A rash on the skin is a very common phenomenon that accompanies a number of diseases. Moreover, rashes appear on the epidermis not only in the case of dermatological ailments. Redness, itching and swelling of the skin is often a local reaction to external or internal factors. Therefore, it is first of all important to understand that a skin rash is not a disease, but just a symptom that can be dealt with only in one way - by eliminating the root cause.
What can cause rashes on the body
Most often, the cause of the rash in adults and children is one or more of the following factors:
- Infection.
- Dermatological problems.
- Hormonal disbalance.
- Allergic reaction.
- Internal illnesses.
The first two causes of rashes on the body are the most common. Speaking of infectious infection, it is worth noting diseases for which a rash on the skin is the main symptom:
- measles;
- chickenpox;
- scarlet fever;
- rubella;
- herpes.
These viral diseases are accompanied by fever, chills, headache, weakness. Mostly children suffer from these ailments. An itchy skin rash in a child is reflected in his general well-being, the baby becomes irritable and capricious.
Syphilitic rash
In adults, rashes on the body may indicate the presence of a serious sexually transmitted disease (balanoposthitis, trichomoniasis, AIDS). By the way, syphilis also appears in a rash. This insidious disease is characterized by pathological formations on the skin that do not occur immediately. Treatment of syphilis in the early stages, when the clinical picture is represented only by rashes, allows us to predict the most favorable outcome. In order not to lose precious time and start therapy as soon as possible, at the slightest suspicion of an illness, you should consult a doctor.
It is worth noting that to confirm the diagnosis, the patient, regardless of gender, will have to donate blood. It is impossible to determine the etiology of a skin rash from a photo or memo that hangs in the office of every venereologist. At the first stage of the disease, rashes in the form of red sores appear in the mouth, on the nasal mucosa, in the inguinal region. After some time, a chancre occurs - compacted erosion with clear rounded borders. A characteristic feature of rashes with syphilis is their frequency: ulcers can pass without any intervention, but after a while they appear again, accompanied by hair loss and other symptoms that worsen the patient's condition.
A rash with syphilis can take the form of pink papules or spots that do not cause any pain. However, these are only superficial manifestations of the disease. As the disease progresses, the chancre grows over the skin, and in parallel with this process, the joints become deformed, and internal organs and nerve endings are destroyed. At the terminal stage of syphilis, irreversible changes in the brain occur.
Special attention deserves the nature of the rashes caused by syphilis on the body of women. In representatives of the weaker sex, this disease proceeds secretly. In addition to a long incubation period, the disease can develop asymptomatically up to the third stage. Often, treatment at this stage is ineffective, it is almost impossible to help the patient. If you find on your body spots or papules localized around the mouth, neck, arms, legs, palms, immediately contact a venereologist. Remember: a syphilitic rash, despite external unaesthetic, does not hurt or itch. If the rash disappears, this does not mean that the disease has receded. Symptoms come back in a few weeks with additional complications. Syphilis is able to disfigure appearance, rashes can also be located under the mammary glands, in the genital area and on the inside of the thighs.
Dermatological diseases
A rash on the skin in a child and an adult is a symptom of less dangerous ailments. The most common are dermatitis and eczema. These pathologies can appear due to various reasons, and at any age. But the main factors contributing to their development are considered to be heredity and contact with a potential allergen (physical, chemical, mechanical). Mycoses, psoriasis, diaper rash, senile keratoma, toxidermy, and other skin diseases can also manifest rashes.
Hormonal changes
A rash on the skin of the face often becomes a consequence of hormonal imbalance in the body. In particular, for this reason, in adolescence, acne and acne can occur. Changes are often observed on the skin of expectant mothers. By the way, pregnant women are at particular risk due to hormonal changes in the body. Usually, rashes occur in those areas of the skin where there are stretch marks - in the chest, hips, buttocks, and abdomen.
