What To Do If You Get A Rash
Some rashes form right away and others can take several days to occur. When a rash appears, you usually know it because it will start to bother you. If you develop a rash, tell a parent or another adult as soon as you can. For instance, you might want to see the school nurse if you are at school.
Try not to scratch. If you do, the rash may take longer to heal and you’ll be more likely to develop an infection or scar.
A visit to the doctor is a good idea if you have a rash. Although all rashes may look alike to you, your doctor or a dermatologist , a skin doctor, knows the difference. And knowing which kind of rash you have can help the dermatologist choose the best treatment to heal your rash.
For eczema, the doctor may suggest special moisturizers called emollients . Emollients retain the water in your skin, keeping it soft and smooth while soothing the itchy feeling.
For poison ivy, the doctor may recommend cool showers and calamine lotion. In more severe cases, a liquid or pill medicine called an antihistamine might be needed. It decreases itching and redness.
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How Is Neurodermatitis Diagnosed
A dermatologist will exam the itchy area, possibly with a scope. The doctor will first rule out other skin conditions, like eczema and psoriasis. The doctor might take a complete medical history and then ask some questions, such as:
- When did the itch start?
- Is it constant or does it come and go?
- What home remedies have been tried?
Symptoms Of Allergies To Bites And Stings
The immune system reacts to specific triggers, also known as allergens, in all allergies. Your immune system produces antibodies that detect the allergen and cause inflammatory reactions and the release of chemicals including histamine.Allergic reactions to insect stings and bites range from mild local reactions at the site of the sting or bite to severe allergic reactions that are life threatening. Symptoms are more likely to improve in children than adults. Adults are at the greatest risk of a severe allergic reaction.Stings and bites often hurt and can cause minor redness and itching at the site, but these symptoms are not caused by an allergic reaction.
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Common Complications Of Insect Bites
While not all insect bites result in reactions, some may actually cause severe reactions to insect bites instead of just bug bite rashes, which can result in following symptoms. In such situations, immediate medical assistance may be needed as the venom can be fatal.
- Anaphylaxis
- Swelling of the tongue, lips and eyes
- Hives
- Reddening of the skin
When To Call A Doctor
Contact your child’s healthcare provider immediately if your child has:
- A bright red rash that peels off in the sheets
- Bloody crusts on the lips
- Large blisters
- Painful urination with a rash
- Trouble breathing
If your child’s rash doesn’t get better after a few days or if you are concerned in any way, don’t hesitate to call their healthcare provider.
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About Allergies To Bites And Stings
Bites and stings usually cause irritation of the skin, which is not an allergic response, but some people can also have allergic symptoms that range from mild to severe and life threatening.Insect stings from bees, wasps and the Australian jack jumper ant are a common cause of severe allergic reactions in Australia.
Severe reactions to insect bites from mosquitoes, midges, March flies and ticks are less common, although bites can cause milder allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions to snake bites are rare.
What If Scratching Has Caused A Wound
If scratching due to neurodermitis has caused a wound, the doctor may wrap a dressing over the area.
Another potential treatment is negative-pressure wound therapy, which involves vacuuming fluid out of the wound and increasing blood flow there.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy confines the patient in an oxygen chamber to inhale pure oxygen, which enhances the bodys ability to heal itself. Surgery on the wound is another option.
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Diagnosing Nummular Eczema And Ringworm
Youll need to see your doctor for a diagnosis of either condition.
Its best to have nummular eczema diagnosed by a dermatologist. A doctor specializing in skin conditions or even your primary care doctor can help determine a treatment plan and rule out other conditions.
Nummular eczema is diagnosed with a physical exam. A doctor can usually make a diagnosis by looking at the skin. Nummular eczema is most prominent in these areas of the body:
- legs
- arms
- torso
If you have open sores within any of the rashes, your doctor may take a sample to see if you have an infection. This is especially important if your symptoms look like ringworm.
A sample can help them determine if you have a staph infection from eczema, or if its a fungal infection related to ringworm.
Red, circular rashes on the skin are a telltale sign of ringworm, but your doctor may also test a sample to confirm. Theyll look for signs of a fungal infection. If the fungal test is negative, then you dont have ringworm.
Once you have an accurate diagnosis, your doctor can explain treatment options.
What Do The Ecz
Once we identify nummular eczema and treat it appropriately, most people are significantly better within seven to 10 days, and, for patients who dont have another type of eczema, it often never comes back, according to Dr. Peter Lio, founding director of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Center. Even in those for whom this is a manifestation of their underlying atopic dermatitis, the nummular aspect seems to disappear quickly and then we can go back to overall management.
