Did you know that the largest organ in your body is your skin? You might not think of your skin as an organ, but it is and has a very important role in protecting everything below the skin’s surface.
Because the skin covers a lot of surface area and is exposed to external elements, it’s constantly exposed to irritants like chemicals in cleaning products, insect bites, and plant saps. It’s also at risk of sun damage, burns, and even blistering caused by health issues.
When any rash appears, you need to determine if the skin symptoms require medical attention or home treatment.
Understanding Rashes and Their Causes
Skin rashes have many causes, but most are due to dermatitis, which is inflammation of the skin. There are different causes.
Childhood Illnesses
While many of today’s children and adults have been vaccinated against some of the rash-causing illnesses, there are some parents who have opted not to vaccinate their children. The following childhood illnesses can cause rashes along with many other symptoms.
- Chickenpox – Itchy, red, fluid-filled blisters that cover the body.
- Fifth Disease – A red, flat rash on the cheeks triggered by parvovirus B19.
- Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease (HFMD) – Small, painful red blisters appear on the palms of the hands and the feet, and sores appear in the mouth.
- Measles – Blotchy red spots that spread downward from the face and hairline.
- Roseola (Sixth Disease) – Small red patches that start on the back, belly, and chest and accompany a high fever.
- Rubella (German Measles) – A pink or red rash starting on the face, neck, and trunk that spreads.
- Scarlet Fever – A red rash that feels rough and looks like a sunburn, and usually starts on the face and neck before spreading.
Contact Dermatitis
This skin rash occurs as a reaction to something that your skin encountered, like:
- Bandage adhesive
- Chemicals in skincare products or household cleaners
- Dyes and chemicals used in clothing
- Latex
- Plants, including poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac
Eczema
Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is common in people with allergies or asthma. It’s an itchy, red, scaly rash.
Impetigo
Bacteria in the top layers of the skin cause this rash. It’s most common in children and appears as red sores that often blister and ooze before forming a crust.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis appears over joints, the scalp, and, less commonly, the fingernails. It’s a red, scaly rash that isn’t always itchy.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
This is one of the harder rashes to diagnose as there are so many causes, including age, stress, and weather conditions. It usually appears as red, scaly skin behind the ears or on the eyebrows, eyelids, mouth, nose, scalp, and trunk.
Shingles
Shingles appears in adults who had chickenpox in their childhood. The virus comes out of dormancy and creates a painful blistering rash on one side of the body, usually the trunk. It can be accompanied by severe nerve pain.
When to See a Doctor for a Skin Rash
So many things can trigger a rash that it’s easy to dismiss them or wait several days to see what happens. There are signs to watch for that help you decide if you should see your primary care physician (PCP) or not.
Blistering and Open Sores
Poison ivy and sunburn can both trigger blistering, but there are conditions that can accompany blistering rashes with open sores. There are dangerous reactions to medications that cause blistering rashes and can be deadly if left untreated.
Another issue is that blistering rashes and open sores can develop infections that put your health at risk. This is especially risky if you have a chronic health condition like diabetes. See a doctor to have the rash examined and ensure you’re caring for it properly.
Fever and Systemic Symptoms
Systemic symptoms are symptoms that affect the entire body, such as fatigue and joint aches. If your rash appears with other symptoms, it’s important to go to urgent care. Watch for:
- A fever over 101°F
- Flu-like symptoms
- Joint pain
- Stiff neck and headache
- Swollen lymph nodes in the armpits, groin, and neck
Pain
Most rashes are itchy, but some can be very painful, such as the rash that accompanies shingles. Another is cellulitis, which is a bacterial infection that occurs deep in the skin layers.
Purple or Blood-Colored Spots
When small spots are purple or dark red (petechiae) or expand and look like dark bruises (purpura) and don’t turn white when you press on the skin, it’s a sign of under-the-skin bleeding. Several health issues can cause petechiae and purpura, including:
- Bleeding disorders
- Meningitis
- Sepsis
- Vasculitis
Rashes in Infants and Young Children
It’s important to have rashes appearing in infants and younger children identified. They can be signs of common childhood illnesses that we addressed above. It’s especially important to have your child diagnosed if the rash accompanies:
- Fever
- Irritability (A sign of pain in infants and toddlers who cannot tell you.)
- Lack of appetite
- Sleepiness
Sometimes, the rashes turn out to be nothing, such as cradle cap, but they could also be an indicator of a severe food allergy.
Rashes in Sensitive Areas
Rashes around the mouth or genitals may indicate a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and some rashes in or around the mouth are triggered by severe reactions to medications you take or foods you eat. Rashes that are localized to the eyes are another concern, as they could impact your vision.
Rashes That Don’t Go Away or Aren’t Responding to Treatment
You’ve had the rash for a week, and it hasn’t gone away. Or, you’ve been to the doctor, and the treatment you were prescribed hasn’t helped. It could be that the rash is resistant to standard treatments and needs something more powerful.
Your doctor may not have run a culture or taken a skin scraping. The rash might not be what your doctor suspected, and a skin scraping and culture can determine exactly what is going on.
Rashes That Feel Warm to the Touch
If a rash is spreading and feels warm when you put your hand on it, it’s often a sign of a bacterial infection. Seek medical treatment immediately to prevent the rash from spreading to your bloodstream.
Sudden Onset and Spreading
Rashes that appear suddenly and start spreading are concerning, especially if they cover large areas of the body. They could indicate many health issues that require treatment.
Don’t Ignore Dangerous Rash Symptoms
It’s critical to know when symptoms accompanying a rash require emergency care. If any of the following symptoms appear alongside a rash, don’t delay. Call 9-1-1 or go to the hospital.
- Difficulty breathing
- Disorientation
- Fever exceeding 103ºF
- Problems swallowing
- Purple or red spots that accompany confusion, fever, or a stiff neck
- Rapidly spreading painful rash with blistering and peeling
- Redness and swelling with severe pain
- Sudden onset of hives over large portions of the body after exposure to an allergen
- Swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
- Unresponsive
Get a Professional Diagnosis at Premium Urgent Care
Don’t try to self-diagnose your rash. We know that online searches using pictures of your rash are easy, but many rashes look similar and have completely different treatments. A health care professional looks at your medical history and lifestyle, takes a close look at your skin, and runs tests. Tests include a mix of:
- Biopsies
- Blood tests
- Skin scrapings and cultures
If a rash is new to you or symptoms seem more severe than in the past, see a doctor. It’s better to learn that it’s nothing troubling than to wait and risk your health.
Premium Urgent Care has doctors available to examine your rash and offer effective treatments. If you can’t get an appointment with your PCP or don’t have a primary care doctor, come see us. We’re open weekends and offer online check-in to save time.