Skin Rash Photos

     This informative website will outline all you need to know about a number of rashes, including heat rash, swimmer's rash, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, pityriasis rosea, drug rash, intertrigo, psoriasis, shingles, ringworm, and lichen planus.  So chances are that if you currently have a rash, you will be able to look at the pictures and read about each of these rashes to try to figure out what type of rash you have.  Remember that you should seek the advice of your doctor for treatment as well as initial diagnosis.

Heat Rash

     Heat rash is most common in infants, but can affect up to 1/3 of adults living in areas of tropical heat.  It can affect anyone who is experiencing hot, humid weather.  In infants, it is most commonly found on the neck, shoulders, head, chest, and back.  In adults, it is most commonly developed in the skin folds and where clothing causes friction with the skin.  What happens with a heat rash is that your sweat ducts become blocked, resulting in the perspiration being blocked under your skin.  This leads to the symptoms of superficial blisters to deep and red bumps.  Sometimes you may even experience a prickly feeling or intense itchiness as a result.  Most often the heat rash will resolve itself on its own with time.  Some people have needed medical care, but in general, the best thing you can do is to cool down the skin and keep from sweating.

Swimmer's Itch

     Swimmer's itch is a very itchy rash that is caused by parasites that live on freshwater snails or waterfowl.  Sometimes these parasites are released into the calm waters of ponds or freshwater lakes.  If you are swimming in these areas, you may not realize it, but parasites may burrow into your skin, causing an itchy rash.  Now these parasites will not live long because humans are not suitable hosts for them, but before they leave, they have managed to cause an itchy rash on your skin, usually in areas that are not covered with a bathing suit, and most commonly on the legs.  This itching and rash may begin as quickly as an hour or so after the swimming occurred or up to two days later.  You will see a red raised rash.  Fortunately the rash does not typically last very long and will be cleared up in a few days.  If the symptoms are bad, you can use over the counter anti-itch creams or prescription medications to control the itch.  If the rash lasts more than a week, you need to be sure to see a doctor. 

Rosacea

     Rosacea is a skin disease that causes redness and pimples on your nose, chin, cheeks, and forehead.  This redness may come and go.  It can occasionally cause burning and soreness in the eyes and eyelids.  Doctors are unsure of the causes of rosacea.  It does tend to affect people who blush easily or have fair skin.  There are triggers that may cause the redness to get worse, such as exercise, wind and sun exposure, stress, spicy foods, hot weather, hot baths, temperature changes, and alcohol.  If you have rosacea, you may have a flushed face with pimples or bumps around your nose, mouth, cheeks, and forehead.  This redness may last for days.  You also might have tiny red veins on your face that look like spiderwebs.  Your skin may actually feel like it is burning when you apply lotions or medicines and may feel sensitive, dry, or sunburned.  Your eyes may be dry, red, or irritated, and they may look red and swollen with blurry vision.  You need to get this treated, because it can cause serious eye problems in the future.  Without being treated, rosacea can also cause knobby bumps on the nose and cheeks that will continue to increase in number.  If you suspect that you have rosacea, you should see your doctor for treatment.  There are a number of medicines that can be prescribed that can control the symptoms and keep rosacea from getting worse. 

Atopic Dermatitis

     Atopic dermatitis, or eczema, often goes along with the triad of hay fever, asthma, and eczema.  Many times there is a family history of these conditions.  Atopic dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin.  The skin becomes very itchy and inflamed and causes redness, cracking, swelling, weeping, crusting, and scaling of the skin.  Dry skin is also common and can cause some of the listed symptoms.  Atopic dermatitis most commonly affects infants and young children, and many of them will outgrow their symptoms or their symptoms will at least improve.  There are a number of factors that can cause a flare up of the symptoms, and they include seasonal allergies, dry skin, harsh soaps and detergents, new skin products or skin creams, and cold weather.  Treatment of atopic dermatitis involves three goals.  The first is healing the skin and keeping it healthy.  The second goal is to prevent flares or break-outs, and the third is treating the symptoms when they do occur.  Skin care routines need to be developed.  Your doctor may work with you to try to determine what exacerbating factors are contributing to the condition.  If you can determine those allergens, then you can avoid them leading to less flare ups of the symptoms.  Finding a gentle soap is very important as are laundry soaps.  Try to find one that does not irritate the skin and then stick with it.  Also, after baths, you should not rub the skin dry, but should pat it dry.  Next, you should moisturize.  Lotions are not the best; instead, creams and ointments are recommended.  Your doctor may also prescribe an ointment.  Be sure to speak to your doctor about the side effects of some of these drugs.  There are a few, namely Elidel and Tacrolimus (Protopic) that have been given special warnings by the FDA due to cancer causing and other immune-system suppression issues. 

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