A rash is a change of the skin which affects its color,
appearance, or texture. A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or
affect all the skin. "Skin rashes" is a general term that describes a
group of spots, an area of inflammation, or changes in the colour or texture of
the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy,
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 associated signs and
symptoms are diagnostic of certain diseases. For example, the rash in measles
is an erythematous, maculopapular rash that begins a few days after the fever
starts. It classically starts at the head and spreads downwards.
Causes for Skin Rashes:
Infections: Bacteria, viruses and fungi are common causes of skin
rashes.
Infestations: Some skin rashes are caused by tiny parasites like lice
and mites.
Irritants and
Allergies: Insect bites or stings, plants
like poison ivy, certain foods, abrasion, heat or sun exposure, chemical
pollutants, medications, chemicals found in household cleaners, cosmetics, an
overly dry environment—this is just a sampling of possible causes of skin
rashes.
Systemic
Illnesses: Skin rashes may be one of the
symptoms of a primary disease like rheumatic fever, Lupus or Lyme disease.
But the precise cause of many skin rashes, like psoriasis
and eczema, is still unknown. Stress, hormonal changes, genetic predisposition,
and autoimmune problems are among the factors thought to be associated with
some skin rashes.
Common causes of rashes include:
•Anxiety
•Allergies, for example to foods, dyes,
medicines, insect
stings, metals such as zinc or nickel;
such rashes are
often called hives.
•Skin contact with an irritant
•Bacterial or viral infection, e.g., by the
viruses that
cause chickenpox, smallpox, cold sores
and measles
•Fungal infection, such as ringworm
•Reaction to vaccination
•Skin diseases such as eczema or acne
•Exposure to sun (sunburn) or heat
•Friction due to chafing of the skin
•Irritation such as caused by abrasives
impregnated in
clothing rubbing the skin.The cloth itself may
be
abrasive enough for some people
•Menstruation
Treatment for a rash:
Most
rashes are not dangerous to a person or people in the vicinity (unless they are
part of an infectious disease such as chickenpox). Many rashes last a while and
get better on their own. It is therefore not unreasonable to treat symptoms
like itchy and/or dry skin for a few days to see whether the condition gets
milder and goes away.
