For those of us who’ve ever had a rash we know how uncomfortable it can be. We’ve all scratched here or scratched there on the leg, arms, hand, anywhere we get an itch. Most of us don’t think twice; but what if we had to deal with skin rashes all the time? Those with itchy skin allergies suffer often from common irritants. There are a variety of skin allergies including hives, contact dermatitis and eczema. These are probably some of the more common types. They are caused by different substances, but all of them affect the skin.

When people think of skin allergies, most of us think of hives. Hives are red, itchy, raised areas that can appear anywhere on the body. They can vary in size, and even blend together to form large swollen patches. Hives can be caused by insect stings, but are most often the result of an individual ingesting a certain food or drug that the person is allergic too. Milk, peanuts, berries, fish, eggs, and wheat are some foods that cause hives while ibuprofen, blood pressure pills, and pain killers are some of the medicines that have been known to cause hives. Occasionally hives can be caused by direct contact with the skin. Sometimes the cause of hives is unknown. Unfortunately the hives can last until the allergen has been processed through the body. This can last several days or even weeks.

Contact dermatitis is another skin allergy that occurs when an individual comes in contact with something they are allergic to. A perfect example of this would be poison ivy. Poison Ivy causes an extremely itchy, red, blistered rash on the body. The rash occurs about 24-48 hours after contact and can last anywhere from 14-28 days. However, poison ivy is not the only cause of contact dermatitis. Other irritants can be laundry soaps, dyes, perfumes, or even cosmetics, to name a few. Treatment for these rashes consists of cold washes, cold compresses, or corticosteroid cream, depending on the severity of the rash.

Another common skin allergy is eczema. It is characterized by a thick, red, scaly, itchy rash that appears on the face, elbows, and knees. It is common in young infants, but most will outgrow it by the age of ten. It generally occurs in families with a history of eczema and in individuals that suffer from other allergies or asthma. Cat dander, household dust, soaps, and certain foods can bring on a rash. Eczema can even be caused by sweating or excess stress. Treatment is usually gear towards preventing an individual from coming into contact with the irritant. When an outbreak does occur corticosteroids both in cream and oral form can be used as well as antihistamines. Supplements like flax seed oil rich in omega 3 oils are helpful. Oatmeal baths ease the itching. Coconut oil and other natural oils can help the skin repair itself.

Skin rashes come in all shapes and sizes. While some rashes cannot be prevented, it is best to avoid irritants that can cause skin allergies. Some of the most common itchy skin allergies are hives, contact dermatitis, and eczema. If you have a rash that keeps coming back or looks like any listed above, seek the advice of a physician.

It isn’t necessarily uncommon to have a rash on the stomach or chest, but it can make you feel anxious while you resolve it. Some rashes can be a product of something as minor as an allergic reaction. People have sensitivities that are environmental or caused by something they might have come in contact with, such as an item of clothing made out of a certain material. While many times these rashes disappear, there are instances where a rash becomes worse, or doesn’t disappear. While it’s important to stay calm and not over think the situation, it’s also equally important to keep track of the course and symptoms of a rash should it develop into something further. Read the rest of this entry »

There can be several reason why you have a foot rash. One common type of rash is athlete’s feet which is a fungus infection that attacks the feet between the toes, on the soles of the feet, or even on the tops of the feet. It is caused when your feet got in contact with a surface that was touched by someone with it. Tinea is the fungus that is most common when you’re talking of either fungus infections of the feet, or crotch area. Yeast, particularly one called Candida albicans, can be the cause of your feet getting a rash as well. In both cases, antifungal remedies are helpful. Read the rest of this entry »

Deodorant armpit rash can occur for many reasons. Some people are allergic to deodorants, particularly the aluminum that can be in deodorants. If a person is allergic to anything, they must stop using whatever they’re allergic to. Just treating the rash with such creams as corticosteroids might relieve the itch and reduce the redness for awhile, but if you are having an allergic reaction it will re-emerge when you stop the cortisone cream or oral steroids. Read the rest of this entry »

My friend told me she went to a meditation retreat and that the guy next to her had athlete’s foot fungal rash. In certain contexts, people can really see your feet. Tinea pedis, or athlete’s foot is also contagious and the symptoms include skin flaking, itchiness and scaling. The fungus can also go to other parts of the body such as your legs or the groin region. People can pick this up in the locker room and spread it to family members. Read the rest of this entry »

Diaper Rash is very common among babies, and undoubtedly, a recurrent problem for mothers. They appear as red welts or skin inflammations in the inner thighs, buttocks, and private area of the baby. The onset of new methods has helped to make treatments easier and more cost effective . There are several types of diaper rashes, and each has specific treatment. Read the rest of this entry »

Poison ivy causes a rash that is due to a chemical that is present in the sap which is called urushiol. This chemical gets into the outer layer of the skin till it finally comes in contact with the dermis; it is here that the allergic reaction takes place. Urushiol causes swelling and itching as well. The rash may last for over a week at times and the symptoms normally don’t show up immediately. You may also even get a rash and reaction from poison ivy that is burning so be careful what plants you burn and check if your firewood is interspersed with it . Read the rest of this entry »

