The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It usually reacts immediately to influences from inside and outside. Skin rashes on the abdomen can have a variety of reasons. Treatment of the rash depends on the diagnosis made by a doctor.
What is a rash on the abdomen?
In the case of itchy, inflammatory skin rash, doctors also refer to eczema or dermatitis, which can occur acutely or chronically. A sudden rash on the abdomen or other areas of the body is called exanthem. In the case of itchy, inflammatory skin rash, doctors also speak of eczema or dermatitis, which can occur acutely or chronically. The skin rash on the abdomen can look different: It can appear in red patches, wheals, as vesicles, purulent pustules or as scales. It can be painful or itchy, but sometimes occurs without other symptoms. A distinction is made between contagious and noncontagious skin diseases.
Causes
A skin rash on the abdomen can have many different causes. In addition to viral infectious diseases such as chickenpox or measles, it may be a bacterial infection. Fungi or parasites can also cause a rash, such as mites in highly itchy scabies. Other causes are allergies or side effects of medications. Antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone or some high blood pressure, gout, cancer and diabetes medications in particular can trigger a rash. Various skin conditions such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, or hives can also cause a rash on the abdomen. In rarer cases, the trigger may also be a systemic internal disease. Personal predispositions are responsible for how sensitively the skin reacts to certain stimuli.
Diseases with this symptom
- Chickenpox
- Neurodermatitis
- Psoriasis
- Ringworm
- Measles
- Hives (urticaria)
- Contact allergy
- Three-day fever
- Scabies
- Drug allergy
- Shingles
- Impetigo contagiosa
Diagnosis and course
For an accurate diagnosis, a visit to a doctor is necessary. Especially in the case of severe rash, extreme itching, pain or swelling, a visit to the doctor is advised. This is also the case if the rash spreads from the abdomen further to other parts of the body or additional complaints such as fever are added. Initially, the family doctor can be consulted, who will refer the patient to a specialist or dermatologist if necessary. The physician can often make an initial assessment based on the localization and appearance of the rash. He will ask important details about accompanying symptoms and the spread of the rash. Additional laboratory tests such as an allergy test, a blood test, a tissue sample or a skin swab from the affected area can provide further information for the diagnosis. As the disease progresses, the rash may change depending on the cause. Purulent pustules may develop or the rash may spread to other areas of the body. In some cases, however, the rash disappears on its own after a few days.
Complications
There can be a wide variety of reasons why a rash develops on the abdomen. The rash looks quite different, sometimes the patient gets red spots, sometimes purulent pustules or vesicles. Sometimes a rash on the abdomen itches and it can also be very painful. Perhaps it is harmless childhood diseases, measles also cause red spots. Sometimes, however, fungi or parasites are responsible for the rash, the very itchy scabies is often diagnosed. But causes can also be allergies or it is side effects of various drugs that cause skin rashes. Especially often, cancer, diabetes or gout medications trigger these rashes. Diseases such as psoriasis or neurodermatitis can also be responsible for the abdominal rash. In the rarest cases, however, an internal disease is behind it, it just always depends on how strongly the skin reacts. A visit to the doctor is absolutely necessary, only he can determine the cause exactly. In general, if other symptoms appear, a rash on the abdomen can not be treated by yourself.However, the general practitioner can often already tell by the appearance of the rash what the reason for the rash on the abdomen is and how it will not spread further. Only if the rash is really bad and if there are other accompanying symptoms, he will write a referral to the dermatologist. The specialist can determine the exact cause based on the blood test and a tissue sample. In most cases, however, a rash on the abdomen is rather harmless, often disappearing on its own.
When should you go to the doctor?
