Rash (original) (raw)

A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, chapped, dry, cracked or blistered, swell, and may be painful. The causes, and therefore treatments for rashes, vary widely. Diagnosis must take into account such things as the appearance of the rash, other symptoms, what the patient may have been exposed to, occupation, and occurrence in family members. The diagnosis may confirm any number of conditions. The presence of a rash may aid diagnosis; associated signs and symptoms are diagnostic of certain diseases. For example, the rash in measles is an erythematous, morbilliform, maculopapular rash that begins a few days after the fever starts. It classically starts at the head, and spreads downwards.

Skin disease

Symptoms

Usual area of body

Acne vulgaris

Comedones, papules, pustules and nodules.

Face, chest and back.

Acne rosacea

Flushed appearance or redness.

Cheeks, chin, forehead or nose.

Boil

Painful red bump or a cluster of painful red bumps

Anywhere

Cellulitis

Red, tender and swollen areas of skin

Around a cut, scrape or skin breach

Insect bite

Red and/or itchy bumps on the skin

Anywhere and can be sprinkled randomly

Erythema migrans / Lyme disease

Expands over days or weeks to 5–70 cm (median 16 cm), circular or oval, red or bluish, may have an elevated or darker center, may have a central or ring-like clearing, may feel warm, not painful or itchy[4][5]

Armpit, groin, back of knee, on the trunk, under clothing straps, or in children's hair, ear, or neck[6][7]

Allergic reaction

Irregular, raised or flat red sores that appeared after taking medicine/drugs or eating certain foods

Anywhere

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Deep sebum filled cystic condition of apocrine gland overstimulation, caused by many internal and external factors e.g., stress, toxic environmental overload and immune impairment.

See Hidradenitis.

Hives

Bumps formed suddenly

Anywhere but usually first noticed on face

Seborrheic dermatitis

Bumps and swelling

Near glands

Cradle cap

Dry, scaly skin

Scalp of recently born babies

Irritant contact dermatitis

Red, itchy, scaly, or oily rash

Eyebrows, nose, edge of the scalp, point of contact with jewellery, perfume, or clothing.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis caused by poison ivy, poison oak, sumac, or Balsam of Peru[3]

Red, itchy, scaly or oily rash; can also be weeping or leathery.

Anywhere that came in contact with the irritant either directly or via transfer (e.g. from contaminated clothing.)

Allergic purpura

Small red dots on the skin, or larger, bruise-like spots that appeared after taking medicine

Anywhere

Pityriasis Rosea

Started with a single scaly, red and slightly itchy spot, and within a few days, did large numbers of smaller patches of the rash, some red and/or others tan

Chest and abdomen

Dermatitis herpetiformis

Intensely itchy rash with red bumps and blisters

Elbows, knees, back or buttocks

Erythema nodosum

Large red bumps that seem to bruise and are tender to touch

Anywhere

Psoriasis

White, scaly rash over red, flaky, irritated skin

Elbows and knees

Erythema multiforme

Red, blotchy rash, with "target like" hives or sores.

Anywhere

Measles

Red rash that is raised with a fever or sore throat.

Usually starts first on the forehead and face and spreads downward.

Chickenpox

Multiple blisters with a fever, cough, aches, tiredness and sore throat.

Usually starts first on the face, chest and back and spreads downward.

Shingles

Red blisters that are very painful and may crust

Anywhere

Fifth Disease

Started as a fever and then developed a bright red rash

Cheeks

Warts

Soft bumps forming that do not itch and have no other symptoms

Anywhere

Ringworm

Bald spot on the scalp or a ring of itchy red skin

Anywhere

Syphilis

Rash that is red but not itchy

Palms of hands or soles of feet

Jock itch, yeast infection or diaper rash

Red itchy rash

Groin

Tinea versicolor

Light coloured patches

Anywhere

Impetigo

Crusted, tan-colored sores

Near nose or lip

Scabies

Bite-like sores that itch and spread intensely

Usually start on hands or feet and spread everywhere

Rocky Mountain spotted fever

A fine rash with a fever and headache

Usually start on arms and legs including the hands and feet

Lupus erythematosus

A butterfly rash with achy joints

Forehead and cheeks

Jaundice or sign of hepatitis

Yellowish

Skin, whites of eyes and mouth

Bruise

Blue or black area after being hit

Anywhere

Actinic keratoses

Scaly, pink, gray or tan patches or bumps

Face, scalp or on the backs or the hands

Keloid or hypertrophic scar

Scar that has grown larger than expected

Anywhere

Lipoma

Soft or rubbery growth

Anywhere

Milia

Many white spots

On the face of a baby

Molluscum contagiosum

Small, firm, round bumps with pits in the center that may sit on tiny stalks

Anywhere

Scarlet fever

Becomes confluent and forms bright red lines in the skin creases of the neck, armpits and groins (Pastia's lines)

Face, chest and back, whole body, armpits, inside elbows, groins

Sebaceous cyst

Bump with a white dome under the skin

Scalp, nape of the neck or upper back

Skin tag

Soft, fleshy growth, lump or bump

Face, neck, armpits or groin

Xanthelasma

Yellow area under the skin

Under eyelids

Melanoma

Dark bump that may have started within a mole or blemish, or, a spot or mole that has changed in color, size, shape or is painful or itchy

Anywhere

Basal cell carcinoma

Fleshy, growing mass

Areas exposed to the sun

Squamous cell carcinoma

Unusual growth that is red, scaly or crusted

Face, lip or chin

Kaposi's sarcoma

Dark or black raised spots on the skin that keep growing or have appeared recently

Anywhere

Erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC)

Pink-red ring or bullseye marks

Anywhere

The causes of a rash are numerous, which may make the evaluation of a rash extremely difficult. An accurate evaluation by a provider may only be made in the context of a thorough history, i.e. medications the patient is taking, the patient's occupation, where the patient has been and complete physical examination.[_citation needed_]

Treatment differs according to which rash a patient has been diagnosed with. Common rashes can be easily remedied using steroid topical creams (such as hydrocortisone) or non-steroidal treatments. Many of the medications are available over the counter in the United States.[10]

The problem with steroid topical creams i.e. hydrocortisone; is their inability to penetrate the skin through absorption and therefore not be effective in clearing up the affected area, thus rendering the hydrocortisone almost completely ineffective in all except the most mild of cases.[11]