Allergy
The pathological reaction of the body to a specific irritant often serves as an explanation for the appearance of a rash on the skin. Allergies are one of the most common causes of spots and rashes. It is possible to recognize the etiology of such changes on the epidermis due to the absence of signs of infection and the presence of contacts with potential allergens. In most cases, rashes of an allergic origin do not cause any discomfort to the child, and therefore this symptom is detected by parents. The most "popular" irritants that cause changes on the skin:
- Food;
- medicines
- detergents and chemicals;
- plant pollen;
- animal hair;
- household dust.
Sometimes for rashes take insect bites. Traces that mosquitoes, midges, bedbugs leave on the skin of a person can easily be confused with the manifestation of allergies. In some cases, bites cause fever and cause itching.
Allergic nature is attributed to rashes that arose after undergoing cosmetic procedures. If, upon leaving the cosmetologist’s office, you find unpleasant changes on the skin, it is likely that they were the result of mechanical or chemical effects during the “beauty” procedures. Masks, peels, abrasive scrubs - all this can cause irritation of the epidermis. Do not worry if there is a rash on the skin - it carries no danger in itself. However, when planning a visit to a beauty salon, you should definitely consider this risk and not visit a cosmetologist on the eve of important events. In addition, do not forget that any procedures make the epidermis vulnerable to ultraviolet rays. To avoid the appearance of age spots, try to limit exposure to the sun for several days after the procedures.
Solar rash
By the way, hypersensitivity to sunlight is another factor that provokes rashes. At risk are children and adults with fair, pale skin. If you are the owner of snow-white skin, you should not abuse sunbathing. To prevent rashes and burns, you will also have to refuse to stay in the sun during the hours of its maximum activity - from 11:00 to 16:00. Moisturizing, soothing epidermis pharmacy and folk remedies will help to cope with the existing problem (Panthenol, Bepanten, fat sour cream).
Experiences and stress
People who are often worried and annoyed by the little things naturally have many health problems. The epidermis as a reflector of problems in the body can also have traces of strong emotional shocks in the form of a rash on the skin of the hands, face, back, shoulders.
Treatment in this case will have a dual focus. First of all, it is important to eliminate sources of stress and stabilize the patient’s emotional state by taking sedatives and antidepressants. It is likely that the rash on the skin after this will pass by itself, and antipruritic, healing ointments and gels will help to speed up the disappearance of residual effects.
Perspiration problems
The cause of a symptom such as a skin rash can be excessive sweating due to heat or excessive physical exertion. To prevent a rash, you must carefully follow the rules of personal hygiene. In children, spots and redness on the skin can be triggered by prickly heat.
Liver disease
In case of disruption of the functioning of this organ, a person's skin tone changes, and a rash appears. It is acne, with the formation of wen, comedones. Rashes can be purulent or papule-like. A pustular rash most often spreads on the skin of the face, in the chest and neck. Often, changes in the body indicate a malfunction in the glands and bile ducts due to an unbalanced diet or alcohol abuse.
Varieties of rashes on the epidermis
Manifestations on the skin can have various features. Specialists offer the following classification of rashes:
- Stains. They can be of different colors (from white and pale pink to dark brown) and size.
- Blisters. Their appearance is characteristic of infectious diseases and thermal burns.
- Papules. These small skin lesions resemble dense nodules.
- Bubbles Usually, such a skin rash itches. Bubbles can be of various sizes and are formed in the skin cavity with a transparent exudate inside.
- Ulcers and erosion. In general, ulcerations are formed by violating the integrity of the skin. An erosive rash usually bleeds.
All of these varieties of rashes are conditionally assigned to two groups - these are primary changes on the skin (blisters, ulcers, papules, blisters) and secondary (peeling, erosion, crust, spots).
Clinical picture
Depending on the type of skin rash and the cause that provoked it, other unpleasant manifestations may accompany this symptom. So, if rashes arise due to impaired liver function, the patient often has additional signs of the disease:
- the acquisition of skin with a yellowish tint;
- nausea and vomiting;
- fetid breath;
- increased sweating;
- pain on palpation in the right hypochondrium;
- the rash on the body is very itchy;
- rapid weight loss;
- stool disorders;
- darkening of the tongue, areola of the nipples, perineum;
- the constant presence in the mouth of a bitter taste;
- cracks in the tongue;
- persistent subfebrile condition.