Rash on the abdomen can be caused by various diseases. Only a doctor (e.g. dermatologist, family doctor) can determine whether the cause is an infectious disease, an allergy or neurodermatitis. Toxic contact dermatitis is often caused by toxic substances coming into contact with the skin. Mostly unprotected skin areas such as face, hands and arms are affected, but less the abdomen. Rash on the abdomen can appear in various forms, ranging from small red pustules to large inflamed areas. It may be noticeable by wheals or scaling. Often an allergic contact eczema is the cause, for example due to chemical substances in clothing. Atopic eczema, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease caused by genetic predisposition. It often manifests itself on the abdomen as an itchy rash with pustules. Infectious childhood diseases such as chicken pox, rubella, scarlet fever and measles are manifested by a rash all over the body. Especially when adults are affected, a visit to the doctor is necessary. Many triggers are conceivable for allergies. Whether hives, drug or food intolerance is present, the medical examination must clarify. Chemical burns and poisoning can also cause rashes on the abdomen. Severe chemical burns are a case for the emergency physician. Rashes associated with sudden malaise and vomiting should lead the affected person to the hospital as soon as possible.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment of the skin rash on the abdomen depends on the previously diagnosed cause. Ointments or tinctures that are applied locally to the affected areas are often used. Certain active ingredients such as urea or tar can help. Ointments with antihistamines or cortisone are also used. There are also special bath additives that contain different substances to treat rashes. For bacterial infections, the use of antibiotics may be useful. For viral infections, the doctor usually administers only anti-inflammatory agents. Sometimes the use of virustatics, which prevent further multiplication of viruses, may be necessary. An antifungal agent helps against fungi. In the case of psoriasis, drugs that suppress the immune system can help in certain cases. In the case of psoriasis and neurodermatitis, light therapy with UV radiation sometimes helps. If the trigger of the skin rash is an allergy, the triggers of the allergy must be avoided. For example, changing the detergent can already help if there is an allergy to certain ingredients, or avoiding buttons in pants that contain nickel. If the rash was triggered by medication, it should be discussed with the doctor whether these should be discontinued. Cooling the affected areas is often helpful for itching. In case of pain, the administration of painkillers helps. If accompanying symptoms such as fever occur in addition to the rash, the physician treats these with fever-reducing agents, for example.
Outlook and prognosis
A rash on the abdomen can be treated relatively well in most cases. If the rash on the abdomen occurs due to an allergic reaction or intolerance, it usually disappears after a few hours or a few days. It lasts until the body has completely broken down the ingredient. In this case, there are no further complications. A rash on the abdomen can also be manifested by pustules. This is an inflammation. It is treated by the doctor with the help of antibiotics and also does not leave any further problems. If the rash on the abdomen itches, the patient must not scratch it under any circumstances. This may cause sores and scars. If the rash on the abdomen occurs due to pubertal acne, treatment is limited. Creams and medications can be used to contain the rash on the abdomen.However, their effectiveness is different for everyone, so no success can be guaranteed here. In most cases, the rash on the abdomen heals after a short time and does not leave scars.
Prevention
To prevent rash on the abdomen, care should be taken to maintain good hygiene to protect against bacterial infections. In addition, contact with people who are acutely ill should be avoided. Vaccinations can protect against childhood diseases such as measles and chickenpox. In the case of known allergies, the allergy-causing substances, such as certain care products or detergents, must be exchanged for other products. There are also some general points that can help maintain healthy skin and thus protect against a rash: Body care products should have a neutral pH to avoid destroying the skin’s natural acid mantle. Rich creams should be used for dry skin. Allergens such as perfumes and preservatives should be avoided. Loose, breathable clothing allows air to the body and allows the skin to breathe.
What you can do yourself
What a patient can do himself for a rash on the abdomen depends on the causes of the condition. If it is an allergic reaction, an anti-allergic preparation for local treatment of itching can quickly provide relief. Such preparations, which usually contain the active ingredient dimetindene, are available over the counter at pharmacies. In the case of allergies, it is also helpful to change your body care routine. Many conventional cosmetics contain fragrances, essential oils or animal fats, which are often the trigger for an allergy in the first place or additionally irritate the inflamed skin. Aggressive soaps, shower gels or other cleansing agents can also additionally irritate the skin. Affected persons should only use ph-neutral washing lotions and body care products that are labeled as hypoallergenic. Swimming pools and the pools in wellness facilities should be avoided because of the high chlorine concentration in the water. If a microbial or viral infection is present, it is essential to seek medical treatment. The patient himself can do one thing above all: do not scratch! If the itching is so severe that scratching attacks cannot be avoided, scrupulous cleanliness of hands and fingernails must be observed. Artificial nails must be removed and natural nails kept as short as possible. In addition, care should be taken to wear lightweight, breathable underwear and outerwear.
