What kind of skin rash do i have

Start Here. Diagnosis and Tests. Treatments and Therapies. First Aid: Rashes Nemours Foundation. Related Issues. Health Check Tools. Clinical Trials. Rashes -- see more articles. Shingles Herpes zoster : Vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Habif TP. Acne, rosacea, and related disorders.

Edinburgh, U. Accessed June 20, Rochester, Minn. Red, itchy rash? Get the skinny on dermatitis. NIH News in Health. April Bennett JE, et al. Dermatophytosis ringworm and other superficial mycoses. Accessed June 29, Pityriasis rosea. Cutaneous reactions to drugs. Lichen planus. American Academy of Dermatology. Accessed July 29, Follow this advice to treat everyone safely and effectively. We're helping you achieve YourHealthiestSkin from head to toe. Use these tips from dermatologists to keep all your skin looking and feeling its best.

AAD Shade Structures provide permanent outdoor shade in areas that are not protected from the sun. When it comes to treating the skin, plenty of people say they have expertise. Only a board-certified dermatologist has these credentials. Rashes can appear as blotches, welts, or blisters. Find out when you need to see a dermatologist for medical treatment.

To the untrained eye, all rashes may look alike and seem easily treatable with over-the-counter oral antihistamines or hydrocortisone cream.

However, it is not always so simple, say dermatologists. Rashes can appear as blotches, welts, or blisters; they can be red, itchy, scaly, or dry; and they can occur in one area of skin or all over the body.

They can be triggered by anything from weather as in the case of atopic dermatitis to perfume as with contact dermatitis. Many of these rashes come and go. Read on to learn about eight common skin conditions and their symptoms and triggers.

The most common type of eczema is atopic dermatitis, and the terms are often used interchangeably to describe the same skin condition. Both can cause red, raised, itchy patches of skin on the hands and scalp, but eczema tends to come with really intense itching, according to Penn Medicine. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, while eczema could be the result of genetic or environmental factors. About 20 percent of infants have eczema , according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Many kids outgrow eczema, though it sometimes sticks around into adolescence or adulthood. Commonly affected areas include the eyelids, elbows, hands, feet, knees, and ankles, according to the Mayo Clinic. Triggers for eczema include environmental factors, such as hot weather, according to Penn Medicine, or contact with certain products, such as chemicals or drying detergents, says Joyce Davis, MD , a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.

Hirsch says. Scratching makes your skin thicker, which itches more. The Mayo Clinic and Hirsch recommend a combination of treatments and lifestyle changes :. Contact dermatitis is a different type of eczema, triggered by physically touching something that irritates or causes an allergic reaction , according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association AAD. Intense itching, accompanied by a rash with fluid-filled blisters, is the hallmark of the disorder, according to AAD.

There are two types of contact dermatitis: irritant, which is more common and occurs when your skin reacts to something chemical like a perfume or detergent , and allergic contact dermatitis, which is caused by a reaction to a substance, according to the Mayo Clinic. Common contact dermatitis triggers include nickel jewelry, hair dye, cosmetics, skin-care products, nail polish, formaldehyde, rubbing alcohol, and poison ivy.

Davis says. For both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, use over-the-counter or prescription topical cortisone , Davis says. Identifying an allergic reaction may require a test, in which a doctor applies a small patch with allergens on it to see if your skin reacts, per a study published in the July—August issue of Missouri Medicine.

It seems to be caused by yeasts belonging to the genus Malassezia, the authors wrote. Look for shampoos with zinc , selenium, or ketoconazole , and leave the shampoo on the scalp for five minutes before rinsing, recommends Harvard Health Publishing. Outbreaks on the face and body can be treated with topical corticosteroids or antifungal medications, notes the Cleveland Clinic.