Skin rashes come in all forms and sizes. Some are raised bumps; others are flat red blotches. Some are itchy blisters; others are patches of rough skin. Most rashes are harmless and clear up on their own within a few days. A few may need medical attention. The skin is one of the first areas of the body to react when exposed to something you or your child is allergic to.
The Skin Rash Chart below lists information on some common skin rashes.
| Are you having a lot of trouble swallowing or breathing,
especially with wheezing, or is the tongue swollen? {Note: Give shot from emergency insect sting kit if there is one. Follow other instructions in the kit.}  |
 |
Do you have any of the following? Fever Sore throat The rash is across the cheeks and forehead
and is butterfly shaped The rash is a fine, red one that feels
rough, like sandpaper Joint pain along with a targetlike rash |
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| Are any large, fluid-filled blisters present or is there pus or
swelling around the rash lesions? |
|
| With the rash, does it look like there is blood or bruising under
the skin? |
|
| Have you recently been exposed to someone with a strep infection? |
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| If your child has a diaper rash, is the rash bleeding, are there
open, weeping sores or does the child have a temperature over 100oF? |
|
| Have you already had the chicken pox and do you now have a rash of painful
red, blisters on one side of your body? |
|
| When the rash started, were you taking a new medication or were
you stung by an insect? |
 |
| Is the rash getting worse, keeping you from sleeping and/or do
Self-Care Tips not relieve symptoms? |
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To Treat Heat Rash:
Take a bath in cool water,
without soap, every couple of hours.
Let your skin air-dry.
Stay in a cool, dry area.
Apply calamine (not Caladryl) lotion to the
very itchy spots.
Put corn starch in body creases (inside
elbows, etc.)
Don't use ointments and creams that can
block the sweat gland pores.
To Treat Diaper Rash in a Child:
Change diapers as soon as
they become wet or soiled (even at night if the rash is extensive).
Wash your baby with plenty of warm water,
not disposable wipes, to prevent irritating the skin. If the skin appears irritated, apply
a light coat of zinc oxide ointment after the skin is completely dry.
Keep the skin dry and exposed to air.
Before putting on a fresh diaper, keep your
baby's bottom naked on a soft, fluffy towel for 10-15 minutes.
Put diapers on loosely so air can circulate
under them. If disposable diapers are used, punch a few holes in them. Avoid ones with
tight leg bands.
Don't use plastic pants until the rash is
gone.
Wash cloth diapers in mild soap. Add 1/2
cup of vinegar to your rinse water to help remove what's left of the soap.
For Cradle Cap in Babies:
Use an antidandruff shampoo
2-3 times a week, massaging your baby's scalp with a soft brush or washcloth for 5
minutes.
Before you wash your child's hair, apply
mineral oil to the scalp. This will soften the hard crusts. Be sure to wash the oil out
completely.
To Protect Yourself from Lyme Disease:
Wear long pants, tucked
into socks, and long-sleeve shirts when you walk through fields and forests or go camping.
Light-colored, tightly woven clothing is best. Inspect yourself for ticks after these
outdoor activities.
To remove any ticks found on the skin:
Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
Pull in a steady upward motion.
Try not to crush the tick because the secretions released may spread disease.
Wash the wound area and your hands with soap and water after removing ticks.
Save any removed ticks in a jar and take them to the doctor to aid in the diagnosis of
Lyme disease.
For chicken pox, see Self-Care Tips for that
topic.
For eczema, see Self-Care Tips for that topic.
For hives, see Self-Care Tips for that topic.
For poison ivy, oak or sumac see Self-Care Tips
for that topic.
Condition or Illness |
Causes |
What Rash Looks Like |
Skin
Area(s) |
Other Symptoms |
Diaper Rash |
Dampness and the interaction of urine and the skin | Small patches or rough skin, tiny pimples | Buttocks, thighs, genitals | Soreness, no itching |
Cradle Cap |
Hormones that pass through the placenta before birth | Scaly, crusty rash (in newborns) | Starts behind the ears and spreads to the scalp | Fine, oily scales |
Heat Rash |
Blocked-off sweat glands | Small red pimples, pink blotchy skin | Chest, waist, back armpits, groin | Itching |
1Roseola |
Herpes virus type-6 | Flat, rosy red rash | Chest and abdomen | High fever 2-4 days before rash - child feels only mildly ill during fever |
1Fifth Disease |
Human parvovirus B19 | Red rash of varying shades that fades to a flat, lacy pattern (rash comes and goes) | Red rash on facial cheeks, lace-like rash can also appear on arms and legs | Mild disease with no other symptoms or a slight runny nose and sore throat |
Eczema |
Allergens | Dry, red, cracked skin, blisters that ooze and crust over, sufficient scratching leads to a thickened, rough skin | On cheeks in infants, on neck, wrists, inside elbows, and backs of knees in older children | Moderate-to-intense itching (may only itch first, then rash appears hours to days later) |
1Chicken Pox2 |
Varicella/herpes zoster virus | Flat red spots that become raised and look like small pimples. These develop into small blisters that break and crust over. | Back, chest, and abdomen first, then rest of body | Fatigue and mild fever 24 hours before rash appears - intense itching |
1Scarlet Fever |
Bacterial infection (streptococcal) | Rough, bright red rash (feels like sandpaper) | Face, neck, elbows, armpits, groin (spreads rapidly to entire body) | High fever, weakness before rash, sore throat, peeling of the skin afterward (especially palms) |
1Impetigo |
Bacterial infection of the skin | In infants, pus-filled blisters and red skin. In older kids, golden crusts on red sores | Arms, legs, face, and around the nose first, then most of body | Sometimes fever - occasional itching |
Hives |
Allergic reaction to food, insect bites, viral infection, medicine, or other substance | Raised red bumps with pale centers (resemble mosquito bites). Shape, size and location of spots can change rapidly. | Any area | Itching - in extreme cases, swelling of throat, difficulty breathing (may need emergency care) |
Poison Ivy, Oak, Sumac |
Interaction of oily resins of plant leaves with skin | Red, swollen skin rash and lines of tiny blisters | Exposed areas | Intense itching and burning |
Lyme Disease |
Bacterial infection spread by deer tick bite(s) | Red rash that looks like a bull's-eye: raised edges surround the tick bites with pale centers in the middle. Rash fades after 2 days | Exposed skin areas where ticks bite, often include scalp, neck, armpit and groin | No pain, no itching at time of bite. Fever-rash occurs in the week following the bite(s). |
1These conditions are contagious
2See Chicken Pox
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 1999 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 04/20/99