Skin Rash Treatment
Our experienced team at Impact Medical is here to help you pinpoint the causes of your skin rashes and offer effective treatments for relief and clearer, healthier skin.
What are Skin Rashes?
Skin rashes are a common dermatological condition characterized by changes in the appearance, texture, and color of the skin. They can manifest as redness, bumps, blisters, itchiness, dryness, or scaling, and they may vary in size and severity. Skin rashes can occur anywhere on the body and can result from a wide range of causes.
What Are Different Types of Skin Rashes?
There are many different types of skin rashes, each with its own unique symptoms and treatment options. Explore each type of skin rash below:
Eczema
Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition known as the “itch that rashes.” Types of eczema are based on what is triggering inflammation, including atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis and irritant dermatitis.
Hives
Hives, or urticaria, are raised, itchy red welts on the skin that appear suddenly. Hives can be short lived (acute) or long lasting (chronic). There are multiple possible causes of hives.
Angioedema
Angioedema is defined as swelling without itchiness or significant redness. It can be painful. Depending on the location, it has the potential to be life threatening.
What Causes Skin Rashes?
Skin rashes can be uncomfortable and disruptive. Understanding their common causes or triggers is essential for effective management and prevention. Here are some frequent culprits behind skin rashes:
- Allergies: Reactions to allergens like foods, medications, or plants can lead to allergic contact dermatitis and hives
- Infections: Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, such as ringworm or herpes, often cause skin rashes
- Chemical Allergens: Exposure to chemicals, metals or fragrances that irritate the skin can lead to rashes known as allergic contact dermatitis
- Medications: Some drugs, including antibiotics and pain relievers, can cause adverse reactions resulting in skin rashes
- Stress: Emotional stress can exacerbate skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, leading to flare-ups of skin rashes
Diagnosing & Treating Skin Rashes
Medical History
Reviewing a patient’s medical history is essential in diagnosing skin rashes as it helps identify potential triggers and underlying conditions.
Physical Exam
Your medical provider will perform a thorough physical exam, including the affected rash area.
Testing
If appropriate, allergy testing will be performed to identify an underlying trigger. Depending on the history and physical exam, this can include testing for food allergens, environmental allergens, and chemical contact allergens.
Treatment
Your medical provider will recommend a treatment plan based on the type of rash and cause that is identified.
How to Test for a Skin Rash
What is the Best Treatment for Skin Rashes?
Skin Rash FAQs
Yes, people can develop new allergies at any point in life which could lead to eczema. If there was a change in your diet, environment, or topical skin products, that could bring about an eczematous rash. In addition, someone might develop a new allergy to allergens that they previously tolerated.
Most cases of hives are unexplained. An individual needs to consider allergies as a cause and pay specific attention to foods, medications, and skincare products. However, if there are no obvious triggers then other causes such as infections and autoimmune inflammatory reactions need to be considered.
Hand itchiness and roughness is most often a result of irritant dermatitis, with chafing of the skin from cold dry air. It tends to be exaggerated with hand washing or harsh hand soaps. Aggressive use of moisturizers and minimizing hand washing are often most helpful.
Yes, angioedema can involve the airway and cause it to be life threatening. If you are experiencing Angioedema, you need to seek medical attention immediately.
Not necessarily. Hives can be a sign of an allergic reaction, but they can also be a sign of something else, such as an infection or autoimmune condition.
Yes, the most effective way to treat eczema is to identify the underlying trigger. If you have eczema because of exposure to a food or environmental allergen, with strict avoidance, the eczema will often improve or even resolve.
