A rash is an area of irritated or swollen skin. Many rashes are itchy, red, painful and irritated, and some lead to blisters or patches of raw skin.
What causes rashes
Rashes are a symptom of many different medical problems. Other causes include irritating substances and allergies, and certain genes make some people more likely to get them.
Contact dermatitis
One common type is contact dermatitis. It causes redness, itching and sometimes small bumps, appearing where your skin touched:
- an irritant, such as a chemical, or
- something you are allergic to, such as poison ivy
How rashes behave
- Some appear right away; others develop over several days.
- Most clear up fairly quickly, but some are long-lasting and need long-term treatment.
Treatment
Because rashes have so many causes, it’s important to find out what kind you have before treating it. See a health care provider if a rash is bad, doesn’t go away, or comes with other symptoms. Treatments may include:
- moisturizers and lotions
- baths
- cortisone creams to relieve swelling
- antihistamines to relieve itching
Sources
Based on "Rashes," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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