A rash is any area of irritated or swollen skin on your body. Rashes are often itchy and painful and can appear differently on different skin tones. While they are often described every bit ruby-red, on darker pare tones they may be purple, gray, or white.

There are many unlike causes of rashes. Here's a list of 22 potential causes with pictures.

Warning: graphic images ahead.

Fleabites

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Flea bites of the lower leg causing reddish bumps and scabbing. Angela Hampton Picture show Library / Alamy Stock Photograph
  • usually located in clusters on the lower legs and feet
  • itchy, small red bumps on lighter skin tones, and more plum-like in colour on darker peel tones
  • symptoms begin immediately after existence bitten

Read the full article on fleabites.


Fifth disease

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Fifth disease is a viral illness acquired by parvovirus, which can cause a 'slapped cheek' rash. Kardelen Yang?n Via Wikipedia
  • symptoms include headache, fatigue, low fever, sore throat, runny nose, diarrhea, and nausea
  • children are more than likely than adults to feel a rash
  • round, vivid red rash on the cheeks, but it may be less noticeable on darker skin tones
  • usually later the confront rash, a lacy-patterned rash may appear on the arms, legs, and upper trunk and might be more visible afterward a hot shower or bath

Read the total article on fifth disease.


Rosacea

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Weinkle, A. P., Doktor, V., & Emer, J. (2015). Update on the management of rosacea. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 8, 159–177. https://doi.org/x.2147/CCID.S58940
  • chronic (long-term) pare disease that goes through cycles of fading and relapse
  • relapses may be triggered past spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, sunlight, stress, and the abdominal leaner Helicobacter pylori
  • the 4 subtypes of rosacea encompass a wide variety of symptoms
  • mutual symptoms include facial flushing, raised red bumps, facial redness, peel dryness, and skin sensitivity
  • on darker skin tones, brownish or yellowish-brown bumps may appear, and the rash tin take a dusky coloration

Read the full article on rosacea.


Impetigo

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This prototype also depicts impetigo on dark pare. Photography courtesy of Grook Da Oger/Wikimedia
  • most mutual in children 2 to 5 years quondam, but can happen at whatsoever historic period
  • frequently located in the expanse around the mouth, mentum, and nose
  • irritating rash and fluid-filled blisters that pop easily and form a honey-colored crust
  • can also appear brown, imperial, or grayness on darker skin tones

Read the full article on impetigo.


Ringworm

  • itchy, circular scaly patches with raised borders
  • on lighter skin tones, the patches can announced pinkish or ruby-red
  • on darker skin tones, the patches can appear gray or brown
  • peel in the heart of the ring appears clearer, and the edges of the ring may spread outward

Read the total article on ringworm.


Contact dermatitis

  • appears hours to days later contact with an allergen
  • has visible borders and typically appears where your pare touched the irritating substance
  • on lighter peel tones, it can appear red
  • on darker pare tones, it may exist less noticeable
  • may accept blisters that weep, ooze, or go crusty
  • typically itchy, scaly, or raw

Read the full article on contact dermatitis.


Allergic eczema

  • may resemble a burn
  • often found on hands and forearms
  • peel is itchy, scaly, or raw
  • may accept blisters that weep, ooze, or become crusty
  • on lighter skin tones, information technology tin appear red
  • on darker skin tones, it can crusade darker brown, purple, or gray patches

Read the full article on allergic eczema.


Mitt, human foot, and oral fissure affliction

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Hand-foot-and-mouth disease MidgleyDJ at en.wikipedia, CC By-SA three.0, via Wikimedia Eatables
  • usually affects children nether age five
  • painful, red blisters in the mouth and on the natural language and gums
  • flat or raised blood-red spots located on the palms of the easily and soles of the feet
  • on darker peel tones, it can be peel-colored or grayish-brown
  • spots may besides announced on the buttocks or genital surface area

Read the full article on hand, pes, and mouth disease.


Diaper rash

  • located on areas that have contact with a diaper
  • skin looks red, wet, and slightly lighter or darker than typical peel colour
  • may exist warm to the touch

Read the full article on diaper rash.


