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How Do I Identify A Rash?

Rashes are a type of skin disease that is defined as a general outbreak of skin lesions. Rashes differ drastically from one another in terms of appearance. The appearance and its symptoms are some of the main ways to identify a rash.

Rashes are a type of skin disease that is defined as a general outbreak of skin lesions. Rashes differ drastically from one another in terms of appearance. The appearance and its symptoms are some of the main ways to identify a rash. Rashes are generally non-lethal, but they should not be left untreated. So, you must identify rashes by their symptoms and go for treatment with either over the counter medication or proper dermatological help. 

Rashes can be caused by various factors such as contact dermatitis, allergic reaction to food and drugs, fungal, viral, and other types of infections. Rashes are generally distinguished based on their appearance. Some of the factors considered for determining different rashes are dryness or moisty, bumpy or smooth, blistered or cracked, and if they are painful, itchy or both. In rare cases, it has been noticed that rashes also change colour in their course of infection.

Now that you know the different factors used for differentiating between rashes let’s find out how you can identify a rash and what steps you can take to cure them.

5 Types Of Rashes You Can Identify At Home

1.      Fifth Disease

Fifth Disease
  • Description: The fifth disease is a type of rash that affects children especially. It affects the cheeks commonly with circular bright red rashes on them.

  • Symptoms: Along with the rashes on the cheeks, it can also cause fever, diarrhoea, nausea, and fatigue.

  • Treatment: These rashes are painful and more so because they commonly affect children. These rashes go away on their own in due time, but pain-relieving medication might be required to alleviate the pain.

  • Prevention: Maintaining proper hygiene with regular washing of hands with soap and water. Covering your face when sneezing or coughing and not touching your eyes, nose, and mouth in public.

2.      Rosacea

Rosacea
  • Description: Rosacea is a chronic skin disease that infects a person for a long time. This rash goes through phases of disappearance and relapse. Rosacea also has four different subtypes, all of which have varying symptoms.

  • Symptoms: Rosacea comes with facial redness with red bumps on the skin and facial flushing, along with skin dryness and sensitivity.

  • Treatment: This skin condition is serious and should not be left untreated as it tends to get more serious over time. The go-to medication for this disease is antibiotics and anti-acne medication.

  • Prevention: Use proper sun protection by covering up and using sunscreen. You should also reduce your exposure to high temperatures.

3.      Ringworm

Ringworm
  • Description: Ringworms are scaly in nature, and they are circular in shape with raised borders. The skin in the middle seems normal, and only the raised edges seem to spread outward. Ringworms can be very itchy in nature.

  • Symptoms: Circular rashes on the skin with raised red edges that are highly irritating and itchy.

  • Treatment: Ringworms are a type of fungal infection that does not go away on its own. You need to use treatment over the counter or medically prescribed anti-fungal medication.

  • Prevention: As it is a fungal infection, the best way to prevent it is to make sure you follow proper skin hygiene and keep your skin dry. Make sure to wear clean clothes and change your underwear every day.

4.      Allergic Eczema

Allergic Eczema
  • Description: Allergic eczema resembles a burn with blisters, scaly, and raw skin that ooze or become crusty. They are usually noticed on the hands and forearms of a person and are red and itchy in nature.

  • Symptoms: Scaly, raw, and itchy skin forms blisters and ooze out pus or becomes crusty on top. In terms of appearance, it may resemble a burn.

  • Treatment: Medical treatment for this condition includes using both over the counter and prescribed medications such as hydrocortisone cream to reduce the itching. You should also moisturize the affected area with fragrance-free moisturizers.

  • Prevention: Moisturizing is the key to preventing this condition. You should also avoid hot places that make you sweat a lot.

 5.      Psoriasis

5.jpg
  • Description: Psoriasis usually affects areas such as the knees, elbows, and lower back regions. It involves the skin turning silvery in colour, with very defined patches appearing on the skin. This infection also causes the affected skin to become scaly.

  • Symptoms: Itchy patches of skin that turn silvery in colour. This condition can also be asymptomatic, which means the appearance changes without any itching.

  • Treatment: Medical treatment for this condition includes using topical ointments and gels for relieving the symptoms. The treatment aims to reduce the cells from growing too fast.

  • Prevention: Properly moisturizing your skin is a must to prevent psoriasis. You should also maintain proper care and hygiene of your skin and scalp.