- National Eczema Association | 505 San Marin Drive, #B300 | Novato, CA 94945
- 415-499-3474 or 800-818-7546
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Prevention Of Bed Bug Bites
If you have bed bugs rather than eczema , you will simply continue to suffer from bites if you donot get to the root of the problem and get rid of the bed bugs.
In fact, you can even move to a new houseand bring bed bugs with you. So, you must eradicate them.
The EPA provides recommendations here for killing the bed bugs once you locate them, including non-chemical methods such as heat or cold treatment or steam cleaners.
Once you believe you have eliminated the threat, use traps or interceptors to prevent future infestations of your furnishings.
Why Does My Dog Have A Red Rash On His Armpit
The red inflamed skin of his armpit area is caused from self-trauma, from him scratching the same area non-stop. You mentioned that the itching is actually ALL over his body, and this is typical of a dog with food allergy. Although, if it is worse in the armpit area, I would suggest having a skin scraping done to rule out mites.
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Itchy Bumps On Skin Like Mosquito Bites Causes
Mosquito like skin rashes may be caused by a number of factors especially insects. In most cases, if you scratch that skin bump, a little amount of light fluid may appear. Later, it will fade resulting to a dark spot which fades completely with time. Below are some of the common causes of a mosquito like a rash.
What Differentiates Eczema From A Reaction To Poison Ivy Or Poison Oak
Dr. Brian Kim: Three things can often distinguish eczema from allergic contact dermatitis associated with poison ivy or poison oak. First, poison ivy/oak causes a hive-like eruption and then evolves into eczematous lesions. Eczema just flares into eczema, not hives. Second, poison ivy/oak tends to not respect typical eczema hot spots. You can see lesions in areas where the allergen was accidentally exposed, even the genitals. And therefore it will look more streaky, rather than a typical eczema distribution. Third, the blisters associated with poison ivy/oak are much more dramatic than those generally associated with classical eczema.
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Keep A Record Of Your Symptoms
Diagnosing an allergy can be difficult. If you think you may have an allergy after being bitten or stung, make a diary record of your symptoms to help you and your doctor understand the cause of your symptoms.Include information about whether your symptoms occur:
- inside your home, outside or both
- for a short time or longer
- at night, during the day or when you wake up
- at a particular time of the year
- near animals
- after you have been stung or bitten by an insect.
When To Call The Doctor
- The prescribed antihistamine medicine does not relieve the itching.
- The hives or itching becomes worse or new symptoms develop.
- Your child develops hives after being stung by an insect or after taking a new medicine or eating a certain food. He may need an EpiPen® to treat a more serious reaction next time.
HH-I-82 11/89, Revised 11/17, Nationwide Childrens Hospital
Next Steps
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How To Check For Bed Bugs
Although bed bugs dont usually require serious medical attention, they can cause a great deal of anxiety and restless nights. To help find bed bugs before they find you , dermatologists recommend looking for the following signs near places where you sleep.
Signs of bed bugs: This step is important. If you have a bed bug infestation, you need to find out so that you can get rid of the bed bugs. Getting rid of the bed bugs is the only way to stop the bites.
If you have a large number of bed bugs, you may see the bugs. Most people, however, only see signs of bed bugs. To look for signs of bed bugs, check the places that people sleep for the following:
If you do get bed bugs and have many bites or a bite that looks infected, see a board-certified dermatologist. A dermatologist can treat an infection and help relieve the itch.
Bed bug with eggs
A bed bug is a tiny insect with a broad, oval body. If it has recently eaten, it has a reddish-brown color.
If you see bed bugs, they will likely scurry toward the closest hiding place. Any dark place such as inside a mattress or even a picture frame makes a good hiding place.
As you watch bed bugs move, it can look like they are flying or jumping because they can crawl quickly. Bed bugs cannot fly or jump they can only crawl.
If you find signs of bed bugs, call a pest-control company or your property manager. You should not use bug spray or a fogger. These products have little effect on bed bugs.
How Is Eczema Treated
There is no cure for eczema. But treatments can help with symptoms. The doctor will recommend different treatments based on how severe the symptoms are, the childâs age, and where the rash is. Some are âtopicalâ and applied to the skin. Others are taken by mouth.
Topical moisturizers. Skin should be moisturized often . The best time to apply moisturizer is after a bath or shower, with the skin patted dry gently. Ointments and creams are best because they contain a lot of oil. Lotions have too much water to be helpful.
Topical corticosteroids, also called cortisone or steroid creams or ointments. These ease skin inflammation. Itâs important not to use a topical steroid prescribed for someone else. These creams and ointments vary in strength, and using the wrong strength in sensitive areas can damage the skin, especially in infants.
