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A skin rash can be a frustrating and potentially serious problem. It’s not always simple to tell what the rash may mean or whether you need medical care. Here are some common types of rashes — and when to see a doctor about them:
1) A new rash that won’t go away is probably worth professional attention — especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, weight loss, or fatigue.
Fever alone isn’t enough to suggest you should see a doctor about a rash — but there could be an underlying medical problem that needs attention.
Emergency Warning Signs: If the rash suddenly appears along with any of these warning signs — either while you’re at home or in the hospital — get to a doctor right away:
- Blisters that look like more than simple pimples
- Hives (raised bumps, often itchy)
- Mouth sores (for instance, cold sores or blisters on your lips, gums, and tongue)
- A rash that looks like hives but does not go away when you take an antihistamine
- A rash that includes fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and stiff neck OR
- Skin infection (such as cellulitis or erysipelas) with a fever. These conditions can lead to sepsis: life-threatening complications in which bacteria enter the bloodstream and spread throughout your body. Sepsis can be deadly if it is not treated immediately.
2) If you have been exposed to poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac and develop a skin rash — especially if the rash appears within 48 hours of exposure — see your doctor as soon as possible. You may need an antianxiety medicine for short-term relief from the itching and a corticosteroid cream to reduce the inflammation.
3) If you have an itchy skin rash that resembles hives or welts, but your doctor rules out allergy, then you probably have dermatitis — also known as eczema. Some common triggers in adults with this condition are dryness (especially in winter), soaps and detergents, jewelry or watches with metal bands that touch the skin, stress, and overheated rooms. To ease discomfort temporarily while your body adjusts to a new medication: Apply cold compresses several times daily; take hot showers followed by excellent water applications; gently scrub affected areas with diluted baking soda; rinse thoroughly after each scrub and pat dry. Use fragrance-free moisturizer 2 to 3 times a day. If the rash is very red or itchy, apply 1% hydrocortisone ointment (no prescription needed) at bedtime for 2 or 3 nights in a row, then reduce the frequency as your skin improves. Long-term therapy with topical corticosteroid ointments may be helpful for some people.
Suppose your symptoms are mild and have not lasted long, especially if you have no known triggers. Try moisturizing more often; using fragrance-free soaps, detergents, and fabric softeners; wearing cotton clothing; taking cool baths or showers instead of hot ones; avoiding jewellery and metal watches or other clothing fasteners that touch your skin, and staying out of the heat when possible.
4) If you have a widespread rash that appears to be a skin infection, see your doctor about getting antibiotics — which can clear it up within days. Some of the most common types of rashes that need medical attention are
1) Impetigo — blisters or sores that become crusted over with yellowish-brown scabs.
2) Chickenpox (usually starts as tiny red bumps that develop into blisters and then scab over).
3) Bullous impetigo — fluid-filled blisters or sores often found on the lower legs but sometimes noted on the arms and trunk.
4) Cellulitis — painful swelling of tissue next to skin surface usually caused by strep bacteria or other staph bacteria.
5) Erysipelas — a strep infection that causes flaming red skin in the affected area.
5) If your facial rash isn’t due to a clear cause, consider rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis. Rosacea can occur on any part of your body, but it most commonly shows up on your face as tiny red pimples that make your skin feel warm and tender to the touch. Seborrheic dermatitis appears as scaly patches of skin with either white or yellowish scales. It usually affects oily areas such as the scalp, eyebrows, and forehead. Still, it sometimes shows up elsewhere, including ear canal (causing itching, discharge, and loss of hearing), creases in the nose, center of the chest, or in skin folds.
6) Remember that certain diseases affect your skin — including liver disease and diabetes. If you have a rash and it persists for more than two weeks, talk to your doctor about any changes in your medical history or medications you are taking before being diagnosed with Psoriasis. Psoriasis is considered a mild chronic condition — if possible, seek treatment early so that the lesions don’t worsen with time.Some forms of psoriasis can be driven by emotional stress (which makes them flare-up). This typically causes only minor aggravation; however, severe cases may cause symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, or depression that might make you feel worse on the skin symptoms. Your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist. However, if you don’t like seeing your doctor so frequently or are worried about the cost of treatment, self-treatment may be an option. When needed, use over-the-counter topical corticosteroids to help suppress flares and then continue with topical vitamin D derivatives (Dovonex) and moisturizers to maintain remission. Many cases of psoriasis have been shown to improve with this approach.
7) A rash is painful and contagious, and it spreads; such rashes often point to a bacterial infection, so a doctor should treat it. Antibiotics allow the body’s natural defence to kill harmful bacteria. If left untreated, some types of bacterial infections can damage your skin and other organs.
8) A Rash with pus or fluid-filled bumps is often caused by staph or strep bacteria — also called “staph infections. “The best treatment is usually an antibiotic that fights staph germs. But if you don’t see improvement in a day or two, ask for an oral rather than topical antibiotic because they work faster against staph germs. A doctor may give you more potent antibiotics — such as clindamycin (Cleocin) and dicloxacillin (Dynapen) — if you have a skin infection below the skin surface (cellulitis), in your nose, or on your genitals.
9) A rash is with blisters and burning sensation: Severe skin reactions can cause loss of success in the affected area and blisters that break open, weep or ooze. When someone has such a severe reaction to poison ivy, oak, and sumac, it is called “toxic epidermal necrolysis.” This is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
10) A rash that itches badly; it feels like a mosquito or flea bit you. Common causes of itchy skin rashes include bug bites, allergic reactions to something that touched your skin (such as poison ivy), and dryness due to excessive scratching or fungal infections such as athletes’ feet. However, sometimes an itch means something more serious — especially if you have other associated symptoms with the itching.
