Skin Rashes that Itch

A skin rash is a skin eruption that leads to an altered appearance of the affected skin. Rashes could be caused by a wide range of reasons. These could be a sign of skin allergies, contact dermatitis or some infection caused by pathogens. Rashes are most likely to resolve once the medical condition responsible for causing skin eruptions is treated. 

Rashes are usually characterized by a change in the texture and the color of the affected skin. They might be localized or spread all over the skin. Besides the change in the appearance, these may be accompanied by symptoms such as itching, swelling, tenderness or flaking of the skin. These are often a cause of cosmetic concern and general discomfort.

This is the most common skin disorder that occurs in many forms. The most common type is atopic dermatitis which is characterized by itchy rashes and dry scaly skin. The color can turn to red and then even brown as the disease progresses. The condition is developed when the immune system overreacts to irritants.

In many families, hay fever and asthma are present together with this condition. However, no theory establishing a common link has been established. Dermatologists generally use allergy tests to diagnose the condition.

Treatment: Cold compresses and moisturizing creams speed up the healing process. Pimecrolimus and Tacrolimus are examples of creams used to suppress such an immune response and prevent outbursts.

More on Eczema
• Eczema is one of the most common diseases in children and infants. About 90% of eczema patients develop their first symptoms before the age of five.
• The estimated prevalence of the disease in the United States is 9% and is increasing day by day.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition which is believed to occur when the immune system mistakenly speeds up the growth of skin cells. This leads to the formation of lesions that are covered with silvery scales. The five major types of the disorder are: plaque, erythrodermic, guttate, inverse and pustular.

Out of these, plaque is the most common. Excessive flaky dandruff is another symptom to watch out for when the scalp is affected. In severe forms, psoriasis can compromise the ability of the skin to control body temperature and fight infections.

Treatment: While there is no permanent cure, exposure to controlled amount of sunlight and bath soaks of coal tar may prove beneficial. UVB phototherapy is administered under guidance from experts for advanced treatment. Topical application of corticosteroids may help.

Systemic treatment options include the use of oral medicines like cyclosporine, methotrexate etc. and injections of Infliximab, Alefacept, Efalizumab, etc.

More on Psoriasis
• About 2.1% of the U.S. population has psoriasis.
• The offspring of the affected individuals have up to 25% chance of developing the condition. If both parents are suffering from it, the chances rise to 50%.

They are red spongy wheals that occur on the body in response to allergens, or sometimes due to stress, rapid temperature changes, scratching, etc. When a person comes in contact with an allergen, histamines are released from the cutaneous mast cells into the blood stream to fight against the allergen.

When histamine causes blood plasma to leak out of small capillaries into the skin, it results in this type of a rash. Inflamed blood vessels cause a painful form of hives, rather than itchy. Angioedema is a similar condition but it is sub-cutaneous (beneath the skin). The diagnosis is done only through blood tests and skin allergy tests.

Treatment: Only in severe cases, epinephrine (adrenaline) medication is needed otherwise, antihistamines are prescribed.

More on Hives
• Hives is a common condition and affects about 20% of people at least once in their lifetime.
• Pressure urticaria is an uncommon form of hives which occurs due to a pressure stimulus. Sock bands or belts, worn too tight for prolonged periods of time may also result in pressure-related hives.

This is a rash (rashes could be in the form of blisters or bumps) that is caused due to excessive sweating or friction from clothes. People who sweat profusely or are obese are more prone to such rashes. The rash is easy to identify and usually heals on its own in a few days. If it does not, there's a risk of a secondary bacterial infection.

Treatment: Antibiotics are prescribed for treating the infection. Calamine lotion can be used for treatment after a physician's approval. Cornstarch powder can be applied in limited amounts. Keeping the skin moisturized is the best cure for both babies and adults.

Olive oil, coconut oil, and sesame oil massages during summer, will help clear off heat rash if limited to not more than 3 times a week. Other oils may irritate the skin in hot weather.

More on Heat Rashes
• Applying baby powder can prevent heat rashes, but not cure them. In fact, it may worsen the situation by blocking the pores.
• Inhalation of powders by babies may also lead to lung infections.

