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Burning Red Rash

Burning red rash on face or hands is an indication of skin problems such as dermatitis or hives. To know more about causes of this skin problem, read on...
Nicks J
Burning red rash! Those, who have had this skin condition, know how painful it is. A red rash damages the appearance of the skin. The skin loses its natural beauty and appears flaky and dry.
The constant feeling of itchiness associated with red rash, is irritating and is often a great hindrance in our daily routine. A bug bite or even an insect bite are some of the most common causes of localized painful reddish rash.
Burning Red Rash...
...On Face
Initially the rash appears on the forehead and then gradually moves down to cheeks, nose and the chin. Touching any part of the face triggers an unbearable burning sensation. This skin condition is known as contact dermatitis and occurs due to exposure of the skin to irritants (allergens).
The allergens that cause dermatitis include soap containing harsh chemicals, jewelry and cosmetics. In this type of skin disorder, the skin's surface appears inflamed and there is formation of itchy burning red rash. Staying away or avoiding these irritants is an easy remedy to cure this skin problem.
Reddish rash on face may also mean hives, a skin disorder that involves sudden onset of swollen red bumps on the skin. This skin problem that can affect any part of the body, including the throat, ears and face, causes extreme itching and triggers a stinging sensation.
Like dermatitis, outbreak of hives is the result of contact with allergens. An insect sting like that of bee or wasp triggers an allergic reaction, which may lead to hives. Even a food allergy or sunlight exposure, may cause hives.
People who are sensitive to oral intake or topical application of antibiotics belonging to the penicillin group may also get rash anywhere on the body. Flat, blotchy rashes or rashes similar to hives may manifest due to allergic reaction to penicillin.
On the other hand, the effects of severe allergy are not limited to formation of the skin. The person may also experience difficulty breathing, throat tightness and facial swelling.
...On Legs
Playing games like tennis or doing strenuous activities like hiking for prolonged periods of time, while wearing shorts and in hot weather, exposes the legs to the surrounding hot environment. As a result, a rash may develop on the legs, due to excessive exposure to heat.
When exposed to sunlight for a long duration, the body may find it difficult to regulate its body temperature. In order to maintain its temperature, the body releases heat in the form of sweat. However, excessive sweating may irritate the skin and lead to the development of red rash.
Rash can also occur due to intake of certain medications. To be more specific, if the body is unable to readjust itself to certain medicines, it manifests in the form of red rash that may occur anywhere, but commonly affects the face and the hands.
...On Hands
Itchy sensation on hands due to formation of red rash, can definitely be quite annoying. Women using harsh soaps to wash their hands are prone to skin conditions like red rash. Most household cleaners and those used for washing clothes contain chemicals that act as skin irritants.
So skin contact with these soaps, while rinsing utensils or clothes, is bound to cause itchy rash on hands.
Pemphigus Vulgaris: This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the healthy tissues of the skin. As a result, blisters and sores erupt on the superficial skin and mucus membranes of the mouth. Initially, blisters and sores show up in the inner cheeks and tongue, and later they develop on the face, scalp, back and the chest.
Although the exact cause is not known, the occurrence of pemphigus vulgaris has been linked to intake of blood pressure medicines. In the initial 2 days of the condition, the blister may spread to different parts of the body, before they finally break open.
The ruptured blisters leave open sores that are a cause of great discomfort. This is a serious skin condition and the patient should be treated at the earliest. Medications like immunosuppressants and corticosteroids are often prescribed to resolve the issue.
Parasitic Infections of the Skin
Athlete's Foot: Blisters forming on the feet, followed by red itchy skin and burning pain may indicate athlete's foot. This is a fungal infection that typically affects the feet and the blisters weep continuously.
Impetigo: A serious bacterial infection in which painful fluid filled blisters appear usually on the face, arms and the legs. The blisters break open easily and leave a brown colored crust on the skin.
Scabies: This is yet another itchy skin problem that can lead to the development of red rash. The scabies rash appears as a zig-zag lines of tiny blisters. These lines are nothing but the points where the scabies (mites) burrow the skin to lay eggs that eventually hatch and turn into adult mites.
These linear burrow tracks of tiny blisters are often visible in between fingers, around the waist, on the buttocks, neck and the knees.
Direct contact with plants like poison ivy can also cause burning red rash. The site of contact develops fluid filled bumps that are often a source of discomfort. The blisters that appear in streaks is regarded as your response to exposure to poison ivy. It is an allergic reaction indicating that the body is unable to tolerate its contact.
Treatment for rash that triggers a terrible itchy feeling generally involves use of moisturizing creams or anti-itch creams to ease the discomfort. Application of cold compress such as immersing the affected part in cold water or application of ice cubes wrapped in clean cloth, can certainly help to reduce the burning sensation associated with red rash.
Topical treatment such as antibacterial creams or corticosteroid ointments are also useful to treat skin rashes.