Skin Rashes

The change of the skin that affects its appearance, color, or texture is called a skin rash. Any part of the skin can be a host but some parts are observed with the regular occurrence of these rashes. These may bring about the change in the skin color or become bumpy, warm, cracked, dry, swell or blistered. That’s why there are a number of treatments which vary with the causes of the rashes.

Appearance of the rash, involving the other symptoms, the possible exposure of the patient, to the root of problem, last but not the least the family background of developing the rashes. In some cases the rashes may become more severe while in others they may be nothing except a slight disturbance.

Causes of Skin Rash

Mostly the rashes appear in the consequences of certain diseases, but there can be other reasons which may bring these on. Some of these are as follows:

Anxiety

  • Allergies, such as to medicines, foods, dyes, insect stings, metals like nickel or zinc
  • Viral or bacterial infection, for example by viruses which bring smallpox, chickenpox, measles or cold sores
  • Contact of skin with some irritant
  • Exposure to heat or sun which may leads towards sunburns
  • Friction due to rubbing on the skin
  • Skin diseases like acne or eczema
  • Fungal infection such as ringworm
  • Reaction to some vaccination

Uncommon Causes

  • Pregnancy
  • Lead poisoning
  • Autoimmune disorders like psoriasis

Symptoms

On the basis of extremely broad spectrum of the causes which bring the skin rashes on, the evaluation of a rash becomes too difficult. It requires a complete and brief history of the patient. However, some of the important symptoms which are commonly found involve:

  • Bumpy skin
  • Changes in skin color
  • Blisters
  • Cracks in the skin
  • Aridness
  • Inflammation
  • Soreness
  • Distension or swelling

Warmth

The presence of a rash may often assist in diagnosis of the disease underlined. Because some particular rashes are the attributes in certain diseases as well applied to detect certain medical conditions.

To scratch a rash is not a good habit as it can revitalize the rash and stimulate it to spread. Softly rubbing the rash may bring temporary relief, but is better to avoid contact with the affected parts to escape its spread and more severe condition.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Skin Rashes

In order to diagnose the exact cause of a rash, the examination by a medical professional is necessary. Some of the important points, which should be noticed while examining a rash are the color and appearance, distribution and also whether there is a symmetry or not. Specific tests may be necessary to be taken to root out the underlying causes of the rashes.

To relieve the pain or discomfort felt by the sufferer, symptomatic treatments are given. Treating the particular, underlying causes of rashes may be helpful in getting rid of  these or relieving the painful conditions.

3 Comments

  1. theresa ward May 30, 2010
  2. candice June 18, 2010
  3. pat July 10, 2010

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