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Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
A rash is an area of irritated or swollen skin. Rashes on skin may be red, itchy, or painful and can involve blisters, bumps, or raw skin.
Rashes can be a response to an allergen, irritant, infection, or systemic disease. They range from minor tissue swelling to an outbreak of painful sores.
Some rashes on skin affect a small area while others are widespread. They’re sometimes tough to tell apart—even for a trained eye.
Broadly speaking, rashes on skin can be classified as either infectious or non-infectious. Many types and possible causes exist.
This article will help you learn to identify 13 common rashes, including impetigo, athlete's foot, psoriasis, shingles, and more.
Impetigo
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Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealand www.dermnetnz.org 2023.
Impetigo is a common skin infection. It's usually caused by either Streptococcus (strep) or Staphylococcus (staph) bacteria.
Impetigo is most common on the face or limbs. Its distinctive features are:
- An eruption of red sores
- Clear fluid or pus leak from sores
- Formation of a honey-colored crust
Bacteria typically enter your body through a cut, scrape, burn, or insect bite.
Children often get impetigo after a cold. Using tissues makes the skin around their noses raw. And that gives the bacteria easy access.
The honey-colored crust is usually a tell-tale sign of impetigo. Still, your healthcare provider may order a bacterial culture to confirm the diagnosis.
When impetigo involves large blisters (known as bullae), it’s called bullous impetigo. It’s a less common form. Young children are most likely to have it.
Impetigo may cause minor itchiness. But it’s generally not painful. That sets it apart from shingles and other types of eruptive lesions.
Impetigo is typically treated with antibiotics.
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
While most skin rashes are not life-threatening, a rash can sometimes mean something more serious is happening in your body.
If you have a rash and notice any of the following symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider for an evaluation:
- The rash hurts.
- The rash comes and goes.
- The rash is made up of blisters or open sores, or the sores affect the skin around your eyes, mouth, or genitals.
- The rash prevents you from getting sleep or interferes with your daily activities.
In some cases, a rash can be a sign of a life-threatening condition. Should you notice any of the following, call 911 or go to the emergency room:
- The rash is all over your body or is spreading rapidly. This could mean you are having an allergic reaction.
- The rash is painful, oozing pus, swollen, warm to the touch, or there is a red streak coming from the rash. These are signs that the rash is infected.
- The rash is accompanied by a fever, which could mean you have an infection. It can also be a sign of a disease such as herpes, measles, shingles, or mononucleosis.
- The rash is accompanied by dizziness, difficulty breathing, vomiting, a stiff neck, or any other unusual or worrisome symptoms.
How Long Should You Have a Rash Before Going to the Doctor?
If your rash is recurring or does not go away within a week of it developing, schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider. You may need a stronger treatment for your rash, or you may have an underlying condition that needs to be diagnosed.
Summary
Rashes are irritated skin. They can be caused by many different things. They each have distinguishing features.
If you develop a rash and don’t know what it’s from, get medical attention. The rash itself may not be harmful. But it could be a symptom of a condition that needs to be treated.