A rash (also known as dermatitis) is the general term used for when your skin reacts to some type of irritant. Rashes can appear anywhere on the body and have a variety of different appearances and causes. Most commonly, rashes appear as red, swollen marks on the skin. They can be caused by allergies, insect bites, autoimmune disorders, and exposure to chemicals, as well as by fungal, bacterial, and viral infections. In addition to being inflamed, rashes can also be itchy (pruritic rash).
Rashes often involve macules (small, flat skin discolorations), papules (small, raised skin discolorations) or nodules (small, raised skin discolorations that are deeper and larger than papules). Often times, rashes are described as combinations of these descriptions, such as “maculopapular rashes”, which contain both macules and papules.
Rashes are very individualized skin conditions, meaning that they greatly vary from person to person. Irritants that affect one individual may have no impact on another, and the appearance, severity, and longevity of a rash are highly dependent on an individual’s immune system.
Treatment for a rash is always determined by the cause. Rashes caused by allergies are best treated by avoiding certain irritants, while bacterial or fungal rashes are best treated with medications. Depending on the cause, rashes can take anywhere from a day to a few weeks to be resolved.
If you have a rash you would like to get examined, call our office at 508-936-1657 to book an appointment.