Skin diseases are common, and everyone suffers from them from time to time. The key is to identify it properly and treat it as soon as possible. If you are unable to identify the rash at home, be sure to get medical help. Untreated skin diseases can be problematic for you, so do not take them very lightly.

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Skin Rash: Skin Disorders: Pictures, Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

Skin disorders are prevalent among people of all ages and races. As the skin is the largest organ of your body, it is exposed to different elements that can cause problems such as rashes, allergies, and skin disorders.

Skin disorders are prevalent among people of all ages and races. As the skin is the largest organ of your body, it is exposed to different elements that can cause problems such as rashes, allergies, and skin disorders. Skin disorders often share similar symptoms, which is why it is hard to identify from which condition you are suffering. 

Skin Rash

Most skin disorders are not severe, and they do not pose any real threat to your health and well-being in the long run. However, some disorders have the potential of becoming harmful to your health over time. So it is essential that you keep a check on your problems and get them treated as soon as possible.

Skin disorders can be irritable, sore, itchy and hard to get rid of, but it is essential that you identify the type of skin disorder you have for it to be treated soon. Delaying treatment might cause the affected area to spread further, and the skin disease can become even tougher to heal. So, let’s take a look at some common skin disorders and how you can treat and prevent them.

4 Common Skin Disorders And How To Treat Them

1.      Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic Dermatitis

●     Description: This condition is common for babies, but it can affect adults as well. It is usually harmless and can go away on its own in due time. In babies, this condition is known as a ‘cradle cap’. In adults, this condition can affect any part of the body, and the condition will be prone to appearance and disappearance throughout the patient’s life.

●     Symptoms: For babies, the symptoms include scaly and greasy skin, especially on the scalp. For adults, the symptoms are different as the skin tends to become swollen and reddish in colour with a greasy look.

●     Treatment: This condition requires continuous treatment in the form of medicated soaps and shampoos. You may also need to use medically prescribed anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory medications.

2.      Moles

Moles

●     Description: Moles are a very common skin condition that appears when skin cells gather up with tissues surrounding the area. Moles can appear in your body at any time during your lifetime. In general, moles are harmless, but they should be checked out if they grow abnormally or change colour.

●     Symptoms: There are no such symptoms when it comes to moles. Moles appear as a projection on your skin, generally blackish or brownish in colour. They can appear randomly without any prior symptoms.

●     Treatment: Moles are essentially harmless in most cases, and they do not require medical treatment. If you are not happy with the moles on your body and want to treat them, the treatment process is surgically removing the mole.

3.      Melanoma

Melanoma

●     Description: Melanoma is a condition that is directly linked to moles. It is a form of serious skin cancer that can be fatal if not treated properly. Melanoma is the consequence for which moles need to keep in check. This condition can affect children and adults both.

●     Symptoms: Melanoma can be identified when you notice any irregularly shaped mole on your body. You should also be alarmed if any moles are coloured in an uneven manner.

●     Treatment: Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. The treatment process includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Melanoma can be treated if it is diagnosed early on; in the later stages, it can be fatal, so early diagnosis is a necessity.

4.      Lupus

Lupus

●     Description: Lupus is a serious skin disorder that affects the immune system of the body. This condition is highly complex and varies greatly from person to person. The skin rashes that appear from lupus are not irritating, but it affects your body in other ways such as fever, headaches, and pain in the joints.

●     Symptoms: Red patches of skin that are ring-shaped and sunburn-like spots on the nose and cheek are some of the most common symptoms of lupus. If the rashes mentioned are followed by bouts of fever, fatigue, and headaches, it can be a significant symptom that you are suffering from lupus.

●     Treatment: Lupus is an incurable condition that cannot be fully treated. Treatment for this condition focuses on improving the lifestyle of the affected by controlling the flare ups experienced by the patient. Steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs can be used as a medication for controlling this condition.

Skin disorders are common, but they require certain lifestyle and personal hygiene changes for the best course of treatment. More often than not, skin disorders are easier to treat when they are diagnosed early on. Still, in later stages of diagnosis, some skin disorders can become untreatable as well as fatal. So, it is crucial for you to pay close attention to your skin health to avoid such diseases.

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What Are Rare Skin Diseases?

Be it an abnormal-looking red bump on your skin or sudden itchiness at certain portions, issues related to skin conditions are quite common among people of all ages. While most complications regarding our skin are treatable and do not really require any such attention, there are a handful of other rare ones which demand immediate medical advice. In severe cases, these conditions might not be curable as well.

