Dictone » Skin Rashes

Skin Rashes

A rash affects the color and texture of skin. It may affect on one part of the body, or affects all over the body. A rash may cause the skin to change its color, become warm, itch, redness, bumpy, dry, cracked or blistered, swell and may be painful. Treatments for rashes available widely.

Skin rashes includes a simple rash which causes inflammation of the skin. Another type of rash is contact dermatitis, as its name implies it causes by the things your skin touches, for example chemicals through your cosmetics, soaps, detergents etc. Seborrheic dermatitis, it appears in patches of redness and scaling around the eyebrows, eyelids, nose, mouth, the trunk, and behind the ears. If it appears in your scalp, it is called dandruff in adults and cradle cap in infants.

Diagnosis of Skin Rashes
For a common man they may feel that all the rashes are same. But a doctor can distinguish it with some tests. Diagnosis of rashes takes into account things such as the appearance of the rash, other symptoms, what the patient may have been exposed to, occupation, and occurrence in family members.

Many skin rashes are simple and short-lived and vanishes with little care. But some skin rashes are highly contagious and can lead to a number of serious, even life-threatening rashes, diseases, meningitis, Lyme disease, typhoid fever, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Do not diagnose it on your own. If you found some symptoms of rashes then concern your family doctor or dermatologist for better care especially if you have other symptoms, like fever, infection, swollen lymph nodes, headache, shortness of breath, a stiff neck, sensitivity to light, or achy joints.

Common Causes of Skin Rashes

• Hives: Due to allergies from foods, medicines, dyes, insect stings.
• Medication: Infection or reaction to a vaccine
• Eczema or acne: It happens due to allergies or asthma. The rash due to eczema is red, itchy, and scaly.
• Disease: Cancer or other diseases.
• Disorders like psoriasis: The rash is red, scaly, itchy patches over joints and along the scalp. Fingernails may be affected.
• Summer rash: Rash due to exposure to the sun or heat.
• Impetigo: It is common in children's, a rash appears as a red sores that turn into blisters, ooze, then crust over.
• Shingles: It is also caused by the same virus as chickenpox. It appears in a painful blistered skin.
• Childhood illnesses: Rash can also occur due to the childhood illness like chicken pox, roseola, measles, rubella, hand-foot-mouth disease, fifth disease, and scarlet fever.
• Dyes and other chemicals in clothing
• Cosmetics, soaps, and detergents
• Chemicals in elastic, latex, and rubber products
• Poison ivy, oak, or sumac
• Skin contact with an irritant
• Pregnancy

Skin Rashes Home Care

• Do not scrub your skin.
• To clean your skin, use as little soap or mild as possible or you can use a gentle cleansers instead.
• Do not apply cosmetic lotions or ointments directly on the rash.
• Do not use too hot water to wash (or for bath) your skin instead use a warm water. While drying your skin do not rub your skin, dry it by patting. Apply a good moisturizer.
• Keep moisturized your skin but avoid moisturizers that clog the pores.
• Take showers or quick baths. A long soak can dehydrate your skin.
• Do not try the new cosmetics on your skin.
• Take care that the affected area will expose to the air as much as possible.
• Use natural fibers like cotton that allow air to circulate over affected areas.
• If you have contact dermatitis then try calamine medicated lotion.
• Nonprescription medicine for rashes:
  • Hydrocortisone cream (1%): helps to soothe rashes.
  • Anti-itch creams containing camphor, menthol, pramoxine, or diphenhydramine
  • Moisturizing lotions: may helpful to cure eczema.
  • Antihistamines like diphenhydramine, chlortrimeton, or loratadine
  • Oatmeal bath products: to relieve symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, or shingles.
• Psoriasis: For psoriasis, you may need a prescription. Use ultraviolet (UV) light therapy for psoriasis, under medical supervision. The light therapy is not offered by all clinics or hospitals. However, if you want to purchase a home unit, look for a device that delivers narrow band UVB light.
• Seborrheic dermatitis: For seborrheic dermatitis, you can try small amounts of anti-dandruff shampoo to patches of this scaly rash on your skin, especially near hairy areas like your eyebrows. Put it on your skin for 10 minutes and then wash off it. If it feels irritating or your skin becomes redder, then stop to use it.
• Impetigo: An antibacterial cream or oral antibiotic is generally prescribed for impetigo.

Skin Rashes Prevention

• A simple answer is to keep your skin healthy to prevent rashes.
• Keep washing your hands neatly to prevent spreading viruses like roseola, hand-foot-mouth disease, and fifth disease.
• Identify the products that irritates your skin and avoid using them.
• Take appropriate vaccines for childhood illnesses, like the varicella vaccine for chicken pox and MMR immunization (a combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella).
• Make use of relaxation or stress managing methods like yoga, meditation, or tai chi.
• To prevent scarlet fever get strep throat treated right away.
• Protect your skin from the elements like sun and wind.
• Keep your skin clean and well-moisturized
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Exercise regularly.

• Life Threatening Skin Rashes
• Childhood Skin Rashes
• Summer Skin Rashes