Skin Rash: Common Causes, Types, Symptoms, Home Remedies & More

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a type of skin rash that causes the skin to become red, inflamed, and scaly, often resulting in itching and skin irritation as well. Hair loss can also occur in affected areas in some cases. Seborrheic dermatitis is the most common type of skin rash that affects adults, but can very easily affect children as well. Seborrheic dermatitis typically occurs on the scalp, forehead, cheeks, brows, and external ears of the affected person. When seborrheic dermatitis appears on the scalp of children, it is called cradle cap. It may also affect the diaper area.

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a less common type of eczema than atopic dermatitis and is triggered by contact with a skin irritant, chemical, or an allergy-inducing substance. The most common chemicals, irritants, and allergens that result in contact dermatitis are poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, etc. The skin rash from contact dermatitis is characterized by itchy, red skin with the formation of blisters that often ooze when scratched. The rash can take somewhere between a few hours to a few days to appear after the patient comes in contact with the chemical, irritant, or allergen.

Diaper Rash

Diaper rash, also referred to as diaper dermatitis, is a very common skin rash type, typically affecting babies and infants as well as adults who wear diapers. Research suggests that most children contract diaper rash at least once before they get toilet trained. It is characterized by red, inflamed, and irritated skin.

Stasis Dermatitis

Stasis dermatitis is a severe, long-term skin condition that is common in adults over the age of 50. It is characterized by irritated, red, itchy, and/or swollen skin. It usually starts out in the lower leg area and then progressively worsens. The rash may spread to the calves, result in dry and cracked skin, severe itching, and may even result in red or purple blisters/ulcers that ooze and scab.

Hives

Hives is a skin rash type characterized by itchy, raised welts on the skin that are often red or skin-colored. They appear in clusters, can grow larger, and can spread across the body. They can affect any part of the body and usually occur suddenly, subsiding in a few hours, then recurring.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin rash where there is an accelerated buildup of skin cells which causes scaling of the skin. It is characterized by inflammation, redness, silver-whitish scales, and red, thick patches on the skin which often crack and bleed. Psoriasis can affect any part of the body including hands, feet, neck, scalp, face, etc.

Nummular Eczema

Also known as nummular dermatitis, nummular eczema is a type of skin rash that is characterized by coin-shaped, brown/pink/red lesions on the skin which are itchy, may ooze fluid, and dry off and become crusty.

When to See a Doctor for a Skin Rash?

Most types of skin rashes such as atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, etc., do not require medical attention as long as symptoms are mild. However, if you experience any severe skin rash or develop additional symptoms that may point to a medical illness, you should get in touch with your doctor immediately.

Some types of skin rashes do require medical attention. For example, in the case of a diaper rash, parents should contact a doctor if the rash is bright red and persists for more than two days and/or comes with a strong urine odor which may signal dehydration in the child. They should also contact a doctor if the baby develops a fever due to the rash or if blisters form. In the case of a hive outbreak around the throat or on the tongue, you should immediately seek medical attention since it may result in troubled breathing.