Be it an abnormal-looking red bump on your skin or sudden itchiness at certain portions, issues related to skin conditions are quite common among people of all ages. While most complications regarding our skin are treatable and do not really require any such attention, there are a handful of other rare ones which demand immediate medical advice. In severe cases, these conditions might not be curable as well.

There are many skin diseases that are incredibly rare and affect only hundreds among millions of people. It is still crucial to know the details to stay informed regarding the symptoms and get yourself treated in case you see the symptoms appear on yourself. Read ahead to learn about the vital details of some rare skin diseases.

4 Rare Skin Diseases For You To Know

1. Harlequin ichthyosis

  • Description: This is a genetic disorder that often leads to the thickening of the skin at various parts of the body in newborns.

  • Symptoms: Infants born with this rare skin condition often have deep and shiny patches or plates of skin and thick erythematous fissures separating the layers of the plates. Other symptoms often include Eclabium, dehydration, severe ectropion, etc.

  • Treatment: Even though there is no such cure for this disease, you should still contact your dermatologist and follow their suggestions. In most cases, the doctors prescribe antibiotics for protecting the firm skin from causing further infection.

  • Prevention: As stated earlier, Harlequin ichthyosis is passed on to the next generation through autosomal recessive genes. The only way to know whether you are a carrier or not is by consulting with a genetic counsellor before conceiving. Besides, the newborn will have this rare skin disorder only if both the parents pass down the gene and not the other way round.

Harlequin ichthyosis

2. Morgellons

  • Description: This skin disease is often referred to as a delusional disorder. The person suffering from it often believes that foreign particles or insects are crawling inside or coming out of broken skin. Morgellons is usually misunderstood as a psychiatric disorder.

  • Symptoms: The primal symptom of this disease is skin rashes with thread-like coloured fibres coming out of the skin. A crawling sensation and intense itching in the affected area are also significant symptoms of this rare skin disorder.

  • Treatment: Based on the underlying cause of the disorder, it is treated in two different ways. In case of bacterial infections, the treatment procedure often includes a round of antibiotics consumption. The Morgellons are quite often treated with antipsychotic medications as well. However, there is no such proper treatment of this disease yet. All of the medications are prescribed just to ease the troubles for the time being.

  • Prevention: Morgellons is a poorly understood disease that does not have any such permanent cure options. Hence, there aren’t any ways to prevent it from affecting you. However, it is highly recommended to consult a doctor as soon as you notice open wounds on your skin without any cause and also if you experience tiredness and joint/muscle pain quite often.

Morgellons

3. Hidradenitis Suppurativa

  • Description: This skin condition often leads to bumps on different parts of the body, which is quite painful. It occurs mainly during the time of puberty and is more common in females than males.

  • Symptoms: One of the main symptoms of this skin disease is breakouts which look quite alike to a pimple. Some other symptoms of Hidradenitis Suppurativa also include painful and delicate nodules.

  • Treatment: Treatment varies based on the seriousness of the case, the modes of treatment vary from person to person. Both medication and surgery are equally fruitful options for this rare skin disease.

  • Prevention: Some of the most effective ways to avoid this skin trouble is by achieving a healthy body weight, opting to take warm baths and avoiding smoking habits.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

4. Pemphigus

  • Description: This autoimmune skin condition leads to sores and blisters in the throat, mouth or in the genital area. Even though it is caused mainly to older adults, it can also affect people at any age, but the chances increase with ageing.

  • Symptoms: Pemphigus occurs in various types, and it depends solely on the place where it is affecting. The primary symptoms are blisters followed by fatigue, nail problems and burning sensations.

  • Treatment: Similar to several other rare skin diseases, there are no permanent treatment options for Pemphigus. However, dermatologists often treat the symptoms and go ahead with the treatment in order to stop the further spread of the infection.

  • Prevention: The cause of Pemphigus is yet to be found, and hence, there is no way you can take adequate prevention for this skin condition.

Pemphigus

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your skin, it is best to get medical advice from a dermatologist to find the root cause of the troubles you are facing. Most of the rare skin diseases are inherited and often have a genetic link. That is why there are no proper modes of prevention for most of them to date.

