Definition
A skin rash (exanthema) is a skin change that usually occurs over a large area and appears reddish or even brownish. Skin rash is often caused by dry skin. Often a defective skin barrier is to blame for the dryness.
The skin is unable to compensate for the lack of moisture by absorbing liquids or lipids. Lipids are produced by sebaceous glands in the skin. If the skin is dry, for example because the right care is lacking, it becomes dry, cracked or even flaky and can then become inflamed more easily.
This usually results in an itchy rash. Especially in the cold winter months, the skin tends to become dry. Therefore, special attention should be paid here to sufficient care of the skin with moisturizers. However, autoimmune diseases such as neurodermatitis can also cause the skin to tend to dryness and a rash to develop more quickly.
Causes of dry skin
Why one person is more prone to dry skin and another not, is probably due to the genes. If there is a tendency to dry skin, the development of dry skin can be promoted by the wrong lifestyle (drinking and eating habits), the wrong care (washing hands too often, not applying lotion) or even by the weather (winter months). Moreover, dry skin tends to develop a rash.
Other factors that can cause dry skin and rashes are an internal lack of fluids, an unbalanced diet or psychological stress. In addition, the skin tends to become dry and cracked with age. This can make itching and rashes easier to develop.
A lack of fluid can occur, for example, during a stomach flu. In this disease, fluid is lost through diarrhea (diarrhea). In general, skin diseases such as neurodermatitis, contact eczema, psoriasis or ichthyosis are accompanied by severe skin dryness and rash.
These skin diseases often manifest themselves in childhood and are usually also subject to a genetic disposition. Patients suffering from hypothyroidism are also often affected by dry skin that tends to rash. The editorial staff also recommends: Dry skin – causes and care tipsStress, anger and fear can also make themselves felt on the skin through dryness, rashes and itching.
Constant stress, for example, weakens the immune system and thus also the skin, as protective mechanisms can no longer function properly and the skin can no longer fully perform its task. A skin reaction is particularly noticeable in people who already suffer from dry skin anyway. These include in particular patients with skin diseases such as neurodermatitis or psoriasis, where skin rashes are often triggered or aggravated more quickly in stressful situations.
In addition, mental illnesses such as obsessive-compulsive disorders, where there is a compulsion to wash, for example, can also cause dry skin and rashes. Here the skin is damaged by the constant washing. As a result, the protective barrier no longer functions. The skin dries out, itches and becomes inflamed.