, however.

The cholesterol-lowering drugs can cause an array of side effects, some of which are woefully overlooked in the literature. According to research published in the journal Hindawi, certain skin reactions can be engendered from taking statins.

The nature and progression of these skin reactions can differ depending on the type of statin one is taking. For example, there are a number of distinct skin reactions associated with taking atorvastatin, notes the research.

Statins can cause a number of side effects, such as headache, dizziness and feeling sick, says the NHS.

One of the most widely searched questions is whether statins can weight gain.

The link to weight gain was elucidated in a ten-year study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

The study found that patients on statins eat more fat and calories, and gain weight faster, than those not taking them.

The findings suggest that, when people observe a reduction in their cholesterol levels, they neglect their dietary habits.

The study of almost 28,000 adults in the US found that over a ten-year period those taking statins had an unhealthier diet and more weight gain.

Their calorie intake was 10 per cent higher in 2010 than in 2000 and fat consumption went up 14.4 per cent, while it stayed the same for non-statin users.

The body mass index (BMI) – a measure of a person's weight against their height – increased 1.3 among statin users, three times as much as the gain of 0.4 among non-statin users.