SKIN RASHES AND ITS CAUSE- THE SOLUTION Skin rashes are common, and there are a lot of them. Some come from an allergic reaction, while others could be fungal or viral. Generally speaking, a rash is considered any change to your skins normal color or texture [source: WebMD]. Lets look at some tips for identifying different kind of rashes, as well as some ways to clear them up. Lets start with the basics: Did you get a rash by coming into contact with an irritant? Allergic contact dermatitis is a rash that forms from an allergic reaction to some chemical compound that touched your skin [source: Cleveland Clinic]. Think about any new product youre using that contains a fragrance, for instance. Or it could be a new cosmetic youre trying out. Some people are allergic to rubber ingredients, which can cause an immediate itching or swelling. Theres also irritant contact dermatitis, less severe than the allergic kind. People can develop rashes from prolonged exposure to mild detergents or solvents [source: Cleveland Clinic]. Unfortunately, many rashes that fall under the category of allergic or irritant contact dermatitis can look like any other more serious rash, making it difficult to diagnose [source: Cleveland Clinic]. You have to take a moment to consider any new chemical product youve tried, if youre allergic to some type of metal youre wearing or a rubber product youve come into contact with. If youve been outdoors, consider you may have come into contact with poison oak or poison ivy. If so,oatmeal baths, cold compresses or over-the-counter medicines can help reduce the itching and inflammation while you wait for the rash to pass [source: Mayo Clinic]. So maybe youve ruled out coming into contact with anallergen like rubber or perfumes. But what if its not something outside your body, but inside? Could it be something youve ingested? Certain people can have negative reactions when starting a new medication. You can develop whats called a drug rash, either as a side effect or as an allergic reaction to the medicine [source: Mayo Clinic]. It could happen with any medication, but common types are antibiotics, diuretics or anti-seizure prescriptions. And in some cases, sunlight can intensify the effect. Drug rashes often start out as small red dots, spreading to larger areas [source: Mayo Clinic]. If indeed you have developed a rash due to medications, contact your doctor, who may tell you to stop taking the prescription. You may not notice a drug rash right away; it could take a few days to develop, but usually occurs in the first week or so. After you stop taking the medicine, the rash will gradually disappear [source: Mayo Clinic]. In rare cases, an allergic reaction to medication can be life threatening, affecting the respiratory and other systems [source: Mayo Clinic]. This is why its important to discuss all the details with your health care provider. INTERTRIGO A type of skin condition related to heat rash but different is called intertrigo. Caused by heat, this rash forms with skin-on-skin friction [source: Mayo Clinic]. Maybe its the thick of summer and youre attending an afternoon game at the ball park. You think, Why did I wear long pants in this weather? If youve ever noticed stinging, red dots when taking off clothing after being in the heat, you could be looking at a heat rash. Mostly harmless, heat rashes occur when the natural process of sweating is blocked, often by wearing tight-fitting clothes [source: Mayo Clinic]. While some heat rash looks like little red bumps, other cases could be small bumps filled with clear fluid. Again, not to worry, heat rash is not dangerous. If you develop a heat rash, the first thing to do is cool down and put on loose-fitting clothing, which will help prevent the rash from becoming worse. Dont wear anything that prevents your body from sweating. With intertrigo, a heat-related rash caused by skin friction, keep the area clean and dry. This will prevent a bacterial or fungal invader from infecting the already cracked or damaged skin, which can make a painful condition much worse [source: Mayo Clinic]. OTHER END OF THE AGE SPECTRUM All parents are aware of the dreaded diaper rash. This happens when a babys bottom stays too wet inside the diaper. Frequent changing, as well as powders and creams, can help the rash go away [source: Cleveland Clinic]. Most common rashes can develop regardless of age. But one in particular is problematic for the senior population. Shingles is a serious condition that can develop in older people who have the herpes zoster virus, aka chicken pox. Of course, chicken pox mostly occurs in children. But once a person has had chicken pox, the virus remains dormant in his or her body forever [source: Mayo Clinic]. With shingles, a red rash develops on the face or body, eventually becoming blisters. Unfortunately, thats not the worst part: Shingles can be extremely painful because it affects the nervous system, where the herpes zoster virus lies dormant [source: National Institute on Aging]. For people with a shingles outbreak, how long they will have the rash can be a challenge. Though it depends on the person, shingles can stick around for three to five weeks, often going away on its own [source: Mayo Clinic]. The good news is that most people only get shingles once. However, the pain associated with it can linger, and if so you should consult your doctor. There is no cure for shingles, considering its a virus, but a vaccine has been developed that could prevent an outbreak. The vaccine is for those ages 60 and older and must be administered by your doctor [source:National Institute on Aging]. Many of the rashes weve looked at are isolated occurrences. But what about a rash that youve seen before -- and its coming back? You could have a recurring rash. Eczema includes a broad number of itchy, red rashes, the cause of which is unknown. The most severe of these is atopic dermatitis, a rash that often appears on the inside of the elbows, back of the knees or face [source: National Eczema Association]. Atopic dermatitis is not contagious. Researchers believe the condition is genetic, passed down from one or both parents [source: National Eczema Association]. Another chronic, recurring rash is psoriasis. With this condition, skin cells build up rapidly on the surface, causing patches of itchy, scaly skin that is sometimes painful [source: Mayo Clinic]. WHEN IN DOUBT, GET IT CHECKED In this article, weve briefly looked at some of the symptoms and treatments for common skin rashes. But as always, its best to leave the final diagnosis up to your general doctor or dermatologist. He or she can point you in the right direction as to what type of rash you could have. In conditions like eczema or psoriasis, there is no known orthodox cure. These rashes are thought to be genetic, and dealing with the symptoms is the only treatment available [source: Mayo Clinic]. In most cases of atopic dermatitis, the most serious form of eczema, it begins in childhood. The condition fades in many patients, though it can come back or cause other symptoms like easily irritated skin or skin infections [source: National Eczema Association]. Though theres not a cure, topical creams containing cortisone are effective at reducing the length of a flare-up in both eczema and psoriasis [source: Mayo Clinic]. FOR ALL YOUR SKIN PROBLEM CONTACT bumpscentre.co.uk Tel:+44 208 465 9308
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 19:00:45 +0000
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