Eczema

  • dry out, rough, flaky, inflamed, and irritated skin
  • affected areas may be scarlet and itchy
  • hair loss may occur in the surface area with the rash
  • on darker skin tones, it can appear as darker chocolate-brown or grey patches

Read the total commodity on eczema.


Psoriasis

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Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin status that causes dry out, scaly plaques on the peel. It is immune system mediated, and genetics likely also play a role. Vitek2808/Shutterstock
  • scaly, silvery, sharply defined skin patches
  • on darker peel tones, information technology may look darker than the surrounding skin or it might appear purple
  • unremarkably located on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back
  • may be itchy or asymptomatic

Read the full commodity on psoriasis.


Chickenpox

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Child with chickenpox Grook da oger, CC By-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Eatables
  • clusters of itchy, red, fluid-filled blisters in various stages of healing all over the body
  • on darker skin tones, it tin be red, the same as the natural skin tone, or a little darker; scabs can appear gray
  • rash is accompanied past fever, body aches, sore pharynx, and loss of ambition
  • remains contagious until all blisters have crusted over

Read the full article on chickenpox.


Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

  • an autoimmune disease that displays a broad variety of symptoms and affects many torso systems and organs
  • a broad array of skin and mucous membrane symptoms that range from rashes to ulcers
  • classic butterfly-shaped face rash that crosses from cheek to cheek over the nose
  • can appear bright cherry-red on lighter skin tones
  • on darker skin tones, it may appear ruby-red, brown, or darker than the original skin color
  • rashes may announced or get worse with dominicus exposure

Read the full article on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


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chatuphot/Shutterstock

  • painful rash that may burn down, tingle, or itch, even if there are no blisters nowadays
  • clusters of fluid-filled blisters that break easily and cry fluid
  • rash emerges in a ring-like design that appears most commonly on the torso, but may occur on other parts of the body, including the confront
  • may be accompanied by depression fever, chills, headache, or fatigue

Read the full article on shingles.


Cellulitis

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Cellulitis of the lower legs. TisforThan/Shutterstock

This status is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care is required.

  • caused by bacteria or fungi entering through a crack or cutting in the pare
  • tends to be red or pink
  • information technology may appear less obvious on darker skin tones and can also look brown, greyness, or imperial
  • painful, bloated skin with or without oozing that spreads quickly
  • hot and tender to the touch
  • might be a sign of serious infection requiring medical attending

Read the full article on cellulitis.


Drug allergy

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This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care is required.

  • mild to severe itchy, crimson rash may occur days to weeks after taking a drug
  • severe drug allergies can be life threatening, and symptoms include rash, blisters, hives, racing eye, swelling, itching, and difficulty breathing
  • other symptoms include fever, stomach upset, and tiny purple or red dots on the skin

Read the full article on drug allergies.


Scabies

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Scabies is an itchy skin infestation with mites. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

  • symptoms may take two to 5 weeks to appear
  • extremely itchy rash with pocket-size bumps that may be scaly
  • raised, white, or flesh-toned lines

Read the full article on scabies.


Measles

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Measles on the torso of a child phichet chaiyabin/Shutterstock

  • symptoms include fever, sore pharynx, blood-red watery eyes, loss of appetite, coughing, and runny nose
  • depending on peel tone, the rash may exist red, skin-colored, or darker than the natural skin colour
  • the rash spreads from the face downwards the body 3 to 5 days after starting time symptoms announced
  • tiny white spots with blueish-white centers on a red groundwork can announced inside the mouth

Read the full commodity on measles.


Tick bite

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Aitor Diago/Getty Images

  • painless and causes only small-scale signs and symptoms, such as a change in skin color, swelling, or a sore on the skin
  • rash, burning sensation, or blisters
  • difficulty breathing, which requires firsthand medical attention
  • the tick often remains attached to the skin for a long time
  • bites rarely appear in groups
  • may look like a target, circular, expanding — seventy to eighty percent of people with Lyme affliction will accept this rash

Read the full article on tick bites.


