Rashes: What Your Rash Means and When to Seek Treatment

Rashes come in different shapes and sizes. They can appear as blisters, blotches, or welts. They can be small in scope or cover an entire region of the body, and they may feel itchy, dry, or scaly. Most rashes aren’t incredibly dangerous, although some rashes may be a symptom of something more serious. Here are some signs that you need to seek immediate skin treatment:

• You’re experiencing a fever. This may be a sign that you have an infection or are experiencing a severe allergic reaction. Shingles, scarlet fever, and measles can produce rashes due to infection.
• Your rash is blistering. If you don’t address the blisters immediately, they could burst and get infected. Blisters can be a sign of an allergic reaction to medicine or to certain allergens.
• The rash appears to be infected. You risk infecting a rash when you scratch it. You can tell it’s infected if you notice any swelling, pus, severe pain, and warmth around or on the rash. 
• Your rash causes severe pain. 
• You notice purplish spots on your feet and hands. These kinds of rashes may indicate a bacterial infection in the heart.  
• Your rash covers your entire body or appears in various areas of your body. Rashes around your genitals, mouth, or eyes are especially a cause for concern.

Furthermore, the following are several conditions that cause rashes that you need to be aware of. If you feel that you may be experiencing any of these illnesses, it would be best to consult with a medical professional to get a better idea of your situation.

Hive

Hives is a flare-up of red, swollen splotches all over the body. This condition may be caused by certain allergens such as food or medication or it may be caused by an unknown reason. You may feel an itchy or burning sensation on your skin. Pay close attention to your blood pressure, as these symptoms may become a more serious problem if accompanied by a sudden drop in your blood pressure and breathing difficulties

Shingles

Shingles appear as both red, scaly patches and tiny inflamed blisters that itch. You may also have a fever and excessive fatigue. Having chickenpox once before or having been vaccinated against it puts you at risk to develop shingles in the future. You may feel moderate to severe pain that lasts up to a week. Rashes caused by shingles may take at least four weeks to fully heal.

Lyme disease

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria that is transmitted through the bite of infected ticks. Without immediate detection and treatment, the disease leads to a cluster of persistent health problems such as arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and dementia. Among the first few symptoms include erythema migrans, a bullseye-shaped rash with reddish-pink borders, although this manifestation also disappears quite quickly. You may also feel the onset of a headache, fever, and fatigue. This is a serious condition that requires immediate medical supervision since leaving it untreated can cause an infection that spreads to the nervous system, heart, and joints. 

Rashes aren’t always life-threatening, but if you experience any of these symptoms or believe that you may be suffering from any of these conditions, it’s recommended that you seek immediate treatment from a medical professional.