Rashes commonly occur in people of all ages. From small infants and children to adults, everyone is susceptible to getting a rash. A skin rash is basically an outbreak that is visible. Generally, the skin is swollen or irritated. Skin rashes can cause bumps, sores, scaly skin, itching or burning. Some skin rashes happen instantly after the skin is irritated or infected and others take a while to develop. They can appear on numerous areas of the body and can happen for many different reasons. Some are common and can easily be treated, while others require treatment from a physician. There are many types of skin rashes and reasons they occur. These questions address some of the more common ones.
There are numerous reasons that someone could come down with a skin rash. A rash can be either non-infectious or the result of an infection. The infection could be caused by a virus, or it could be bacterial. Skin rashes can also be caused by parasites or fungus.
The symptoms of a skin rash may vary depending on the cause of the rash. There are some factors that are common in most skin rashes such as itching or burning. Rashes also typically cause the color of the skin to change to pink or red due to the inflammation of the skin. They come in many different shapes and sizes depending on the reason for the rash.
The most common noninfectious rashes include poison ivy, psoriasis, rosacea, lupus, and seborrhea. The most common causes of infectious rashes are herpes, ringworm, and scabies. Even though these are the most common, there are numerous possible causes for a rash. If anyone with a rash is concerned as to what type it is and whether or not it is infections, they should visit their doctor.
Depending on the type of skin rash, there are home remedies. For example, eczema can be treated with hydrocortisone cream or emollients such as Crisco or Vaseline. For fungal infections, Ketoconazole shampoo is used to wash the infected area and diluted vinegar can help with bacterial infections.
Most noninfectious skin rashes are treated symptomatically. This means the person with the rash can treat it with cortisone cream or oatmeal baths. Or, they may take medication for it. There are a variety of treatments for infectious rashes depending on the type. Fungal may be treated with topical and/or oral antifungal medications. Viral may be treated by use of vaccines, or oral medication, and possibly intravenously for the more serious rashes.
Itching can be uncomfortable and sometimes even painful. The type of treatment for itching depends on the type of rash that it is. Benadryl can reduce the itching for both bacterial and fungal infections. It can also help with eczema. Another name for Benadryl is Diphenhydramine.
If the type of rash is not easily diagnosed, a doctor may want to perform a series of laboratory tests on the rash. These can include bacterial cultures, blood tests, skin biopsy, nasal cultures, patch tests, gram stains, and even a microscopic examination. Again, the testing depends on the appearance and symptoms of the rash.
Some types of rashes may not be entirely preventable, but there are measures that can be taken to either reduce the risk of a rash. For example, to avoid eczema, those with sensitive skin should avoid contact with harsh soaps and cleansers. Viral infections are spread by human contact and bodily fluids. Try to stay away from people with viral infections if possible. Regular hand washing helps to reduce the chance of a bacterial infection.