Definition
A skin rash (also called exanthema) is a spontaneous redness, swelling or inflammation that can cause pain or unpleasant itching and appears superficially on the skin.
Causes
A skin rash on the abdomen can take different forms and have very different causes. Sometimes it is just a reaction of the skin to stress, for example. But a viral or bacterial infection can also cause a rash on the abdomen.
Viral and bacterial diseases include rubella, rubella ring, scarlet fever, measles or chickenpox, which occur mainly in childhood and trigger other symptoms in addition to the skin rash. If a child is suspected of having such a disease, the responsible family doctor or pediatrician should be consulted immediately. Even in adulthood, there are pathogens that can cause a rash on the abdomen.
The most common pathogen is the “Herpes Zoster” virus, which is responsible for chickenpox in childhood. If there is an acute immunosuppression in adulthood, the germ can flare up again. Then it no longer triggers chickenpox, but causes the clinical picture of “shingles“.
It spreads along the nerve fibres and painful exanthema forms, which spread like a belt to the abdomen and chest area. The exanthema manifests itself in spots and burning blisters. Hepatitis viruses can also cause a rash on the abdomen.
An allergic reaction to certain foods or to clothes/jewellery, for example, can manifest itself in a rash on the stomach. This rash usually appears shortly after direct contact of the garment or jewelry with the skin or after the ingestion of food and recedes after a short time. Even after taking certain medications (especially antibiotics), a skin reaction can occur due to the side effects or intolerance, which leads to a rash caused by medication.
There are many different skin diseases that cause symptoms on the stomach continuously or in relapses. On the one hand, there is the hereditary disease of psoriasis, which causes palm-sized, scaly, inflamed eczema in various regions of the body. On the other hand, the disease “neurodermatitis” can also cause skin rashes on the abdomen.
Too much UV-light can damage the skin very much and also lead to a rash. There are people who are sensitive to sunlight and have a kind of allergy to too much sunlight. Sunburn can also cause a rash.
The skin disease also known as pityriasis rosea can occur on all skin areas of the body. It is an inflammatory skin change that usually occurs suddenly and heals by itself after a few weeks or months. As a rule, only a slight itching occurs.
Mostly people from the age of 35 years on are affected by the skin disease. Women are affected much more often than men. The exact cause of the skin disease has not yet been conclusively clarified.
However, it is suspected that the herpes virus, which is also responsible for numerous other skin diseases, also triggers erythema. Since the skin symptoms regress by themselves, special treatment is usually not necessary. However, lotions and creams can be used to support the treatment.
Lotions containing the active ingredient polidocanol are frequently used. Even low-dose cortisone preparations can ensure that the skin symptoms recede somewhat faster. If there is also accompanying itching, an attempt can also be made to treat it with light therapy.
For this purpose, the skin is irradiated with a special UV light at regular intervals, which is supposed to lead to a faster regeneration of the skin cells. As a very sensitive organ of our immune system, our skin reacts to external environmental factors such as stress as the first instance. Many people then have a tendency to redness or stress rashes.
After a period of stress, however, the skin can usually recover quickly and the redness is reduced. But every person reacts differently to stress and these rashes do not necessarily occur. Neurodermatitis typically manifests itself in the crook of the arm.
Neurodermatitis in babies or children can also manifest itself on the stomach. Nerodermitis occurs particularly frequently in places where skin lies on skin.Particularly in a warm and humid environment, a rash is more likely to develop. In some cases a skin fungus can also lead to a reddish and itchy rash.
In order to diagnose the cause of a rash, it is necessary to ask about the duration, beginning and used skin care products. Sometimes it may also be necessary to take a skin swab from the affected skin. This then reveals fungal infections in particular.
In this case the treatment is done with so-called antimycotic drugs. The so-called Nystatin is often used. If children develop an itchy skin rash on their legs, this can also have various causes.
In most cases, very dry skin is to blame for the fact that it becomes cracked and turns red and itchy. Red patches on the legs that itch can indicate mite bites, which can occur on either the arms, trunk or legs. Skin rashes on the legs in children are also caused by allergies to certain substances.
As with other parts of the body, a particular shower gel, wash lotion or shampoo can lead to the onset of a rash. If a certain product is suspected of causing these symptoms, it should be changed. Depending on the cause, treatment can be started with a gentle and greasy cream or washing lotion.
Cortisone preparations in the form of lotions are also often used. Sometimes itchy skin rashes on children’s legs also occur in combination with fever. This can quickly exceed the 38 degree limit.
Fever is always an indication of an infection. If skin rashes also occur at the same time, an unspecific viral infection can be assumed. Bacterial infections rarely lead to a combination of fever and skin rash.
In most cases, it is only a matter of waiting and, if necessary, starting symptomatic treatment. This includes, among other things, a therapy to inhibit itching. Helpful in this context are gels such as Fenistil or cortisone ointments.
These substances should be applied to the itchy skin area. Antipyretic measures can be initiated by taking paracetamol. If there is no improvement in the symptoms, a blood count should be made, which can provide further information about the type and severity of the infection.
The above-mentioned diagnosis and anamnesis are important because the subsequent therapy is completely dependent on the cause of the rash. If a harmless trigger (e.g. a new skin cream) is the reason, it should not be used any more. Even if a reaction against currently taken drugs is suspected, they should be discontinued.
In case of allergic rashes, avoiding the allergen can have a lot of effects. Drugs such as cortisone ointments and antihistamines can also cause a weakened immune reaction and thus reduce the symptoms of the person concerned. If an infectious pathogen is the cause of the rash, it is usually necessary to wait for the course of the disease (e.g. chickenpox).
For some bacterial pathogens (e.g. scarlet fever) antibiotic therapy may also be induced. In many cases, a symptom-relieving therapy such as cooling compresses or ointments can help against itching. For the treatment of a rash from home, it is recommended to apply pH neutral soaps or creams containing aloe vera to the affected areas.
These should be fragrance-free. In addition, clothing that is too tight should be avoided so that sufficient air can reach the areas and further irritation due to rubbing is avoided. Envelopes with cold quark or healing earth can also help.
In case of itchy eczema, a compress with chamomile tea can also relieve the pain and calm the spots. If the skin is very dry, moisturizing creams provide good protection against further dryness. You can read more information on this topic here: Home remedies for a rash