It manifests in the form of facial redness and tiny, itchy red pustules, which are generally benign. But in moderate to severe forms, it may lead to bloodshot eyes, dilation of superficial blood vessels on the face, rhinophyma (bulbous nose cause by granulomatous infiltration), etc. Heat can also be a factor as can be seen in people consuming hot food.

Alcohol and spices can be flare factors for some. This indicates that causes of rosacea are based on individual triggers. Rosacea cannot be self-diagnosed. It can only be diagnosed by a doctor after examining someone for all signs and symptoms.

The causes are yet unknown, but studies have suggested that genetic disposition and some inflammatory pathways along with triggers may contribute to the occurrence of this condition.

Treatment: Someone showing pre-rosacea symptoms should avoid environmental stimulants and make appropriate changes in his/her lifestyle to prevent the onset of this condition. Oral consumption of apple cider vinegar helps improve the skin condition. Rosacea patients also lose more moisture compared to others.

So, rehydration and avoidance of excessive scrubbing is advised. Riboflavin supplements, licorice, etc., can minimize the abnormal redness that comes with it. Avoiding inflammatory foods helps decrease the rashes.

More on Rosacea
• About 14 million people in the United States have rosacea.
• This disease is most common in white-skinned people, women (especially menopausal) and people in their middle age.

It is caused by exposure to urushiol which is a resin released by plants like poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac when their leaves are damaged. It results in a type of contact dermatitis, where the substance you are allergic to has a visible reaction on the skin when exposed. 

Therefore, it can affect any part of the body that comes in direct contact with the chemical. The skin rash is red, has blisters and may develop linear patterns on which inflammation and itching can be felt.

Treatment: Treatment for this skin rash includes the use of aloe gels, cold compresses, antihistamines, etc. Jewelweed is nature's antidote to poison ivy. Its stem can be crushed and the liquid can be applied directly on the affected area. 

Even if it is not treated, the rash fades away in around three weeks. Bentoquatam can be applied before being exposed to poison ivy as a shield to urushiol.

More on Poison Ivy

• Footwear, garden and camping equipment, and pet fur are the most common modes of transmission of poison ivy rash.
• 'Leaves of three, let them be' formula does not always work. Leaves of poison ivy are three in number, but other plants having urushiol may have more than 3 leaves.

This is another benign rash that starts out as a single oval lesion that goes on to cover most of the torso. Around 75% of patients develop itchy rashes. The cause is not known but it has been associated with viral infection through human herpes virus type 6 (HHV6). The patches appear to be hyperpigmented on dark-skinned people and pinkish on whiter skin.

The rash does not usually leave permanent marks. However, on people with darker skin, flat brown spots may remain even after the rash is healed. The rash is often accompanied by fatigue, mild fever, headache and nausea.

Treatment: Generally, the condition subsides on its own in three months. In some cases, it may last for six months or more. It does not require a treatment, but antihistamines can be used to minimize discomfort.

More on Pityriasis Rosea
• About 25% of people with the condition experience mild to severe symptomatic itching which worsens on scratching. This is generally non-specific and different from the mild itching that occurs after cleansing the affected parts with soap. As the rash develops this itching reduces.

• Pityriasis rosea is also known to cause severe itching when the body gets overheated.

This is an allergic reaction in response to parasites in water that infect human skin. The parasites are carried from snails to other water creatures. These parasite cannot thrive in human skin, and dies soon after penetrating it. 

The rash is characterized by reddish welts. Itching may start in an hour or it may take a few days for the signs to show. Usually, the rash dies down within a week.

Treatment: Soaking in bath water with Epsom salts or oatmeal might help in faster healing.

More on Swimmer's Itch
• Water currents and winds carry the causal agents to deeper waters as well. While they are fewer in number in deeper waters, but they still do exist. So, swimming in these regions is not totally safe.

• Taking a shower after swimming does not prevent swimmer's itch. The parasites (cercariae) penetrate the skin while the person is in water. Anything done after that is too late.

There are also numerous other rashes like granuloma annulare, lipoma and intertrigo which do not spread through contact. Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever also cause discomforting rashes which are non-contagious. The reason for most of these rashes is skin irritation and not the disease itself.

