A skin rash is a result when an internal or external factor damages your skin. Your skin is a protective barrier against infection-causing pathogens. Skin rash, also called dermatitis occurs when your skin interacts with foreign substances, leading to inflammation.
Types of Skin Rashes
1. Contact Dermatitis
Skin rash occurs when irritants and your skin associate with each other. Your immune system will consider it as a threat and causes an allergic reaction. This reaction leads to skin inflammation and red bumps. Some skin irritants are,- Creams
- Soaps
- Shampoos
- Fabrics etc
2. Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
It is a chronic type of eczema. People with eczema have a dry skin rash, red rashes, and instant flare-ups on the body. As a chronic disease, it requires long-term treatments. The symptoms are red blotches and pruritic inflammations.3. Miliaria
Miliaria is also known as prickly heat. It is a summer skin rash, affects people who live in hot and humid climates. Miliaria occurs due to sweat duct block or inflammation that leads to spillage of sweat into the skin. As a result, the rash will look like red bumps or tiny fluid-filled blisters that are immensely itchy.4. Intertrigo
This type of skin rash stirs up due to body heat, excessive sweat, and friction. Intertrigo will occur wherever skin friction takes place in your body. Areas it affects are armpits, groin area, under breasts, and where abdomen folds.5. Insect Bites
An insect bite area will be itchy, which is followed by inflammation and skin rashes. Based on the insect type and severity of the bite, symptoms may prolong from hours to days.6. Rosacea
The exact cause of rosacea is unidentified, but studies claim it may be genetic influence or environmental factors. It affects mainly the skins on a face like cheeks, nose, and forehead. It looks like bumps or red swollen patches on the skin.7. Keratosis Pilaris
Excess protein production called keratin, or dead skin cells, will block your hair follicles and trigger small acne-like bumps and rough patches on your skin. That is why your skin may feel dry and rough to touch. In addition, a family with genetic history will experience in childhood, teen, or adulthood.8. Lupus
An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks its tissue, considering them as threats. The symptoms are red or scaly rash, pain in joints, and fever. Till now, there is no cure for lupus, but we can manage by changing our lifestyle, keeping ourselves hygienic, and avoiding trigger factors.9. Psoriasis
Immune system dysfunction is the leading cause of psoriasis, which destroys healthy skin cells of your skin. As a result, the affected skin will be itchy and sensitive. The skin rash will be like scaly, dry, swollen, red patches on the skin.10. Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a rare disease caused by viral infection. The symptoms are red blisters, itchy, painful all over a body that leave scars on the infected area. It is contagious and spreads through body fluids or direct contact with the affected person. Vaccinated people will be at low risk.11. Shingles
Chickenpox-infected people have a higher chance to suffer because the virus may reactivate, producing the same conditions called shingles. Thankfully, it is not contagious, but affected people have painful rashes on various body parts.12. Drug Allergy
Some medications can trigger an allergic reaction on your body that leads to skin rash. However, the common symptom is hives that cause redness and itchy skin. Once the drug power goes down, the symptoms vanish.13. Pityriasis Rosea
Studies declare it as a virus infection because of the unknown cause of the disease. At first, it appears as a big scaly patch that later expands to other areas. It also has swollen, redness, and itchiness on the affected places. The upper torso and upper limbs are the most affected places.14. Ringworm (Dermatophytosis)
A fungal infection where the fungi exist on the keratin of your skin causes a skin rash. Ringworm is a highly contagious disease, whether through direct contact or the belongings of the affected people. Symptoms are itchy, ring-like rash on your body, and scaly.15. Scabies
The reason for scabies is Sarcoptes scabiei mites that live on your skin. The mites start burrowing on the infected area makes the skin rash intensely pruritic. Hence, it is a contagious rash, avoid physical contact with infected people. Also, for killing mites, antiparasitic medications are used.16. Cellulitis
Streptococcus or staphylococcus bacteria are responsible for cellulitis because it is a bacterial infection. Through an open wound, bacteria enter your body. Before it spreads, we should examine it. Cellulitis can be life-threatening for people with a weak immune system. Symptoms are redness, fever, pain, chills, and aches.17. Erythema Nodosum
An inflammatory disorder where nodules (affected fat cells) are under your skin. Erythema nodosum looks like inflamed, red, tender lumps found in the front side of your legs.18. Hay Fever Rash
Defined as allergic rhinitis, that makes your skin red, itchy, and swollen bumps. In addition, hay fever rash causes sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, and other symptoms, which are an allergic response.19. Fifth Disease
A childhood viral disease is also named slapped cheek disease. Parvovirus B-19 is the reason for having red patches on children’s faces, legs, chest, and hands. The Fifth disease is a contagious airborne virus that circulates through saliva and respiratory secretions.20. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
Enterovirus genus most regularly the coxsackievirus is responsible for this childhood viral infection. This contagious disease pass through physical contact or cough droplets from the affected person. Symptoms are mouth ulcers or red skin rashes. Adults are hardly affected.
21. Impetigo
Staphylococcus aureus or streptococcus pyogenes bacteria infects the epidermis (outer skin layer). Impetigo contagious disease enters through an open wound such as cut or scratch, andthe face, legs, arms are mostly affected.Prevention of Skin Rashes
- Don’t touch or scratch the infected area.
- Bath in lukewarm water. Hot showers are strictly prohibited.
- Parabens, sulphates, artificial fragrances, and colors having products will stir up skin rash conditions. To avoid it, swap to chemical-free skincare products.
- You have to moisturize your skin after putting on the skin allergy medication to protect your skin from environmental damage.
- Apply sunscreen lotion when you are stepping out. Over sun exposure may trigger skin rashes.
- Wear loose clothes that give air ventilation to your skin. Cotton clothes can reduce friction.
- Don’t put make-up on your rash. Because it becomes more itchy, and it might slow down the healing process by blocking the air supply.
- Have a stress-free life. Excess Cortisol (stress hormone) makes rash itchy.
- Do yoga and exercise to relieve stress.
