The Four Most Common Types of Rashes

A rash is a skin condition where bumpy, blotchy or scaly patches appear as a result of coming in contact with an allergen, getting an infection, or having a chronic condition. Many kinds of rashes are harmless and will go away on their own, but a few others can persist because of certain underlying causes. Here are the four most common rashes:

  • Eczema – Also called, atopic dermatitis, this rash affects 1 in 50 adults and roughly 1 in 5 of infants and children. Eczema flare ups are often associated with hay fever, asthma, food allergies and also depression. Steroidal creams are usually what’s used to treat this rash.
  • Skin Allergies – there are everyday products, substances and even flora that can cause allergic reactions to your skin. Common skin allergies include latex, poison ivy, and nickel. The medical term is contact dermatitis. It usually takes a day or two for symptoms to develop after getting in contact with the allergen, but may take weeks to go away. Treatments include creams to relieve itching, or in severe cases topical or oral steroids.
  • Psoriasis – This is an autoimmune disorder that causes skin inflammation. It happens when your immune system starts attacking your own body. Psoriasis is characterized by red, raised and scaly plaques that appear all over the body. Plaque psoriasis constitutes about 90% of people who have this condition. Among the available treatments are topical skin ointments to control the symptoms, to medications that are specializing in keeping the immune system in check.
  • Hives – This type of rash is when your body releases  histamine as a response to certain allergens. This can be eating shellfish, peanuts, certain medicines, insect bites, and infections. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reported that roughly 20% of people will experience a breakout of hives at some point  in their lives. This rash does get better within a few days, but some cases can last for months. Antihistamines are used to treat the itching and discomfort.

Sometimes, rashes will just improve on their own but it’s best not to ignore it if you do get one. There are long-term conditions that have rashes as an early indicator. If you have a rash that persists, or if you have no idea where you may have gotten it, contact your doctor for proper diagnosis.