Different Types Of Skin Rashes

A skin rash can be itchy, red, uncomfortable – and perhaps what's even worse – look gross. But most people suffer from these skin irritations at some point in their life. When one of these annoying episodes sets in, it helps to know what they are, and why they happen. When your skin’s appearance and feel changes, you may have a skin rash. Differences in texture and color are all telltale and rather reliable indicators of a skin rash, if an intense itching or series of prominent bumps haven't not appeared yet. Skin rashes can have several causes. In cases of allergy skin rashes, a substance that doesn’t agree with you – like nickel jewelry, latex substances, or cosmetics – is to blame. When you’ve fallen prey to irritant contact dermatitis, though, substances such as an ultra-harsh soap are usually to blame, and not allergens, since these substances can cause a skin rash in anyone, if used frequently. Some people will experience skin rashes as a negative reaction to a medication. In other cases, a skin rash arises not because of an irritant, but as a natural part of life. This is particularly true for babies, who often simply develop milia or cradle cap as a matter of course. For babies, skin irritations also can arise when one or both parents suffer from other forms of allergies. Skin rashes also can be an indication of a more serious condition. Skin rashes are almost never life threatening, although exceptions such as the Rocky Mountain spotted fever and some types of toxic shock syndrome, do exist. It is much more common to suffer from a dry skin rash, or to experience a rash as a result of bacterial or viral infections, as is the case with common conditions like chicken pox and the measles. Temperature and weather extremes are to blame for some skin rashes. Prickly heat, or heat bumps, arise in hot months, when sweat glands become clogged. Wintertime can bring skin irritations, too, in the form of cold-aggravated eczema. Skin that is prone to eczema also can be irritated by overly dry conditions.