Itching All Over

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Prior to selecting a product to treat your rash it is important to determine what type of rash you might be experiencing and what may have caused it. Rash, otherwise known as dermatitis, can be caused by several factors. The most common types of rash experienced include: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, hand dermatitis, and chapped skin. An allergic reaction to medications often starts in the abdominal area and spreads over the back and then hits the arms, legs, and face. You can develop an allergic drug reaction immediately after the first dose or even up to 7 days or more later.

Atopic dermatitis is often a clinical manifestation of an alleric reaction or disease. It often is characterized by itching, red and raised vesicles, severely dry skin, and some oozing can occur. Atopic dermatitis is not contagious and can be due to soaps, pollens, chemicals, molds, dust, temperature changes, and even emotional changes. This is different than contact dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis is most often caused by contact with an irritant. The best example of this is contact with poison ivy or poison oak. It can also occur when you switch laundry detergents (i.e. many people have issues with detergents containing bleach). Contact dermatitis exhibits itchy skin, hives (red, raised wheals as in the case of poison ivy), blisters, ulcers, and dry, thick fissured skin. It may also show as an unusual pattern of lesions that have sharp margins and angles or in straight lines.

Non-drug treatments include: avoidance-stay away from what you think may cause the rash; Avoid things that may enhance the reaction such as tight clothing, hot temperatures, and humidity; bathe/shower daily if possible; for oozing lesions you can apply lukewarm water compresses for 20 minutes up to 4-6 times daily; and don’t scratch!

There are several over-the-counter drug measures that may be used. For a whole body rash a bath in a colloidal oatmeal bath (Aveeno) or even a baking soda bath will help to decrease itching and redness. Hydrocortisone cream can be used for open or oozing lesions. Do not use ointment on these types of lesions because the ointment will prevent the oozing from going anywhere and it may cause an infection. Ointment can be used on dry, scaly, itchy skin. Hydrocortisone comes in 0.5% and 1% ointments and creams. Start with the 0.5% first and apply up to 3 times daily for no more than 7 days. If the rash continues it is time to consult a physician or nurse. Oral medications include antihistamines. Loratadine (Claritin or Alavert) is a non-drowsy antihistamine. One tablet of 10mg taken once daily can help to alleviate some of the itching symptoms. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can also be taken, but does cause drowsiness and urinary retension (especially in older males).

The most important thing to remember is that if the rash is extensive or is accompanied by shortness of breath, throat swelling, or chest pain it is important to get to a physician right away or dial 911. Otherwise, if the rash continues for longer than 10 days it is time to set up an appointment.

Reference: The Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, 12th Edition.

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• Skin Rash – Part 1
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• Eczema – Simplified Guide To Eczema
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• What You Should Know About Eczema

You know when you have a rash. Its an outbreak of red bumps on the skin. The most common types of rash are as follows. Scaly patches of skin not caused by infection. Scaly patches of skin caused by a fungus or bacterial infection. Red itchy bumps scattered randomly on the skin.

Rashes are seldom dangerous self diagnosis is not a good idea. The proper evaluation of a rash should be done by a doctor. A doctor can determine what type of rash you have and prescribe proper treatment. Scaly patches of skin that are not caused by an infection are usually referred to as eczema. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema. This type is hereditary and often appears in childhood as chapped cheeks and scaly patches on the hands, legs torso and arms. This type of eczema appears on adults on the hands, genitals, eyelids and can appear almost anywhere on the body.

This type of eczema is inherited from your parents. Atopic dermatitis can apear and disappear for no apparant reason but things like the weather can have an effect on it.

The word “dermatitis” means inflammation of the skin, “atopic means hereditary. Hereditary means that it runs in your family.

Diseases that are hereditary often occur together, that is they can tend to make their appearance simultaneously. In atopic dermatitis the skin can become inflamed and itchy with swelling and cracking and can include weeping, crusting and scaling. People afflicted with this type of rash may also have allergies but most cases of this type of rash are not the result of an allergic reaction. This type of rash is not contagious even though spread patterns may make it apear as though it is.

Another type of rash is “contact dermatitis”. This type of rash is brought on by contact with a substance that is irritating to the skin. This can be any one of a number of things including allergic reactions to substances or contact with chemical irritants.

This type of rash can be causes by poison ivy or poison oak as well as prolonged contact with something like gasoline or strong cleaning products. Frequently it is caused by exposure to nickel in costume jewelry. Almost everyone has experienced this type of rash at some point in their life.

Topical treatments such as ointments along with avoidance of what caused the rash in the first place are the usual prescription for this type of rash.

Another type of rash is red or scaly patches of skin caused by fungus or bacterial infection. Fungus infections are the most common. They have nothing to do with hygiene clean people get them as well as those who might not be so clean. In contrary to the myth they are not highly contagious.

They are not easily transmitted in gym shower or locker rooms or on toilet seats. Antifungal creams are the usual course of treatment. Many of these types of creams can be purchased over the counter at your local drug store.

Another type of rash is a bacterial infection. This type of rash is caused by a bacteria rather than a fungus. Again hygene plays little or no part in this infection. Treatment for this type of rash might include oral antibiotics and a perscription strength topical ointment. The over the counter treatment that are effective on fubgus caused rashes are just not very effective on bacterial rashes.

Viral rashes are caused by a viral infection. They can come as a symptom to a disease like chicken pocks or herpes or a number of other diseases. But this is not always the case the viral infection can also be just the rash itself. Many diseases do have a rash as one of their symptoms though

Allergic drug rashes are caused by an allergic reaction to a drug. Many people are allergic to a specific drug and a rash can apear days or weeks after taking the drug they are allergic to. A common drug that people are allergic to is penicillin.

Treatment for this type of rash is to discontinue the use of the drug and wait for it to go away. Topical treatments to sooth the itching are available over the counter. In extreme cases you may require a perscription strength topical treatment.

more posts of interest:

• Skin Rash | Skin Rashes | Skin Rash Types | Skin Rash Cures
• Eczema – Simplified Guide To Eczema
• What Is Spongiotic Dermatitis?
• Hand Dermatitis – About Hand Dermatitis
• What Really Causes Dermatitis in Men and Women?