Diagnosis
The diagnosis of a rash on the forehead is usually made by a dermatologist. It is important to inspect the skin closely, as this helps to narrow down possible causes. Since different clinical pictures can cause a rash on the forehead, it is important to describe the skin picture as exactly as possible.
Further tests and examinations are necessary in some cases to confirm the diagnosis. These include, for example, allergy tests, examination of skin samples under a microscope or similar. In rare cases, blood tests are also groundbreaking.
For example, antibodies can be determined in the case of an autoimmune disease. Which examination is necessary depends on the respective skin condition and the accompanying symptoms. Often, however, simply inspecting the skin is sufficient to make a diagnosis.
Symptoms
A rash on the forehead can have many different causes. Depending on the underlying cause, there are also different accompanying symptoms. Neurodermatitis or an allergy, for example, is often accompanied by more or less severe itching of the affected skin area.
Fungal diseases can also cause itching. Infectious diseases, such as the classic children’s diseases measles and rubella, show general symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, cold or a swelling of the lymph nodes. In addition to fever, shingles leads to severe pain or a burning sensation at the affected skin area.
Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus erythematosus, show many specific accompanying symptoms. In lupus erythematosus, for example, joint problems, kidney damage or hair loss occur. There are various causes of a skin rash that affects both the forehead and the scalp.
Other skin regions can also be affected. Possible causes include acne, where pimples and redness can also affect the scalp, or neurodermatitis.The latter begins in childhood and often gets lost in adulthood. Dry, itchy skin areas are typical.
Allergic reactions often lead to so-called hives, in which highly itchy wheals can spread over the entire skin. Another possible cause is a skin fungus, which typically forms red spots with a dark, sometimes scaly edge. Itching is also possible with a fungal infection.
Mites are also a possible cause of a rash on the forehead and scalp. Finally, the seborrhoeic eczema must be mentioned. Characteristic for this rash are coin-shaped, reddened foci with a yellow-greasy scaling.
Already in infancy, seborrhoeic eczema can occur and is then usually called head gneiss. A skin rash rarely affects only the forehead. In most cases other regions of the face or the rest of the body are affected.
Viral skin rashes such as measles, rubella, three-day fever or chickenpox usually also appear on the nose. Infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever) or an allergic skin rash may also be a possible cause. In scarlet fever, the nose is usually left out.
There are many different causes for a rash that appears on the forehead and cheeks. Mostly other skin regions are also affected. The scarlet fever is an impressive example, because the cheeks are typically very red.
However, other infectious diseases such as rubella, measles, three-day fever and chickenpox are also possible triggers for a rash on forehead and cheeks. Allergic reactions can also appear on the forehead and cheeks. Furthermore, autoimmune causes, especially lupus erythematosus, in which the cheeks can be affected, are also possible.