11) A rash is for a long time: If inflammation is still present after two weeks, make an appointment to see your doctor. Your skin might be dry and flaky from the overuse of moisturizers — in such cases; you should stop using the moisturizer. You can also consult a dermatologist to get treatment for psoriasis that is not responding well to self-treatment.
12) A Rash with round or flat lesions on the arms, legs, back, and face usually means ringworm (Tinea). This harmless fungal infection itches like crazy but doesn’t spread beyond the areas where the fungus has taken root — unless you scratch the site and it gets infected by bacteria. An over-the-counter antifungal cream usually clears up this infection within one week.
13) A rash is in the mouth: It may be a form of contact dermatitis triggered by either an allergic reaction to a food or medicine (such as from taking too much vitamin A). Or it can be a sign of severe disease. For example, ulcers that are persistent and painful suggest cancerous changes in the cells of your lips. Prompt medical attention is required for such rashes.
14) One place on your body that has lots of small red bumps: This could mean you have chickenpox (Varicella). Many people develop this condition after being exposed to someone who has chickenpox — even if they haven’t been immunized against varicella. Call your doctor immediately to confirm the diagnosis.
15) A rash is in one area of your body, and it’s raised; this could be psoriasis. Your doctor may prescribe a topical medication or suggest another form of treatment that you can apply at home, such as a tar ointment followed by an application of a vitamin D derivative (Dovonex).
16) Sometimes, a rash around the anus or genitals can be caused by yeast infection — sometimes called “candidiasis.” These infections typically start with itching and swelling but only appear on skin areas where they are moist, such as the vagina or skin folds in the groin area. If left untreated, these infections get worse. Prompt treatment with antifungal medications is required to prevent a recurrence.
17) A scaly, dry, and itchy rash: Your doctor will usually diagnose this skin condition like seborrheic dermatitis (also known as dandruff). However, if you have a red rash in addition to the scaling, your doctor may suggest that you see a dermatologist for further evaluation.
18)A rash with tiny water blisters: This could mean the herpes virus triggered infection causing blisters on your skin. The herpes simplex virus causes blisters on the lips (cold sores) or genital area (genital herpes). Prompt medical attention is required to prevent the spread of this infection to other parts of your body and stop it from recurring.
19)A rash is in hair follicles; small bumps are scattered over your arms, legs, and trunk: This could be pseudofolliculitis barbae, which has been triggered by shaving or tweezing unwanted facial or body hair. It appears as red bumps that become inflamed. Topical medications can reduce the redness and swelling, as well as reduce hair follicles from becoming infected.
20)A rash is reoccurring in nature: Your doctor might find that you have an allergy to a food or cosmetic. Your doctor may suggest you keep a diary of what foods and other products you eat or use to confirm the diagnosis. This will help your doctor make a firm diagnosis.
Why does skin rash occur?
There are various possible reasons for skin rash like allergic reactions to food, insect bites, internal disease, or side effects of taking certain drugs.
What are the types of skin rash?
There are several different types of skin rash, such as contact dermatitis (as a result of contacting allergen), seborrheic dermatitis (scaly red rash on other parts of the body), scabies (contamination by itch mite), and psoriasis. Contact dermatitis It can be caused due to direct exposure to certain substances like poison ivy, which in turn causes irritation and inflammation on the skin. Skin rash as a result of allergic reactions is known as contact dermatitis. The most common symptoms include swelling, heat, pain, and redness in the area where your skin has contacted the substance that caused the allergy. In some cases, blisters and sores that develop on your skin may also be noticed. People who have atopic dermatitis are more likely to develop allergic contact dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that causes excessive flaking and redness of the scalp, eyebrows, sides of the nose, and other areas like ears.
Can skin rashes be contagious?
Yes, certain skin rashes are contagious and can be spread to others through direct or indirect contact. Examples of such are:
Herpes Simplex- is a virus that causes cold sores around the mouth or nose and other areas in the body like genitals.
Scabies– is an infection caused by tiny insects called mites. They burrow into your skin and lay eggs which lead to severe inflammation in the affected area. The disease spreads when you come in direct contact with someone who has scabies rash.
Psoriasis- psoriasis rash isn’t contagious, but if you have a weakened immune system due to another medical condition, your chances of getting psoriasis are higher because of illness.
How do dermatologists diagnose skin rashes?
Dermatologists make a diagnosis by taking a complete medical history and performing an examination of the affected area. In some cases, a dermatologist may also suggest the following tests to determine the exact cause of skin rash:
Blood test-Your blood might be tested for allergies or to see if your immune system is working.
Patch test correctly- This test involves placing small quantities of various substances onto your skin, then analysed through a microscope.
Skin biopsy-Doctor removes a tiny piece of your skin which is then sent to the lab, examined under the microscope.
How do dermatologists treat skin rashes?
Treatment depends on the exact cause of skin rash and your overall health. Generally, dermatologists use one or a combination of treatment methods such as medications, moisturizing lotion, steroid creams, and oral pills to get rid of skin rashes. There are some home remedies that you can try at home, which include baking soda paste for itchy rash, coconut oil for psoriasis, or aloe vera gel for dry skin.
Your dermatologist may also recommend using mild soap when bathing because harsh soaps can worsen the rash.
Can a homeopathy doctor treat skin rash?
- Yes, homeopathy doctors treat skin rashes by prescribing you constitutional therapy, a unique treatment plan that addresses your physical and mental symptoms.
- Homeopathy doctor will also ask you about your diet, sleep patterns, and other lifestyle factors to determine the exact cause of your problem.
- Your homeopathy doctor will use a combination of remedies based on how your case analysis reveals changes in your overall health condition. They may give you one or more medicines depending upon the specific nature of your rash.
If you have a rash on your skin, you should visit your homeopathy doctor or skin doctor without any delay. You can book an appointment through OHO Homeopathy.