Overview

Skin rashes are the result of inflammation of the skin, which has many causes. A rash is an area of irritated or swollen skin which is itchy, red, painful and can cause blisters, bumps or areas of raw skin.

Skin rashes are a common problem that can affect just about anyone, regardless of age, hygiene or medical history. Some rashes can be painful and cross-body. Mild cases can be treated at home.

6 Common skin rashes and what they look like

There are a number of potential causes of rashes, including allergies, diseases, reactions, and medications. They can also be caused by bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic infections.

1. Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis can be caused by any allergy-causing substance or irritating substance that touches your skin.

The skin rash of contact dermatitis can appear as red skin, skin bumps, blisters, scales, crusts, or sores. Itching is common. Treatment of contact dermatitis includes washing the skin and using anti-itch lotions and steroids.

2. Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a long-lasting (chronic) skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales.

Psoriasis occurs when the immune system inappropriately attacks its own skin cells, triggering inflammation and the hyperproduction of cells. The rash is formed when new skin cells are produced faster than the old ones can be shed.

The severity of psoriasis varies greatly from person to person. For some people, it's just a minor irritation, but for others it can have a major impact on their quality of life.

3. Eczema

Eczema is a long-term condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. The most common type is atopic eczema, which mainly affects children but can continue into adulthood. Medically known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is an umbrella term for a range of skin conditions characterized by red, splotchy, flaky, dry, cracked, or crusty skin that can emit clear fluid when scratched. It’s usually clustered around the insides of elbows and knees, but can appear anywhere on the skin.

This is a weepy, oozy dermatitis that tends to occur as coin-shaped plaques in the wintertime and is associated with very dry skin.

4. Impetigo

Impetigo is a common and highly contagious skin infection that causes sores and blisters. It isn't usually serious and often improves within a week of treatment. There are two types of impetigo – bullous and non-bullous.

Bullous impetigo typically affects the trunk (the area of the body between the waist and neck), and causes fluid-filled blisters that burst after a few days to leave a yellow crust.

Non-bullous impetigo typically affects the skin around the nose and mouth, causing sores that quickly burst to leave a yellow-brown crust.

5. Ringworm

Ringworm is a common skin infection caused by a fungus. It gets its name from its circular rash, which is often red, swollen, and cracked.

This rash is itchy and can cause hair loss when it occurs on the scalp. The same fungus also causes athlete’s foot and jock itch. Ringworm is contagious, so avoid touching people and pets or sharing objects like towels with others during flareups.

Ringworm can usually be easily treated with antifungal medicines, which are available from a pharmacy. Ringworm of the scalp can cause scaling and patches of hair loss. It's treated with antifungal tablets, often combined with antifungal shampoo.

6. Rosacea

Rosacea is a common skin condition that occurs on the faces of adults. Symptoms of rosacea include redness of the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. Small blood vessels may be seen on the surface of the red skin, along with skin bumps and pimples, though this is not related to acne breakouts. Rosacea typically only affects the face, though in some cases it appears on the neck, chest, ears, scalp, or even the eyes. The cause is unknown and there is no cure, although treatment with antibiotics can minimize symptoms.

When to seek medical care

Seek medical evaluation for a rash on the hands and/or feet that is unresponsive to self-care measures.

Should the rash cover a large area of your body or several limbs,  or new symptoms such as fever occur, immediately see your doctor.

Takeaway

Skin rashes are the result of inflammation of the skin, which has many causes. A rash is an area of irritated or swollen skin which is itchy, red, painful and can cause blisters, bumps or areas of raw skin. Skin rashes can occur in many forms, but common causes include contact eczema, physical infections and allergic reactions to or while taking medication.

Skin rashes are a common problem that can affect just about anyone, regardless of age, hygiene or medical history. Some rashes can be painful and cross-body. Mild cases can be treated at home, but consult your medecin if  the rash is severe, does not disappear or spreads all over face or groin, or you notice signs of infection, fever, redness, swelling, poison ivy or oak lesion.