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Common Rashes: Types, Symptoms, Treatments, & More

Are you facing itchiness, redness, bumps, and irritation on your skin? Chances are it could be a rash on your skin that is causing it. As the skin is the largest organ of the body, it is susceptible to different types of rashes and other skin diseases.

Are you facing itchiness, redness, bumps, and irritation on your skin? Chances are it could be a rash on your skin that is causing it. As the skin is the largest organ of the body, it is susceptible to different types of rashes and other skin diseases. There are different types of rashes, all of which can cause a considerable amount of discomfort for the person suffering from it.

 

It is tough to get rid of any rashes, no matter which type it is. The wisest decision is to identify the skin condition as soon as you notice it so that it could be treated and cured immediately. Let us discuss all the details about identifying and treating some of the most commonly found skin rashes below.

5 Common Types of Rashes and Their Treatment

1.      Ringworm

  • Description: One of the most common skin conditions or infections found in people is ringworm. It is caused by a fungus which also causes another skin condition known as athlete’s foot. Ringworm gets its name from the circular shape it forms on the skin, often becoming red and cracked.

  • Symptoms: This type of skin rash is very itchy in nature and causes circular red areas on the skin in the affected areas. It can cause loss of hair, too, if it forms on the scalp.

  • Treatment: The best way to treat this type of infection is to take oral medications as prescribed by your doctor. Anti-fungal creams can also help you treat this skin rash, but be sure to consult your dermatologist before.

  • Prevention: This skin rash is contagious and can be caused by coming in touch with a person or surface that might contain this fungus. Avoid it by drying the groin area, skin folds and feet well.

2.     Eczema

  • Description: Eczema is an umbrella term used for various types of skin conditions that cause flaky, red, dry and crusty skin due to lack of moisture. It usually forms on places like elbows, knees, hands and feet.

  • Symptoms: Extremely itchy affected area. Other symptoms include dry, red and flaky patches of skin.

  • Treatment: If you are showing any symptoms of eczema, you should immediately consult with your dermatologist. They can prescribe you anti-itch lotions, anti-fungal medicated soaps, fragrance-free, and non-dyed soaps that can help you cure the affected area.

  • Prevention: You should avoid taking long and hot showers. You can apply moisturisers while your skin is still damp from the shower, as it will help the moisturiser penetrate through the skin quickly.

3.     Acne

Acne
  • Description: Acne is the most common type of skin condition occurring among teenagers and adults worldwide. It is characterised by red bumps or pimples on the forehead, face, chest and shoulders. It is caused by excess accumulation of oil, sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells in the pores of your skin.

  • Symptoms: Pimple-like red bumps often appearing along with blackheads, whiteheads and cysts. It can sometimes be itchy too.

  • Treatment: It is wise to consult with your dermatologist, who might provide you with prescription medications for your acne, depending on the severity and your age. Medical methods such as chemical peels can also be used to treat your acne to remove the top layer of your skin.

  • Prevention: Some of the most common ways you can prevent acne are by washing your face regularly with a gentle cleanser and using a moisturiser. Keeping your hands from touching your face often also helps with acne prevention.

4.      Psoriasis

Psoriasis
  • Description: Psoriasis is defined as discoloured, thick, sore and dry patches of flaky skin. It is sometimes silver and flaky in nature which causes plaques that might appear on places like the face, palms, knees, elbows, back and feet.

  • Symptoms: Uneven raised plaques of skin, soreness, itchiness and a burning sensation.

  • Treatment: Psoriasis cannot be totally cured, but you can reduce it by consulting with a dermatologist and getting a prescription or over-the-counter medication.

  • Prevention: If you happen to have psoriasis in your genetics, you can keep it at bay by taking regular showers, moisturising your skin and getting sunlight regularly.

5.      Hives

  • Description: Hives are defined as uneven, raised, itchy welts that can be found on your skin. It is pink, red or flesh-coloured, and it can be caused by an allergic reaction from medication or food.

  • Symptoms: Pinkish, red or flesh coloured welts that suddenly appear on your skin.

  • Treatment: Get the type of hives you have, identified by your dermatologist and get prescribed antihistamines. Avoid using hot water for a shower that might irritate hives.

  • Prevention: Wear loose-fitted clothes and avoid humid areas.

Ending Note

It is advised to get your skin conditions treated immediately before it spreads even more and becomes uncontrollable. So, consider getting medical help if you are showing signs of any of the above-mentioned skin diseases.

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