Skin rash

Definition

A change in the skin is called efflorescence in technical terms. An acute skin rash is called an exanthema. An enanthem, on the other hand, describes a rash on the mucous membrane in the mouth.

Skin rash symptoms

Rashes can look very different: They can be noticeable in the form of wheals, red spots, pustules or blisters. A rash is often accompanied by severe itching. Depending on which parts of the body it spreads to, first conclusions can be drawn about the cause. In some cases, the pattern of spread can also speak for certain diseases. The duration of the exanthem depends on the cause.

When to the doctor?

If the rash appears for the first time, it makes sense to seek medical advice. A doctor should be consulted immediately , especially if there are accompanying symptoms such as fever , tiredness, nausea or breathing difficulties. If the rash gets progressively worse despite treatment, you’ll need to see your doctor again. Rapid clarification is urgently recommended, particularly in the case of children and pregnant women.

Causes of Rash

The causes of a skin rash are varied. Here are some of the most common reasons for skin rashes:

• Drug eruption: Some drugs can lead to the formation of a rash if they are not tolerated. The antibiotic amoxicillin is described as the best-known representative of the triggering drugs. Immediate consultation with the doctor is important in order to find an alternative treatment.
• Exanthem childhood diseases: There are a number of childhood diseases that are known to appear with a rash. In addition, there is usually fever, a general feeling of illness and weakness. The diseases are caused by viruses and are highly contagious. These include measles , rubella, ringworm, three-day fever and chickenpox . Although measles and rubella have declined sharply since vaccination was introduced, there are repeated outbreaks of the dangerous infectious diseases. The harmless ringworm is a childhood disease that becomes noticeable with a garland-like rash.
• Hand, foot and mouth disease: Caused by the Coxsackie virus, the disease causes blisters and lumps on the hands, mouth and feet and is usually harmless.
• Atopic dermatitis/ neurodermatitis : The rash often appears as cradle cap and, as it progresses, manifests itself as small red blisters on dry skin on the inside of the joints. Neurodermatitis is a hypersensitive reaction of the body that leads to severe itching.
• Contact eczema: Allergic reaction after contact with an allergen such as latex. Cleaning agents and hair dyes can also trigger contact dermatitis. The affected areas on the hands express themselves with itchy blisters that crust over time.
• Scabies : The rash commonly affects hands and is caused by mites.
• Acne : Pimples and blackheads can develop, especially when there are hormone fluctuations, for example during puberty. The face and back are mostly affected.
• Perioral dermatitis : A mild, dry rash with small red blisters usually forms around the mouth.
• Hives / urticaria: In stressful situations, small fluid-filled wheals can spread all over the body. They are mostly harmless and resolve on their own.
• Shingles : A flare-up of chickenpox virus infection is known as shingles. In most cases, the pustules are limited to a specific area of ​​the skin and can be very itchy and painful.
• Scarlet fever : The classic childhood disease is caused by streptococci and manifests itself with fever and a small-spotted exanthema that affects the whole body. The mouth and palms of the hands are usually spared. rash free
• STDs: In the advanced stages of syphilis, a rash can appear. This is usually preceded by a small, painless skin lesion on the genitals.
• Insect bite : There is often a small amount of redness around the bite site. This is normal and will go away on its own. However, if there is severe swelling and difficulty breathing, a doctor should be called urgently. Be careful with tick bites: If a red rash develops after a tick bite, urgent medical evaluation is required, as this could be Lyme disease. This can also occur with a delay of 10-14 days after the redness at the puncture site has already partially or completely subsided.
• Diaper dermatitis: Very common clinical picture in diaper-wearing infants. The rash appears with pustules, oozing red areas in the groin area.
• Impetigo: Staphylococcal infection causes a blistering rash with honey-yellow crusts. Triggered by bacteria, treatment with antibiotic ointment helps.
• Seborrheic eczema : The disease usually presents with coin-sized, reddened skin lesions with yellowish scales.
• Skin diseases: As the most well-known representative, psoriasis leads to the formation of scaly foci on a red undersurface. As a chronic disease, it occurs again and again in flares.

In addition, there are many other reasons for the development of a skin rash. Among other things, some bacteria, viruses and parasites can lead to the symptoms.

Sometimes there is no specific cause for the rash, in which case it is called an idiopathic rash.

risk of infection

The risk of infection depends on the cause of the rash: while virus-associated exanthemas are often very contagious, there is no risk of infection with neurodermatitis or drug eruptions. If the rash is caused by a viral disease, the patient should avoid public to protect others from contamination.

Doctor’s consultation

The doctor will ask you a few questions about your rash to help make the correct diagnosis:

• How long has the rash been there? Have you ever had the same symptoms?
• Do you also have other symptoms such as fever or weakness?
• are you vaccinated
• Does anyone in your immediate vicinity have similar symptoms?
• Are you exposed to allergens or potentially skin-damaging substances as part of your job or in everyday life?
• What medication are you taking?

He will then take a closer look at the rash and how it spreads. Depending on the suspected diagnosis, further examinations such as a swab or tissue removal from the affected skin area may follow the anamnesis.

therapy

The treatment of the rash depends entirely on the cause. While creams and ointments can sometimes be used to treat locally, other diseases require antibiotic, antiviral or possibly immunosuppressive therapy.

How can you prevent a rash?

The development of a rash is associated with various risk factors, depending on the cause. It is helpful to take care of the skin as best as possible in order to maintain the natural protective barrier.

• Protect your skin from sun exposure. Do not stay in the sun for too long and use sunscreen with an adequate sun protection factor.
• Put on warm gloves in cold temperatures.
• Wash yourself regularly and use moisturizing pH-neutral creams. These keep your skin moist and protect it from drying out.
• Wear gloves when handling harmful substances such as cleaning supplies.

How can Med-Healths help?

Have you noticed a new rash on you? You can use the Med-Healths app to contact a doctor and tell him about your symptoms. You can also upload pictures of your rash for the appointment. In many cases, the doctor can prescribe medication for you, issue a prescription and, if necessary, write you off sick. In addition, he can refer you to an appropriate specialist if further examinations are necessary.