The term rash includes many different forms of rash and can vary significantly. The best known rashes are commonly visible skin rashes.
What is a rash?
A rash is redness of the skin – it can be individual red spots or an area-wide redness. A rash is a reddening of the skin – it can be individual red spots or an area-wide redness. In medical terminology, this is known as exanthem. Rashes can occur on any part of the body and sometimes spread to the mucous membranes. In many cases, the affected area of the body feels warm, and rash may also itch or cause pulling pain. In particularly severe cases, the rash also causes the affected area of skin to fester, further inflaming it.
Causes
Rash often occurs as an immune reaction of the body. Accordingly, it is a first sign of allergy in humans. Many allergy tests are based on this principle: the substance to be tested is applied to the skin, and the allergy is considered confirmed if a rash forms. Allergy-related rashes can either be completely painless or mildly itchy. In a similar way, a rash occurs as a result of drug intolerance. Therefore, before taking a new, unknown medication, one should always read the package insert, as it states whether rash can occur as a side effect. It can either be an immune reaction of the body or occur as a sensitive response to a highly effective drug. A number of diseases that are particularly common in childhood also cause characteristic rashes on various parts of the body. Measles, rubella, chickenpox, scarlet fever, and three-day fever are the diseases most commonly associated with rash of the skin. Depending on the disease, it takes on a characteristic appearance. For example, chickenpox causes the familiar red, raised, itchy spots on the skin, rubella causes dotted, reddish rash. Among other things, rash occurs in the secondary stage of syphilis, of which it is the main symptom. Among other things, rash occurs when the skin does not react well to a skin care product. It may be an allergic reaction, but also a simple defensive reaction of sensitive, irritated skin.
Diseases with this symptom
- Angina tonsillaris
- Scarlet fever
- Measles
- Rubella
- Chickenpox
- Typhoid fever
- Syphilis
- Allergy
- Meningitis
- HIV infection
- Hyperthyroidism
- Shingles
- Neurodermatitis
- Hives (Urticaria)
- Eczema
- Spotted fever
Exanthema
Exanthem, Greek for “I blossom”, is a skin rash of acute severity. It often occurs in infectious diseases. Typical representatives are measles, rubella, chickenpox, scarlet fever, and typhoid fever. Furthermore, an exanthema can be the cause of an intolerance to certain medications. Exanthem also occurs in syphilis as a main symptom in the secondary stage.
Scarlatiniform exanthema
In Scarlatiniform exanthema, the inside of the throat is deep red. The palatine tonsils are severely swollen. Later, whitish plaques appear in the form of spots. Initially, the tongue is coated with white. After a short time, the coatings disappear. Instead, however, clearly visible, shiny red taste buds appear. This phenomenon is also called raspberry or strawberry tongue. Nevertheless, this finding does not say anything about whether the patient is ill with scarlet fever, as is often the case. Also other diseases, in particular the most diverse Viruskerkrankungen or allergic reactions to medicines, exhibit such a rash or are its consequence.
Enanthem
Enanthem is a rash of the mucous membranes. However, this form of rash is areal or patchy. Particularly in the mouth and throat, this rash occurs with certain infectious diseases.
Diagnosis and course
The cause of a skin rash (exanthema) should be diagnosed quickly for prompt treatment. The physician will first inquire about the site where the exanthema first appeared.He also inquires about previous illnesses, other complaints (e.g. fever, cough or nausea), medication intake and possibly infectious contacts with sick people. To examine the skin, the physician uses a spatula and magnifying glass and, if necessary, performs biopsies, allergy tests and blood tests. Viral infections often first appear on the head and then sometimes spread over a large area. In contrast, “seborrheic eczema” only appears on the face. As a side effect of medications, “drug exanthema” spreads from the abdomen throughout the body.
Complications
Untreated rash can spread over other areas of the skin. Adults in particular sometimes do not take rashes seriously and therefore do not have them treated – only to notice the nasty surprise the following day. Furthermore, the rash can reach deeper layers of the skin where it can cause inflammation and lead to visible cracks on the surface of the skin. Depending on the cause, the rash can develop into a purulent skin condition, which firstly not only looks unsightly but secondly also opens the door to further germs. A purulent rash can therefore lead to so-called opportunistic infections of the skin, which take advantage of their attacked state and settle in when the immune system can no longer defend itself against them. In the case of a complicated rash, healing may be impaired afterwards and scars may be left on the skin. Sometimes these disappear over time, or at least become so pale that they can only be seen if you look closely. However, if the scarring has happened after a severe rash in a place that is always visible, such as the face, it poses a cosmetic problem for the affected person. Therefore, to ensure a quick and unproblematic healing of the skin, a rash should always be taken seriously and examined by a family doctor or dermatologist.
