You’ve just spent several hours in the garden, weeding and planting warm-weather flowers. After going into the house and getting a cool glass of water, you notice small red bumps on the skin that was exposed to the sun. This rash, or hives, is not life-threatening, just a nuisance. But there are other rashes that could indicate a very serious medical condition. Read on for more.
Rashes: What are they?
There are many types of rashes that afflict humans. In general, rashes are defined as a breaking out of the skin. Common symptoms are a change in skin color, texture, or appearance. It can be localized or affect a large patch of skin and can cause it to become warm, chapped, dry or blistered. Most rashes are rarely lethal, but they are a source of discomfort.
Rashes with blistering are usually caused by the attack of connective proteins. When these proteins fail to work, skin comes apart, literally separating. Next, fluid fills the gaps, resulting in blisters.
Causes of rashes range from anxiety, contact with an irritant, skin diseases such as eczema, friction or chafing, allergic reactions to drugs, immune system disorders and byproducts of a fungal infection. Ringworm is one example of a fungal skin infection.
Common rashes include eczema, poison ivy, hives, heat rash, psoriasis, diaper rash, and viral rashes such as herpes or shingles.
How to Tell When Rashes are Serious
Rashes accompanied by high fever; dizziness or fainting; rapidly spreading pattern of blisters; red, inflamed eyes; peeling skin, and difficulty breathing can be very serious. Rashes on young infants can also be concerning. Other causes of worry are when the rash occurs after a flu-like illness or starts after new foods or medications are introduced.
Physicians highly recommend that if you experience any of the above symptoms, visit an emergency room right away.
Rashes That Are More of a Nuisance Than Serious
The following rashes may inconvenience you, but they are not symptoms of a fatal disease. These rashes can be found among people of all ages.
Seborrheic dermatitis – The most common rash striking American adults. It typically affects the scalp, brow, forehead, cheeks and ears.
Eczema – This is a disorder common to childhood. Rash can occur in the inner elbow; back of knees; cheeks; wrists; ankles, and neck.
Contact dermatitis – This rash is caused by exposure to allergic materials such as costume jewelry or a chemical irritant such as found on poison ivy. Can also occur with man-made chemicals such as detergents.
Diaper rash – Common in infants when their skin has been exposed too long to feces and urine.
Stasis dermatitis – This type of rash is caused by poor circulation in the lower legs. Often, there is swelling accompanying this weeping rash.
Psoriasis – Typically found on the scalp, elbows and knees. This rash causes silvery flakes of skin to drop off.
Drug side effects – Rash of this type occurs with certain drugs. The appearance can mimic other viral rashes and may be an indication that you are having an allergic reaction to the drug. A call or visit to your prescribing physician may be in order. Rarely, this may be life-threatening.
Viral rash – Examples of this rash are herpes or shingles. The rash is usually localized to one part of the body. The affliction can last a few days to a couple of weeks. Recovery usually doesn’t require treatment unless there is much pain. See your doctor if this is true for you.
Hives – These are red bumps that itch that comes on quickly. Can be caused by some anti-inflammatories and sun exposure. Though episodes can last up to eight hours, they may recur frequently depending on the cause.
Heat rash – This red cluster of blisters or pimples is more likely to be found on the neck; upper chest; under the breasts, elbow creases and the groin. Powder can help in this situation as this is mostly caused by perspiration.
Life-threatening Diseases With Rashes as Primary Symptoms
There are at least six life-threatening diseases that you can recognize by their association with skin rashes. One common feature is when you press or scratch a blister, they expand and meld with other blisters. The result is an ever-larger area that is covered in possibly weepy, broken blisters. These diseases are:
- Pemphagus vulgaris (PV) – This is a rare autoimmune disease that causes blisters on skin and mucus membranes such as the mouth; nose; throat; anus, and genitals. This disease is treated with high doses of corticosteroids.
- Stevens – Johnson syndrome (SJS) – This is caused by an allergic reaction to common medicines such as penicillin; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anticonvulsants among others.
- Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) – A rare immune disorder that causes spreading blisters over at least 30 percent of the body.
- Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) – Resulting in a rare and sudden condition, TSS is caused by an overgrowth of usually harmless bacteria in a woman’s vagina.
- Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) – Causes extensive blistering similar to that left by a boiling water accident. Mainly affects babies and infants under five years of age.
- Gangrene – When the blood supply to parts of the body is cut off, organs begin to die. The skin is no different. Gangrene also causes severe color changes to the skin.
Blisters associated with these diseases typically have common traits. The first is the enlargement of blisters through melding together, blister upon blister. The second trait is that the blistering involves the thin, outer layer of skin. The blister may be tight with fluid but eventually the skin over it becomes loose. At this point, it might break open with the under layer of skin moist and painful. These blisters usually crust over and dry up. The third distinction is that the blisters may be found in any or all mucus membranes. Especially painful is when a blister ruptures in the mouth — eating and drinking are near impossible.
If you or someone you know displays a rash with life-threatening symptoms, see your doctor right away. The sooner appropriate medical is administered, the better the outcome.
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