Definition
Rashes involve changes in the color or texture of your skin.
Causes
A simple rash is called dermatitis, meaning inflammation of the skin. Contact dermatitis is caused by things your skin touches, such as:
- Chemicals in elastic, latex, and rubber products
- Cosmetics, soaps, and detergents
- Dyes and other chemicals in clothing
- Poison ivy, oak, or sumac
Seborrheic dermatitis is a rash that appears in patches of redness and scaling around the eyebrows, eyelids, mouth, nose, the trunk, and behind the ears. If it happens on your scalp, it is called dandruff in adults and cradle cap in infants.
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Definition
Rashes involve changes in the color or texture of your skin.
Causes
A simple rash is called dermatitis, meaning inflammation of the skin. Contact dermatitis is caused by things your skin touches, such as:
- Chemicals in elastic, latex, and rubber products
- Cosmetics, soaps, and detergents
- Dyes and other chemicals in clothing
- Poison ivy, oak, or sumac
Seborrheic dermatitis is a rash that appears in patches of redness and scaling around the eyebrows, eyelids, mouth, nose, the trunk, and behind the ears. If it happens on your scalp, it is called dandruff in adults and cradle cap in infants.
Age, stress, fatigue, weather extremes, oily skin, infrequent shampooing, and alcohol-based lotions aggravate this harmless but bothersome condition.
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Considerations
Often, the cause of a rash can be determined from its visible characteristics and other symptoms.
Other Names
Skin redness or inflammation; Skin lesion; Rubor; Skin rash; Erythema
Home Care
Most simple rashes will improve with gentle skin care and avoiding irritating substances. Follow these general guidelines:
- Avoid scrubbing your skin.
- Use as little soap as possible. Use gentle cleansers instead.
- Avoid applying cosmetic lotions or ointments directly on the rash.
- Use warm (not hot) water for cleaning. Pat dry, don't rub.
- Eliminate any newly added cosmetics or lotions.
- Leave the affected area exposed to the air as much as possible.
- Try calamine medicated lotion for poison ivy, oak, or sumac as well as other types of contact dermatitis.
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Prevention
- Identify and then stay away from products that irritate your skin. If allergies are suspected, your doctor may want to consider skin testing.
- Receive appropriate vaccines for childhood illnesses, like the varicella vaccine for chicken pox and MMR immunization (a combination vaccine that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella).
- Get strep throat treated right away to prevent scarlet fever.
- Wash your hands frequently to prevent spreading viruses like roseola, hand-foot-mouth disease, and fifth disease.
- Learn relaxation methods like yoga, meditation, or tai chi. Stress aggravates many rashes, including eczema , psoriasis , and seborrheic dermatitis .
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References
Auerback PS, ed. Wilderness Medicine . St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001.
Marx J. Rosens Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002.