Seborrheic eczema

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Zay Nyi Nyi/Shutterstock

  • yellow or white scaly patches that flake off
  • affected areas may exist red — though they may appear faint on darker skin tones —, itchy, greasy, yellowish or white patches
  • pilus loss may occur in the rash area

Read the full article on seborrheic eczema.


Scarlet fever

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Kid with ruby fever rash and rosy cheeks badobadop, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

  • occurs at the same fourth dimension equally or right subsequently a strep throat infection
  • rash is made up of tiny bumps that brand information technology feel like "sandpaper"
  • bright cherry-red tongue
  • people with lighter pare tones can take a bright ruddy rash all over the trunk (but not on the palms of your easily and soles of your anxiety)
  • on people with darker skin tones, it may be more hard to run across the rash, simply their peel volition have a sandpaper-like texture

Read the full article on scarlet fever.


Kawasaki disease

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This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent intendance is required.

  • usually affects children under age 5
  • red cracked lips, swollen natural language (strawberry tongue), high fever, swollen ruby palms and soles of the feet, swollen lymph nodes, bloodshot eyes
  • can be harder to recognize on darker skin tones
  • may cause severe heart problems

Read the full commodity on Kawasaki disease.

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is ane of the most common causes of rashes. This type of rash occurs when the pare comes into direct contact with a foreign substance that causes an adverse reaction, leading to a rash. The resulting rash may exist itchy, ruddy, or inflamed.

Possible causes of contact dermatitis include:

  • beauty products
  • soaps
  • laundry detergent
  • dyes in clothing
  • chemicals in safe, rubberband, or latex
  • poisonous plants, such as poison oak, poison ivy, or poisonous substance sumac

Medications

Taking medications may likewise cause rashes. They can class as a outcome of:

  • an allergic reaction to the medication
  • a side effect of the medication
  • photosensitivity from the medication

Other causes

Other possible causes of rashes include the following:

  • A rash can sometimes develop in the expanse of a bug bite, such as a fleabite. Tick bites are of detail concern because they tin transmit disease.
  • Atopic dermatitis, the most mutual course of eczema, is a rash that may exist more common in people with asthma or allergies. The rash is frequently reddish, though it tin be skin-colored or darker on people with darker peel tones. Information technology can be itchy with a scaly texture.
  • Psoriasis is a common skin condition that can cause a scaly, itchy, red, or purplish rash to course along the scalp, elbows, and joints.
  • Seborrheic eczema is a type of eczema that most often affects the scalp and causes redness, scaly patches, and dandruff. Information technology can likewise occur on the ears, brows, or nose. When babies accept it, it'south known as cradle cap.
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune affliction that can trigger a rash on the cheeks and olfactory organ. This rash is known equally a "butterfly," or malar, rash.
  • Rosacea is a chronic skin condition of unknown crusade. There are several types of rosacea, but all are characterized by redness and rash on the face up.
  • Ringworm is a fungal infection that causes a distinctive ring-shaped rash. The aforementioned fungus that causes ringworm on the torso and the scalp also causes jock crawling and athlete'due south pes.
  • Diaper rash is a common skin irritation in infants and toddlers. Information technology tin be associated with prolonged exposure to a moisture diaper.
  • Scabies is an infestation by tiny mites that live on and burrow into your pare. It causes a bumpy, itchy rash.
  • Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin. It usually appears as a reddish, bloated expanse that is painful and tender to the impact. If left untreated, the infection causing the cellulitis can spread and get life threatening.