Herpes is a viral infection that is contagious. It is usually referred to as Herpes Simplex I or Herpes Simplex 2. While HSV 2 typically causes herpes outbreak symptoms in the genital area, , HSV I is best known for the cold sores on lip or fever blisters on the mouth. Currently, about 45 million Americans have been infected with the herpes virus, although not all of them are aware of it as many are asymptomatic. While many people that have the herpes virus have no symptoms at all, for those that do suffer an outbreak, the blisters are quite painful. Read the rest of this entry »

If you notice any type of skin irritation that has spread around the neck then it may rash. The next step is finding out the cause for rashes on the neck. There could be a number of reasons for this such as diseases or skin problems. Furthermore, this article will concentrate on common neck rashes. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’ve ever picked up your child from day care and noticed a rash on his arm, leg or back it can be a bit alarming., Many parents are nervous that their child will catch a cold, flu or bronchitis, but contagious rashes can be a real challenge especially if there is difficulty getting a correct diagnosis. Kids can pick things up at school and of course when there is scratching it can aggravate the rash and change it’s appearance. Read the rest of this entry »

How many times have we scratched our heads in puzzlement, wondering why does my scalp itch? You know it has nothing to do with the lack of hygiene. If anything, it would be due to excessive amount of washing, especially with our busy lifestyles requiring perhaps more showering than just a once-a-day shower. With excessive shampooing, comes the possibility of using harsh shampoos and conditioners that can cause the scalp to become excessively dry. In addition, these products can leave the hair follicles open to infection. Many of the shampoos and conditioners are made with chemicals that dry out skin, stripping it of its natural oils, thereby causing an itch, sore scalp. Without essential oils, our skin is left open to a number of infections and yeast organisms, which result in dandruff and a flaky scalp. Read the rest of this entry »

Of the many STDs that exist, a few, like Hepatitis C, leave no outward sign of infection. Others, like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, show outward signs by the presence of unusually colored discharge from the genital areas and can cause internal abdominal pain. However, many other STDs can be seen outwardly on the skin of the genitals or the body in the form of rashes or lesions. This article will show you how to identify different STD rashes so you can get the appropriate treatment as soon as possible. Read the rest of this entry »

Rashes are a common occurrence for adults and children alike and can be caused by a variety of things. Most rashes are not dangerous but can be extremely irritating. Life-threatening skin rashes are rare but when they do occur, need to be identified and treated by a doctor as quickly as possible. Before I had my diagnosis of nummular eczema, the dermatologist told me it was erythema mutliforme minor but when I look it up online not to get scared because it wasn’t the fatal form! That was a bit scary. Read the rest of this entry »

Teething is an uncomfortable process for your child and can also result in many sleepless nights for you. On top of that, there’s an additional extra bonus which is dealing with a teething rash. Let’s look at both traditional ways to deal with this as well as natural approaches. Read the rest of this entry »

Many people who have children find themselves wishing that they came with an instruction manual, especially when said children aren’t feeling well. One of the most unnerving symptoms of illness can be a rash, particularly one that is contagious. While many contagious illnesses can cause rashes, three of the most common are measles, impetigo, and roseola. Read the rest of this entry »

Rashes from hotels are becoming more and more common as international travel from all over the world is an everyday event. Within the US, domestic fares are also reasonable which makes travel much more popular. However, if you are not careful, there is more than souvenirs that can be brought home with you if you are not observant. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you have a progressive reddening of your face that concerns you? Is it not going away, no matter what you do? You may notice some acne outbreaks and even red lines where there didn’t use to be any, and it’s all on your face. Some can look like red patches and other parts like a rash. What is rosacea and what are the underlying triggers? Read the rest of this entry »

The skin can get irritated and chafing is the term used that describes the result from rubbing, friction and skin contact resulting in inflammation due to factors that include heat and humidity issues. We rub the skin when it’s already under stress. This can also be due to chemicals that irritate. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are wondering “What is dermatographism?” , one clue is that lines, writing or drawing can appear on the skin. This is a form of chronic urticaria that causes people to be sensitive to touch, pressure, and scratching. When the skin is scratched it becomes a raised, red, itchy rash. People with true dermatographism have pressure as the only stimulator for their symptoms. Children who suffer from dermatographism are sometimes mistaken for victims of abuse if the welts linger. This is because a doctor, teacher, or aw enforcement agent might see the welts and think that they are the result of injuries inflicted by someone else.   Read the rest of this entry »

Itchy rashes are uncomfortable and unsightly. You can get them for a wide variety of reasons. Allergies, irritations, viruses, bacterial infection, fungus and more can all cause these red, bumpy, splotchy menaces to form on your skin. You can take steroids and calamine lotion to help heal them and relieve the discomfort, but these products have chemicals and people are trying to learn more about other remedies. Fortunately, there are natural means to try as well that have been used through the ages . Here are some of the top natural treatments for a rash. Read the rest of this entry »