Rashes resulting from an infectious infection also have their own characteristics. Most often, a rash on the skin of the body appears in stages: first, the hands are affected, later changes affect the epidermis of the face, lower limbs, and back. With rubella, as a rule, spots appear on the cheeks, forehead, and then spread throughout the body. The first foci of inflammation are observed in the places of the bends (elbow, knee joints, buttocks). In addition to the rash, infectious diseases (chickenpox, scarlet fever, measles, rubella) have a number of other characteristic symptoms:
- high body temperature;
- malaise;
- weakness;
- headache;
- inflammation of the tonsils, conjunctiva and other individual areas on the body;
- photophobia and lacrimation;
- heart palpitations;
- drowsiness;
- burning on the skin;
- itching
Diagnosis and treatment
In order to accurately determine what triggered the occurrence of a particular type of skin rash, you need to seek qualified medical help from a specialist (dermatologist or venereologist). If the infectious factor is completely excluded, an allergist consultation will be required.
The doctor will conduct a physical examination, collect a medical history and refer the patient to undergo laboratory procedures. As a rule, the results of the tests help to make a conclusion about the cause of the disease, make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
The treatment plan for a skin rash in a child or adult is made individually for each patient, however, its basic principle will be the same for all patients - eliminate the etiological factor:
- In case of an infectious disease, it is necessary to undergo a course of antiviral or antibacterial therapy.
- In the case of confirmed dermatological problems, the treatment of a skin rash is carried out, eliminating everything that may be the root cause of the disease (eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and other skin pathologies).
- For allergic rashes, skin tests are performed to identify the irritant and its subsequent neutralization.
- If it turns out that a rash on the body is provoked by some kind of internal disease, the focus is primarily on the treatment of the underlying pathology.
Medicines for external use and restoration of the skin are selected based on the variety of rashes, their features and prevalence. Moreover, in some cases (for example, with prickly heat) there is not the slightest need for the use of drugs. It is important to create suitable climatic conditions under which the patient will feel comfortable. In order for the symptom to disappear, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- avoid wearing synthetic clothes;
- take a shower regularly with soap or gel;
- wipe dry with a clean towel.
Drugs and folk remedies
If the rash on the skin is accompanied by burning, swelling and itching, various external agents are applied to the epidermis (Triderm, Fenistil Gel, Elidel). In addition, the doctor will recommend taking antihistamines inside (“Loratadin”, “Telfast”, “Suprastin”, “Tsetrin”, etc.). For the treatment of herpetic rash, antiviral drugs are used (for example, Acyclovir-Acre tablets) and local topical treatment of affected skin.
For the treatment of rashes and spots on the skin, folk remedies are often used, after consulting with a doctor first. The most popular of them are presented below:
- Applying a mixture of fish oil from cod liver and vitamin E helps with peeling, redness and diaper rash. It can also be taken orally.
- Daily baths with oatmeal will help get rid of papular red rash on the skin.
- Vitamin C, which has a pronounced antioxidant property, fights skin defects and minimizes the likelihood of allergic reactions in the future.
- Apple cider vinegar and fresh honey are very effective in eliminating allergic rashes. The preparation is prepared as follows: add half a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and honey to a glass of water. Drink the drink three times a day for half a glass.
How to prevent the appearance of a rash on the body
To prevent the appearance of an unpleasant symptom, the patient will have to follow certain rules. The most severe restrictions await allergy sufferers: knowing about the reaction of their body to a particular substance, it is important not to allow any contact with it.
It is impossible to protect yourself from infections and fungi by one hundred percent, but the probability of infection can be minimized only if:
- Constantly monitor personal hygiene.
- Do not allow strangers to use your things, and do not use other people's towels, toothbrushes, shoes, etc.
- Wash clothes regularly, do wet cleaning indoors.
- Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with antibacterial soap.
- Strengthen immunity and avoid contact with sick people.
- Dress for the weather and be careful when traveling.