Causes of rashes in children

Children are specially prone to rashes that develop equally a effect of illnesses:

  • Chickenpox is acquired by a virus, and the rash is characterized by small-scale itchy bumps and blisters that form all over the body.
  • Measles is a viral respiratory infection that causes a widespread rash consisting of itchy, red bumps.
  • Scarlet fever is an infection due to group A Streptococcus bacteria that produces a toxin, causing a bright red or peel-tone-colored, sandpaper-similar rash.
  • Hand, human foot, and mouth disease is a viral infection that can cause cherry lesions on the mouth and a rash on the easily and anxiety.
  • Fifth affliction is a viral infection that causes a reddish, apartment rash on the body, arms, and legs.
  • Kawasaki affliction is a rare but serious illness that triggers a rash and fever in the early stages and can lead to middle complications.
  • Impetigo is a contagious bacterial infection that causes an itchy, crusty rash and xanthous, fluid-filled sores on the afflicted area, such every bit the face, neck, or hands.

You can treat well-nigh contact rashes, but information technology depends on the cause. Follow these guidelines to help ease discomfort and speed up the healing process:

  • Use mild, gentle cleansers instead of scented bar soaps.
  • Utilise warm water instead of hot h2o for washing your peel and hair.
  • Pat the rash dry instead of rubbing information technology.
  • Permit the rash breathe. If it's possible, avoid covering information technology with clothing.
  • Finish using new cosmetics or lotions that may have triggered the rash.
  • Employ unscented moisturizing lotion to areas affected past eczema.
  • Avoid scratching the rash because doing so can make it worse and could lead to infection.
  • Apply an over-the-counter (OTC) hydrocortisone foam to the affected surface area if the rash is very itchy and causing discomfort. Calamine lotion can also assistance relieve rashes from chickenpox, poison ivy, or toxicant oak.
  • Have an oatmeal bath. This can soothe the itchiness associated with rashes from eczema or psoriasis. Hither's how to make an oatmeal bath.
  • Wash your hair and scalp regularly with dandruff shampoo if you accept dandruff along with a rash. Medicated dandruff shampoo is commonly available at drugstores, but your doctor can prescribe stronger types if y'all need them.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications

Talk with a healthcare professional person, who may recommend OTC medication similar ibuprofen or acetaminophen to treat mild hurting associated with the rash.

Avoid taking these medications for an extended period because they can have side effects. Ask a healthcare professional how long it'southward safe for y'all to take them. Y'all may not be able to accept them if yous have liver or kidney disease or a history of breadbasket ulcers.

Call a healthcare professional if the rash doesn't become away with home remedies. You should also contact them if you're experiencing other symptoms in addition to your rash and you suspect y'all have an illness.

If y'all don't already have a physician, yous tin can employ the Healthline FindCare tool to find a professional person near yous.

Go to the infirmary immediately if you experience a rash along with whatsoever of the post-obit symptoms:

  • increasing pain or discoloration in the rash area
  • tightness or itchiness in the throat
  • difficulty breathing
  • swelling of the face or limbs
  • fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
  • confusion
  • dizziness
  • severe head or neck hurting
  • repeated vomiting or diarrhea

Contact a healthcare professional if you have a rash as well equally other systemic symptoms, including:

  • articulation pain
  • a sore pharynx
  • ruby streaks or tender areas most the rash
  • a contempo tick bite or animal bite

Your healthcare professional will perform a physical exam and inspect your rash. Expect to answer questions most your:

  • rash
  • medical history
  • diet
  • recent use of products or medications
  • hygiene

Your healthcare professional may also:

  • accept your temperature
  • guild tests, such as an allergy test or complete blood count
  • perform a skin biopsy, which involves taking a small sample of pare tissue for analysis
  • refer you to a specialist, such as a dermatologist, for farther evaluation

Your healthcare professional may likewise prescribe medication or medicated lotion to relieve your rash. Near people can treat their rashes finer with medical treatments and home care.

Follow these tips if you have a rash:

  • Employ home remedies to soothe mild contact rashes.
  • Identify potential triggers for the rash and avoid them as much as possible.
  • Call a healthcare professional if the rash doesn't go away with home treatments. You should also contact them if you're experiencing other symptoms in addition to your rash and y'all doubtable y'all have an disease.
  • Carefully follow any treatments your md prescribes. Speak with a healthcare professional if your rash persists or gets worse despite treatment.

Healthline and our partners may receive a portion of revenues if yous make a buy using a link above.

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