When should you go to the doctor?
The skin is generally referred to as the largest organ in the human body. It is therefore not surprising that reactions of any kind are particularly common. Therefore, deciding when to see a doctor is not always easy. It must be weighed up, taking into account all the circumstances of the individual case. After all, it is not uncommon for a rash to indicate a merely harmless intolerance. Especially when detergents or creams cause skin reactions, it is sufficient to change the product. The rash will then disappear on its own, so that a visit to the doctor is not mandatory. However, since some infectious diseases can also cause skin reactions, special caution is required for rashes that occur together with other symptoms. In such cases, a visit to the doctor should not be delayed. It is also advisable to consult a doctor if the rashes persist for a long time. In addition, medical advice should be sought for a rash if the skin reaction occurs suddenly and without warning, if other symptoms are known, or if an existing rash worsens, widens, or otherwise changes. In babies and children, do not delay because the immune system is not yet fully developed. A pediatrician should be consulted to identify the causes of the rash and initiate treatment. For adults, a visit to the family doctor is usually sufficient. The latter can refer to a dermatologist (dermatologist) if necessary.
Treatment and therapy
For any form of rash, a physician should be consulted immediately. For some forms of rash, treatment of the underlying disease is the primary concern. This is the case, for example, with syphilis, but also with scarlet fever and other dangerous diseases. The rash can be treated symptomatically if it causes severe pain or is particularly unpleasant. In other cases, the rash itself is treated first and foremost. In the case of chickenpox, the patient is prescribed a special lotion to apply to the skin to relieve the itching. Otherwise, involuntary scratching will cause scars and indentations on the skin that can be seen decades later. Usually, rash is treated with a combination of both methods.
Outlook and prognosis
A rash can occur on many parts of the body. Only in a few cases, this requires the advice and treatment of a doctor.Most often, the rash is an allergic reaction of the body to a certain food or an external influence on the skin. If the causative agent is no longer ingested or applied to the skin, the rash usually disappears within a few days or even hours. in this process, the skin can also be supported by soothing creams. If the rash has not cleared up on its own within a few days, a doctor can be asked for advice. This can perform an allergy test, so that the affected person is clear about what triggered the rash. In this case, the rash can also be treated with medication. After treatment with medication, the rash disappears completely, and usually no scars remain. If the rash is due to lack of personal hygiene, it will disappear only if the affected person improves hygiene. In this case, inflammation and itching of the skin may also occur. If the rash is present on the skin for a long time, it may leave scars on the skin as a result.
Prevention
To prevent rash, allergy sufferers should stay away from substances or creatures to which they are allergic under all circumstances. This will prevent the rash from occurring in the first place. The same applies if the skin is sensitive to a skin care product. Rashes can be prevented by using an alternative product that is less harmful to the skin. If you get a rash easily from commercial products, you can find alternatives at the pharmacy. To prevent disease, it is worth considering protective vaccination at an early stage.
What you can do yourself
Rash does not always require medical treatment. Affected people can often reduce the symptoms by home remedies and a change in diet and lifestyle. First, people who suffer from rashes should use gentle, pH-neutral skin care products without artificial additives to avoid further irritating the skin. Loose-fitting clothing can prevent friction and skin irritation. Depending on the condition, the rash can be treated with various oils, fresh coriander leaves or a warm bath with wheat bran. After showering or bathing, the skin should be air dried to avoid further irritation of the affected areas. Proper personal hygiene also contributes to a decrease in symptoms and an increase in well-being. If the cause of the rash is a food intolerance or allergy, dietary measures will help reduce symptoms. A health diary helps to find possible causes for the rash and to treat them specifically and quickly. In general, the body and especially the immune system should be spared so that the rash can heal quickly and without complications. If there is no improvement despite these self-measures, a dermatologist should be consulted.