It is a fungal infection caused by dermatophytes (a type of fungus) that feeds on keratin, the fibrous protein found in outer layers of skin, nails and hair. Ringworm has a long incubation period. You may fail to notice any rash before two weeks especially if it is on the scalp. The rash generally makes a pattern in the shape of a ring, hence the name.

The edges of the pattern are sharply-defined and the skin tone gets progressively dry towards the edges. This fungus can be detected as it glows in the ultraviolet light (Wood's light). If the results are positive, KOH tests can be used for confirmation.

Treatment: The disease is cured easily using over-the-counter antifungal creams, however, in some cases, prescription drugs may be required. Terbinafine and Fluconazole are some of the products that serve the purpose.

More on Ringworm
• You can catch the infection from your pet. If you notice it on your pet, take it to a vet and do not expose yourself or others to it till it is healed completely.
• Ringworm cannot be treated with antibiotics as it is a fungal infection, not bacterial.

This condition, also known as the seven-year itch, is caused by tiny mites that burrow under the host's skin. The sores look like curving tracks made by the parasitic mite. The mite itself can sometimes be seen as a black spot at the end of the trail.

Treatment: The infection can only be treated through medication. Permethrin 5% is the most common drug used. In extreme cases, oral drugs like Ivermectin are prescribed. The infection can last up to 2 to 4 weeks, even after the mites die away. If it persists, one should consult a doctor.

More on Scabies
• The causal mite is 0.1-0.4 mm long. Its crawl rate is 2.5 cm per minute and it only penetrates the upper epidermis. It cannot jump or fly to spread the rash. It cannot move in temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
• The mites require a human host. But, they can also survive on other surfaces like clothes and furniture up to 3 days.

This is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. The virus never goes away completely. However, it gives lifelong immunity, except in a few cases. It may remain dormant for years and cause herpes zoster or shingles, which generally affects only one side of the body.

The patients are quarantined as the virus may easily spread to those who have not been exposed to it before. It is very common in children and they show symptoms like fever and stomach ache before the blisters appear. Chickenpox blisters first appear inside the body before they start forming on the scalp and mouth and then on other body parts.

Treatment: Fortunately, vaccines are available for the disease. In case a person contracts the disease, providing him with adequate comfort and rest is the best cure.

Antiviral medication is required only if a person has other existing ailments like lung diseases or skin infections or for those who have recently taken steroids. Ibuprofen can lead to side-effects too. So, it is better not to administer it.

More on Chickenpox
• Do not administer any medication containing aspirin to a patient. This can cause Reye's Syndrome, a disease that affects both the liver and brain, which can be fatal.

• Chickenpox is contagious from two days before the rashes appear, and remains so till all the crust sheds completely.
• Pregnant women who are infected are susceptible to miscarriage or their babies may develop deformities.

• Chickenpox is contagious from two days before the rashes appear, and remains so till all the crust sheds completely.
• Pregnant women who are infected are susceptible to miscarriage or their babies may develop deformities.

This fungal infection is characterized by scales, cracks and flakes occurring anywhere on one's foot. The sores are generally moist and spread to the soles of feet as well. But, they can be dry especially when they affect both feet. At times, painful blisters that ooze and get crusty may occur. Skin lesion biopsy and KOH tests are carried out for detection.

Treatment: Antifungal powders containing miconazole or tolnaftate heal the wounds well and should be continued for up to 15 days after the infection has subsided to prevent recurrence. Keeping good feet hygiene is the best prevention and cure. Impetigo, rubella (German measles), staph infections etc., also result in rashes which can be spread to others. 

Many diseases like syphilis, bubonic plague and meningococcal meningitis are responsible for rashes that make them easier to identify. To kill athletes foot, try placing your sneakers in a tightly closed bag and place them in your freezer for 24 hours. This can kill the foot fungus.

Cotton socks can reduce the chances of developing athlete's foot by absorbing sweat and thus keeping the skin dry. Diagnosing the condition early and containing the growth of the parasite is the best way to deal with infectious rashes.

Maintaining proper hygiene and keeping the skin dry can help prevent/cure many skin disorders. If you still notice any symptoms, visit your doctor immediately.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.