If an area of your skin is bumpy, dry, itchy, red or inflamed, you may have a skin rash. The area may be painful. If you’re experiencing symptoms on your skin, you may need medical attention. The urgent care experts at Baptist Health can diagnose and treat your condition.

What is a skin rash?

Skin rashes are common; most people experience at least one during their life. You have a rash when your skin’s color, feeling or texture changes. It can take several weeks for your symptoms to disappear.

Skin rash symptoms

Your symptoms will depend on what causes your rash. Your rash may affect your entire body or just one spot. Rashes are most often:

  • Blistering
  • Blotchy
  • Burning
  • Dry
  • Flaky
  • Hive-like (raised bumps or blisters)
  • Inflamed
  • Itchy
  • Painful
  • Red
  • Scaly
  • Stinging

Causes of a skin rash

You can develop a skin rash for several reasons. These triggers include:

  • Allergens
  • Bacterial infections
  • Environmental irritants
  • Skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis
  • Viral infections

Anyone can develop a skin rash. However, some skin rashes affect people of different ages. Babies may develop a cradle cap, a rash that causes crusty, oily patches on their scalp. They may also get diaper rash from too much moisture or chafing in the area around their diaper.

Atopic dermatitis and viral rashes frequently affect younger children. Contact dermatitis is most common in older children and adults because skin becomes more sensitive over time.

Types of skin rashes

Our providers can determine if you have one of several types of skin rashes, including:

  • Contact dermatitis. These rashes erupt when you are allergic to something your skin touches. For example, you may break out with a rash after touching poison ivy, certain soaps or detergents. Even some perfumes can cause contact dermatitis.
  • Eczema. This condition is also called atopic dermatitis. It’s an inherited condition that appears during infancy. It improves as a child grows up.
  • Hives. These itchy, raised, red skin bumps are also called urticaria. They can look like mild blisters. Allergic reactions, bacterial infections, insect stings and extreme temperatures can trigger hives.
  • Psoriasis. This lifelong condition can be inherited. It causes a thick, scaly rash on your elbows, knees, lower back, scalp and genitals.
  • Viral. Rashes are common with some viral infections like chickenpox, measles and shingles.

Skin rash diagnosis

Many triggers can cause skin rashes. So, diagnosing your condition can be complicated. To determine what’s causing your rash, our providers will examine your skin and ask about your symptoms. They may recommend tests if they need more information. These tests include:

  • Allergy tests. There are two types of allergy tests. The prick (scratch) test can diagnose hives. A patch test exposes your skin to small amounts of allergens to see what triggers an allergic reaction and rash.
  • Biopsy. Our providers take a small sample of your skin or other tissue to detect any bacterial or viral presence.
  • Blood tests. Antibodies in your blood can sometimes cause skin rashes. Blood tests can also determine if any other condition is causing your rash.

Managing and treating a skin rash

Once our providers diagnose the cause of your rash, they can recommend the most appropriate treatment options. Even with treatment, it can take several weeks for a skin rash to go away completely.

Based on the cause of your rash, our providers may suggest these therapies to treat your skin rash and relieve your symptoms:

  • Allergy medication. Oral antihistamines can reduce itching caused by a skin rash.
  • Anti-inflammatory creams. Hydrocortisone creams reduce inflammation and itching.
  • Immunosuppressants. These medications can calm inflammation and irritation caused by eczema or other immune system reactions.
  • Oatmeal bath. A warm bath with colloidal oatmeal products can soothe dry, itchy rashes.
  • Steroids. Prescribed to reduce persistent inflammation and severe itching.
  • Topical immunomodulators. These prescription medications change how your immune system responds to allergens.

Our providers may also suggest these self-care techniques to manage your symptoms:

  • Avoid cosmetic products on your affected skin.
  • Don’t scrub your skin.
  • Expose the affected area to fresh air as much as possible.
  • Pat dry any wet skin (don’t rub).
  • Stop using any new cosmetics or lotions.
  • Use gentle cleaners.
  • Use warm (not hot) water for bathing, showering or washing your hands.

Complications of a skin rash

You can easily treat most skin rashes. But they can cause significant itching. This discomfort can disrupt your sleep. Also, if you scratch so much that you break open your skin, you are at risk for a bacterial infection.

However, anaphylaxis is the most significant complication of a skin rash. This life-threatening condition happens when your allergic reaction causes the tissue in your air passages to swell. As a result, it can be very difficult for you to breathe. If you experience anaphylaxis, you will need an epinephrine injection to stop your allergic reaction and relax your airways.

Preventing a skin rash

It’s not always possible to prevent a skin rash. However, you can reduce your chances of developing one by:

  • Avoiding substances that cause allergic reactions
  • Not sharing clothing or other items with someone who has a viral rash
  • Using mild, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic skin products
  • Washing your hands immediately after touching allergens or irritants

When to see your doctor

Many skin rashes are mild. But some may be part of a worse condition — like shingles — and require urgent medical attention. Seek medical attention if your skin rash:

  • Appears suddenly
  • Causes blisters or open sores
  • Causes severe difficulty breathing
  • Comes with a fever
  • Covers your body
  • Looks infected
  • Spreads rapidly

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