Other topical anti-inflammatory medicines. These include medicines that change the way the skinâs immune system reacts.
Medicine taken by mouth. These can include antihistamines to help itchy kids sleep better at night, antibiotics if a rash gets infected by bacteria, and corticosteroid pills or other medicines that suppress the immune system.
Other types of treatment can include:
- wet wraps: damp cloths placed on irritated areas of skin
- bleach baths: bathing in very diluted bleach solution
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What Causes Discoid Eczema
The exact cause of discoid eczema is uncertain. However, most people with discoid eczema have generally dry skin. One theory is that the dry skin upsets the normal fatty layer within the outer layer of the skin which usually helps to protect the skin. Because this protection is lost, special proteins that can cause allergy can penetrate through the skin. This can lead to an allergic or irritant response in the skin, so leading to the patches of eczema. In fact, some doctors actually consider discoid eczema as a form of adult-onset atopic dermatitis.
Sometimes certain medicines can trigger discoid eczema in some people. For example, medicines used to treat hepatitis C infection . Insect bites or injury to the skin can also trigger an outbreak of discoid eczema in some people.
Because the fatty, protective layer within the skin is lost, it is thought that some people with discoid eczema may also have an increased risk of developing contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is eczema that is caused by your skin reacting to a substance it has come into contact with. Such substances can include nickel in jewellery or belt buckles, cosmetics, preservatives in creams and ointments, additives to leather, etc. See the separate leaflet called Contact Dermatitis for more details.
Physical Examination And Medical History
A dermatologist carefully examines your skin during a physical exam. The pattern, location, and appearance of a rash provide our doctors with important information about its causes.
Your doctor may ask questions about when symptoms appeared, what parts of the body they affect, and whether a rash is persistent or comes and goes. They also want to know if there are any noticeable patterns about when the rash appears, such as if there is a seasonal variation or if the rash appears when using certain perfumes or after exposure to certain metals or fabrics. Knowing whether anyone else in your family has been diagnosed with eczema or dermatitis may help doctors better understand your diagnosis.
Doctors may also ask about the personal hygiene products used in your household. Many cosmetics, moisturizers, and soaps contain irritating ingredients that may cause eczema and dermatitis. Our dermatologists can recommend nonirritating, fragrance-free products that have low levels of preservatives. Often, these are available at drugstores in a similar price range as the products you normally buy.
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Hand Foot And Mouth Disease
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious illness most commonly caused by a virus called coxsackievirus. It mainly affects children under age 10, but older kids and adults can catch it as well.
The disease is easy to spot because of its telltale symptoms:
- Skin rash: As the name suggests, the rash tends to develop on the hands and soles of the feet. The rash usually looks like flat, red spots.
- Mouth sores: Small bright pink spots on the tongue and inside of the cheeks that turn into blisters. These can be painful and make it difficult to eat or drink.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease usually starts with a fever and sore throat. Mouth sores develop within two to three days, and the rash appears shortly after that.
Since hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by a virus, antibiotics wont work. The most you can do is treat the symptoms. Oral anesthetics can help with painful mouth sores. Typically the rash is not painful or itchy, so you dont need to put anything on it.
Helping Your Child Feel Better
If your child has eczema, keep their fingernails short and their skin moisturized. Dress them in loose-fitting clothes and make sure they don’t get overheated. Depending on how severe their eczema is, your doctor may recommend wet wraps, a diluted bleach bath, over-the-counter or prescription medications, and/or light therapy to help.
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An Overview Of The Different Types Of Eczema
Eczema is the name for a group of conditions that cause the skin to become itchy, inflamed and red in lighter skin tones or brown, purple, gray or ashen in darker skin tones. Eczema is very common. In fact, more than 31 million Americans have some form of eczema.
Eczema is not contagious. You cant catch it from someone else. While the exact cause of eczema is unknown, researchers do know that people who develop eczema do so because of a combination of genes and environmental triggers.
When an irritant or an allergen from outside or inside the body switches on the immune system, it produces inflammation. It is this inflammation that causes the symptoms common to most types of eczema.
There are seven different types of eczema:
- Atopic dermatitis
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Stasis dermatitis
It is possible to have more than one type of eczema on your body at the same time. Each form of eczema has its own set of triggers and treatment requirements, which is why its so important to consult with a healthcare provider who specializes in treating eczema. Dermatologists in particular can help identify which type or types of eczema you may have and how to treat and prevent flare-ups.
- National Eczema Association | 505 San Marin Drive, #B300 | Novato, CA 94945
- 415-499-3474 or 800-818-7546
NEA is a qualified 501 EIN 93-0988840
NEA is a qualified 501 EIN 93-0988840
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