Rash

A skin rash or dermatitis is an area of swollen or irritated skin. Rashes are a symptom of various medical conditions, which include your genetic makeup, allergies, irritating substance, and other diseases. Its appearance may be red, crusty, blistered, bumpy or scaly, or a combination of these appearances. A common cause of rashes is “contact dermatitis.” Having skin contact with foreign matter, such as a chemical, or an allergic substance such as poison ivy, causes redness, itchiness, and a burning sensation on contact.

Several rashes appear quickly, while others manifest after several days. Scratching a rash would only prolong its healing period. Treatments for rashes would depend on their specific causes, and include cortisone creams, lotions, moisturizers, and bathing which relieve swelling; antihistamines, on the other hand, mitigate itchiness.

Types of common skin rashes

• The term “rash” is used to mean an outbreak of bumps on the body that alters the appearance and texture of the skin. It does not have a specific meaning nor does it allude to any specific disease or any kind of physical disorder. Rashes may be localized or widespread in the body – again, depending on the specific cause.
• The use of the term rashes may refer to many different skin conditions. Common rashes include scaly skin patches not induced by infection; the same scaly patches, this time produced by bacterial or fungal infection; and itchy and red bumps and patches over the whole body.
• Even though rashes are seldom dangerous and life-threatening, self-diagnosis is ill-advised, and the need to consult a physician for proper evaluation is highly recommended and in fact necessary. The following information will guide you on specific rashes and their nature.

Nature of rash types and their treatment

• Atopic dermatitis. This is perhaps the most common form of eczema under this classification. A hereditary skin problem, eczema appears in childhood manifested by scalpy patches on the scalp, and chapped cheeks, torso, arms, and legs. Latter manifestations, usually during the teenage years, may include the inner portions of the knees and elbows. In adults, atopic dermatitis may even be evident around the eyelids, on the hands, on the genitals, as well as on the entire body.
• “Atopic” refers to diseases caused by allergies and usually runs in the family. “Dermatitis” means skin inflammation. Asthma, hay fever, and atopic dermatitis are examples of atopic diseases. People also refer to eczema as skin allergy. However, there is a marked difference between skin allergy and atopic dermatitis, as the latter may be manifested without being allergic in nature.
•  Eczema is manifested indeterminately, and is not directly caused by the usual suspects: foods, detergents, and soaps, and a change of use of these items may prove of little help to such skin manifestations. During the months of winter, when the air is cold and dry, atopic dermatitis becomes worse, as frequent washing may induce more skin irritation and worsen its condition. Although there is a feeling of dryness, it really isn’t. There is inflammation, and moisturizing alone would not be sufficient.
•  Atopic dermatitis is extremely inflamed and itchy. It appears reddish, with swelling and cracking. In some instances, there is also skin weeping and crusting. The liquid that comes out of the crusted areas is usually uninfected, and is actually the body’s normal tissue fluid. Specific treatment to eczema is necessary, instead of antibiotics. The body may show spots of atopic dermatitis, but this is not contagious. Its appearance may be seasonal, or on and off during the person’s lifetime. There may be long intervals between outbreaks, and its severity may be confined to childhood only.  
•  In treating eczema, the major objective is to minimize irritation that contributes to the problem and using prescription-strength steroids or cortisone creams. Due to their lack of effectiveness and because of safety concerns, nonsteroidal creams – tacrolimus, like Protopic; and pimecrolimus, like Elidel, have become unpopular and less used. Burow’s solution, which is available without prescription and mixed with tap water may help dry up atopic dermatitis in its liquefying stages.
•  Contact dermatitis. This is a type of rash that is caused by contact with a specific material that causes skin allergy or something that irritates the skin, like too many hand washing. Exposure to poison ivy and reaction to nickel-laden costume jewelry are the more common examples of contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis in most cases, affects only the parts of the body touched by whatever allergic material there is, as opposed to atopic dermatitis which can be widespread, because as mentioned earlier, atopic dermatitis is not caused by a specific allergic substance. 
•  Avoiding the allergen that caused the contact dermatitis is the first treatment for it. Minimizing exposure that irritates the skin is second. Topical steroids, hydrocortisone and many prescription-strength creams are effective treatments for contact dermatitis. Also in this case, nonsteroidal creams such as tacrolimus and pimecrolimus are less used these days than before. Burow’s solution with tap water can dry up the oozy substance in contact dermatitis as well.
• Of course, there are many more scaly rash types. The more typical ones include psoriasis, a hereditary disease affecting elbows, knees, and other body parts, and pityriasis rosea, which is prevalent in teenagers and young adults. It presents as scaly spots on the chest and the back and generally lasts one month. Xerosis, appearing as very dry skin, may also manifest as a rash usually formed during the cold dry months of the year.
• Itching and rashes may stem from infection or irritation, or from an immune system reaction. Most rashes occur in children but adults are affected as well. At times, reaction to the immune system comes from the substances touched by the person or the food he or she eats, but a lot of times, physicians are at a loss in the actual cause of rashes produced by an immune system reaction.
• The diagnosis of most non-infectious skin rashes is based on the rashes’ manifestation and appearance. Blood tests of any kind cannot directly determine the cause of rashes; however, for persistent rashes, skin biopsy, or the surgical excision of a small piece of skin for the conduct of tests, may be performed.