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Skin Rash Types: 5 Common Rashes And How To Treat Them
05/27/20228 min read
There are many different skin rash types. Knowing which one you have can help you find the best treatment for it and get back to more good skin days.
In this article, you’ll learn all you need to know about the five common types of rashes, their symptoms, and some of the most effective ways to treat each condition.
What Is A Skin Rash?
A rash is a swollen or irritated area of the skin. It often leaves the area red, itchy, and painful, and some rashes can also cause blisters or raw skin patches.
A rash can cover small parts of the body or a large area. Although most rashes go away fairly quickly, others are more persistent and require long-term treatment.
Rashes are a symptom of a wide range of medical conditions but can be caused by irritants and allergies as well. Certain genes can also predispose you to develop different types of rashes.
Because various factors can cause them, it's essential to determine your type before treating it.
What Causes Skin Rashes?
Medications
Some medications can cause rashes as a side effect or an allergic reaction. Additionally, some medicines, including certain antibiotics, cause photosensitivity — that is, they make you more sensitive to sunlight.
Irritants
You may develop a rash when your skin reacts to something it has touched. When this happens, the area can become red and inflamed, and the rash is typically oozy.
Dyes in clothing and cosmetics, poisonous plants like poison ivy, and chemicals like latex or rubber can irritate your skin and lead to a rash.
Autoimmune Conditions
In addition to external factors, genetic factors can also cause rashes.
For example, an autoimmune disorder that attacks your body’s healthy tissues can leave your skin more susceptible to irritation. Conditions such as psoriasis, lupus, and eczema can all cause rashes and irritated patches of skin.
Infections
Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections can all cause a rash, too. However, the severity of these rashes will vary depending on the type of infection. For example, Candidiasis, a common fungal infection, causes an itchy rash that usually appears in skin folds.
Now that you understand what a rash is and what may cause it, here are five common skin rash types and how you can treat them at home.
5 Common Skin Rash Types And How To Treat Them
1) Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic skin disease with symptoms that flare or subside in cycles. Spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, sunlight, stress, and intestinal bacteria can cause flare-ups if you have this condition.
Symptoms
You may have Rosacea if you have:
- Facial flushing and redness; raised, red bumps; skin dryness and sensitivity
- A stinging sensation and small, pus-filled pimples
- Red, itchy, and sensitive eyes
Treatment
The goal of rosacea treatment is to control the symptoms. Most of the time, this means a combination of good skin care and prescription medications.
The length of your treatment depends on the nature and severity of your symptoms. Your treatment may include:
- Laser therapy
- Recognizing and avoiding triggers
- Taking care of your skin (Avoid rubbing or touching your face excessively. Choose fragrance-free products, and avoid those with other skin irritants, like alcohol, urea, camphor, and menthol.)
2) Contact Dermatitis
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, contact dermatitis is a type of eczema caused by physically touching something that irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction.
The disorder usually has intense itching accompanied by a rash with fluid-filled blisters.
There are two types of contact dermatitis: irritant, which occurs when your skin reacts to something chemical, and allergic contact dermatitis, which occurs when your skin reacts to a substance. Hair dye, cosmetics, rubbing alcohol, or perfumes can trigger this condition.
Symptoms
There can be a visible border where your skin touched the irritating substance. Your skin may also be itchy, red, scaly, or have raw blisters that weep, ooze, or become crusty.
Treatment
Topical creams or ointments aid in the relief of contact dermatitis.
Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe more specific medications. They can recommend medicine to reduce inflammation and relieve itching or antibiotics to fight bacterial infections in severe cases.
For an at-home option to relieve itching, soak in a warm oat bath for about 15 minutes and then apply a soothing cream.
3) Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, itchy, scaly patches on the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp.
It is a common, long-term disease for which there is currently no cure. Symptoms can flare up for a few weeks or even months, then subside for a while or go into remission.
Fortunately, treatments are available to help you manage your symptoms. You can also incorporate healthy lifestyle habits and coping strategies into your routine to help you live a better life with psoriasis.
Symptoms
Psoriasis causes thickened patches of skin, most often with silvery, scaly flakes. Other common symptoms include:
- Dry and cracked skin that can bleed or itch
- Itching, burning, or pain
- Thickened or ridged nails
- Joint swelling and stiffness
Treatment
Light therapy, either alone or in combination with medications, is a first-line treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis. It entails exposing your skin to varying degrees of natural or artificial light.
You can also use topical treatments, such as our Psoriasis Calming Cream. With salicylic acid, a star ingredient in fighting psoriasis symptoms, this cream helps relieve itching, irritation, redness, flaking, and scaling.
In addition to these types of treatments, maintaining a healthy and balanced diet, exercising, avoiding alcohol, and avoiding smoking can also help reduce or ease symptoms over time.
4) Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common condition that primarily affects your scalp. It also presents itself on oily areas of the body, such as the face, sides of the nose, brows, ears, eyelids, and chest.
Symptoms
If you have seborrheic dermatitis, you may notice scaly, oily, or greasy patches of skin on your scalp. Other symptoms to be aware of include itching, dandruff, and buildup on the scalp.
It is also common on other oily areas, such as the face and chest, and is challenging to treat.
Treatment
Over-the-counter dandruff shampoos containing ingredients that reduce your skin's fungal population are frequently used to treat seborrheic dermatitis.
If you can, try to shampoo every day until the symptoms improve. We also recommend using mineral oil to soften and comb out stubborn flakes.
5) Shingles
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shingles are a reactivation of the chickenpox virus. These painful, itchy, and tingly rashes usually appear on the torso and travel along the path of a nerve on only one side of the body.
Symptoms
Shingles are a painful blistering rash. They are frequently seen as a stripe or on the top quadrant of the head, but only on one side of the body.
Other symptoms to be aware of include:
- Painful blisters accompanied by a fever, headache, and chills
- Tingling or pain before the blisters appear in the affected area
- Potential harm to the eyes, including blindness
Treatment
A shingles rash usually disappears within five weeks, and most people only get shingles once. However, the pain can sometimes linger, especially in the elderly.
Two shingles vaccinations should prevent infection in the first place, so it's essential to speak to your healthcare provider about your options.
When To See The Doctor About Different Skin Rash Types
Rosacea
If home treatments do not relieve your rash, contact your doctor. You should also contact them if you have other symptoms or suspect you have an underlying illness.
Contact Dermatitis And Seborrheic Dermatitis
In addition to topical treatments, the key to easing the symptoms of dermatitis is to make lifestyle changes, as mentioned above.
If none of this is working for you, speak to your healthcare provider. They may be able to prescribe different medications that are more effective for your specific condition.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic condition, so symptoms may come and go over different periods in your life. Follow any treatments your doctor prescribes, and reach out to them if your rash persists.
Shingles
If you have shingles, five weeks is usually what it takes for the rash to subside. However, if you’re past this mark and see your symptoms getting worse, talk to your doctor.
In addition, reach out to your healthcare provider if you experience:
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness and confusion
- A fever
- Increased pain in the rash area
- Severe neck or head pain
- Diarrhea or vomiting
Trust Bodewell For Better Skin Days
While there are many skin rash types, the most important thing is getting a diagnosis so you can treat your skin accordingly.
To help relieve eczema or psoriasis symptoms, try our Eczema Daily Calming Cream with colloidal oatmeal and Psoriasis Calming Cream with salicylic acid.
With the right products on hand, you can get back to better skin days in no time!
