8 Common Types of Rashes A Woman's Guide to Perplexing Skin Conditions

Is your skin itchy, dry, blistering or red? You might have eczema, herpes, or 6 other types of rashes. Read on to see photos and get doctor-recommended tips to heal each type... Skin conditions are easy to mistake for something else. Is it dermatitis or hives? A breakout or infection? Without knowing what you have, you could inadvertently be making it worse. Whether it’s a minor nuisance or an epidermis nightmare, there are ways to soothe your skin… once you know what you’re dealing with. “With most skin conditions, you either have a genetic predisposition to them or not,” says Ranella Hirsch, M.D., a Boston-based dermatologist. “They can be exacerbated by stress, either emotional, such as meeting your future in-laws, or environmental, such as an allergen.” Some skin conditions, such as athlete's foot, can be cured, but most are chronic or recurring. They can be triggered by anything from weather (eczema) to perfumes (contact dermatitis). Read on for 8 common skin conditions, symptoms and triggers, and simple soothing tips from dermatologists: Skin problem #1: Eczema Though eczema and psoriasis are often confused, they aren't the same. With psoriasis, skin builds up and flakes off, leaving red, scaly patches. Eczema, an inflammatory skin disorder, causes red, dry, cracked skin that often itches. With eczema, “the barrier of your skin is damaged and you’re losing moisture,” says Katie Rodan, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford University and author of Write Your Skin a Prescription for Change (Pairadocs Publishing). She compares the condition to a leaky roof: When you have eczema, “anything irritating and allergenic can enter [the skin] more easily, making you more prone to rashes and infections.” About 20% of children get it by their first birthday, Rodan says. Most outgrow it around age 10-12, although it can return in adulthood. Commonly affected areas include the eyelids, elbows, back of the arms, knees and hands (especially if you wash or use your hands frequently). Severity and frequency of outbreaks can depend on environmental factors, such as dry weather or rapidly fluctuating temperatures, or contact with certain products, such as perfumes or rubber gloves. But doctors don’t know its exact cause or triggers. Rash Rx: First, stop scratching! “Eczema creates a vicious itch-scratch cycle,” Hirsch says. “The skin’s dryness [causes] itchiness, which makes you scratch. Scratching makes your skin thicker, which itches more.” Plus, it can break the skin, letting infection-causing bacteria in. Doctors recommend a combination of treatment and lifestyle changes: Use a healing lotion, such as a topical steroid with 1% hydrocortisone, which is available over the counter. If over-the-counter products don’t work, a dermatologist can prescribe one of several new prescription barrier repair creams. But long-term use of stronger steroid treatments aren’t recommended, because they can thin the skin. Minimize contact with water. “Water strips the skin of natural moisture when it evaporates,” Rodan says. Avoid soap (it’s too harsh and drying) and instead use gentle, soap-free or moisturizing cleansers, such as Cerave or Cetaphil, that you can towel dry with just a little water. Buy skin-care products that are unscented, not fragrance free. “Fragrance free means they’ve used a chemical to mask a scent and those chemicals can be irritating," Hirsch says. Take short, lukewarm showers and pat skin dry, leaving skin damp. Then smooth on an emollient, such as Aquaphor, which seals moisture into the skin. “If you put a thin layer on damp – not dry – skin it will penetrate quickly,” Hirsch says. Skin problem #2: Contact dermatitis A type of eczema, contact dermatitis is triggered by physically touching something that irritates or causes an allergic reaction. And unlike many forms of eczema, contact dermatitis is highly curable. Intense itching, accompanied by a rash with blisters or welts, is the hallmark of the disorder. About three-quarters of people with the condition have irritant contact dermatitis, in which your skin reacts to something chemical (like a perfume or household product). Allergic contact dermatitis is caused by a reaction to a substance – even a mineral, such as gold. Common contact dermatitis triggers include hair dye, cosmetics and skin-care products (due to their fragrances, preservatives, emulsifiers and other ingredients), nail polish (formaldehyde), latex and poison ivy. While a reaction to an irritant may show up immediately, with allergic contact dermatitis, you may not see a reaction at the first encounter. With subsequent exposures, several weeks can pass before you see a rash. Rash Rx: For both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, use over-the-counter hydrocortisone. “Usually that’s enough, but if you don’t get results, see your dermatologist for a prescription version,” Hirsch says. Preventing contact dermatitis is usually simple: Avoid what’s making you break out. Often you can identify the culprit yourself. It could be a new foundation, eye cream or deodorant or a recent manicure. Other probable triggers: solvents, cleaning fluids or detergents. Identifying an allergic reaction may require a test, in which a doctor applies a small patch with allergens on it to see if your skin reacts to it. If costume jewelry is the problem, here’s a quick fix: Paint clear nail polish on the underside to create a barrier between it and your skin. Skin problem #3: Seborrheic dermatitis Dandruff gone haywire, seborrheic dermatitis is a fungus that typically crops up in the scalp, eyebrows, middle of the eyelid, behind the ears and sides of the nose. In adults, redness can surround the inflamed skin. “This is one of those normal funguses that live on your body,” Hirsch says. Rash Rx: Seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp is often treated with over-the-counter dandruff shampoos with ingredients that reduce the skin’s fungal population. Look for shampoos with tar, pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid or ketoconazole. If that doesn’t work, your doctor can prescribe stronger shampoos. Outbreaks on the face and body can be treated with topical corticosteroids or antifungal medications. The former, though, has side effects – it can thin skin – and aren’t recommended for long-term use. Try lifestyle changes too. Seborrheic dermatitis has been linked to stress, fatigue and sleep deprivation, so get enough rest. Natural remedies include tea tree oil and milk of magnesia, although their benefits haven’t been proven. Skin problem #4: Fungal infection Jock itch, athlete’s foot, ringworm: These fungal infections typically develop in the groin, toes, diaper area (in babies) or under breasts or folds of skin. “These warm, dark, moist areas create the perfect environment for fungus to breed,” says Crystal Murray Holmes, D.P.M., a podiatrist and clinical instructor at the University of Michigan Medical School. Red, peeling, cracking, blistering skin are symptoms of fungal infection. And look for a red ring of small blisters – the tell-tale sign of, you guessed it, ringworm. How do you get them? Some can be contracted by walking barefoot in a public shower, pool, even a yoga studio. And beware of nail salons: Fungus can hitch a ride on instruments that aren’t sterilized. They can also be passed from one person to another. Fungus that causes jock itch, for example, thrives on damp towels and sweaty workout gear and is easily picked up in a locker room. Rash Rx: Some fungal toe-nail infections can be relieved with tea tree oil, but your best bet for treating nail and skin infections is a topical prescription medication with anti-fungal/anti-yeast ingredients. Prevent infection in skin folds, feet and groin by drying these areas well. Then add a dash of anti-fungal or baby powder to keep things dry. But avoid talc-based powders on babies; the fine particles can get into their lungs. Buy clothing made of breathable fabric, like cotton. “And wear socks made of a microfiber, which is designed to wick moisture away from the skin,” Holmes says. Also, wear flip-flops in public showers and around pools or other wet spots. When going for a mani-pedi, take your own tools to the salon. The manicurist may say she sterilizes her implements, but unless they have medical-grade sterilizer, you can’t be sure they’re germ-free. Skin problem #5: Bacterial infections Bacterial infections can start small but grow into a big problem. An untended wound, picked scab or pimple can allow bacteria to creep into your skin and fester. The resulting infection can start local, then spread throughout your body. Tell-tale signs include an area that’s red, bleeding, tender or oozing pus. Unfortunately, overuse of antibiotics has created super-strains of bacteria that don’t respond to those drugs anymore. “Because of antibiotic resistance, bacterial infections are becoming more virulent,” Rodan says. In a worst-case scenario, the infection can get into the blood and be fatal. “People really do die of cuts,” Hirsch says. Rash Rx: See a doctor for oral antibiotics immediately if you have redness, pain or pus around a wound or cut. “Those are signs that bad things can happen,” Hirsch says. Be sure to clean every cut or wound immediately with soap and water. Use a topical antibiotic ointment and cover it with a bandage you change at least once or twice a day. If the infection gets worse, see your doctor. And, of course, don’t pick any wound that’s healing. Skin problem #6: Hives A mysterious, sometimes random skin condition, hives can be triggered by many factors, including certain foods, stress, nervousness, extreme cold or heat, chemical exposure or insect bites. In response, the cells in your body release histamine, a chemical that makes the body go into inflammatory overdrive. That’s what causes the red bumps and welts characteristic of hives. Often hives stem from allergies, but genetics can also be to blame. If you have a family history of hives, you’re more at risk. If hives are accompanied by difficulty breathing or swallowing, you may have angioedema, a more severe form of the condition. Rash Rx: Sometimes hives disappear on their own with the help of cool, wet compresses. If not, try over-the-counter oral antihistamines such as Benadryl and Claritin. They block the release of histamine. Not getting relief? See your doctor for stronger antihistamines, such as Clarinex. “Like all allergic skin reactions, each subsequent exposure can get worse” and may be life-threatening, Rodan says. Of course, the best remedy is prevention. Try to identify your trigger and avoid it. Your doctor may recommend an allergy skin test to find out what’s behind your hives. Skin problem #7: Herpes Though herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections can be transmitted through sex, that’s not the only way the virus is passed between people. “At least 80% of us are exposed to the herpes virus by the time we enter kindergarten,” Rodan says, thanks to shared toys, kisses from relatives and our slobbering, germy friends. Our immune systems usually fight off the disease, but about 20% of people break out in sores, Rodan says. Oral herpes, usually HSV type 1, is more common than genital herpes and is usually the culprit behind cold sores. “Any close contact like kissing, sharing utensils or using a department store lipstick tester can cause it to spread,” Hirsch says. But HSV type 1 can also be transferred to the genitals during oral sex. A herpes outbreak can be triggered by immune-system weakeners, such as stress, cold or flu viruses or sun exposure. (UV light may hinder immune cells). Laser procedures at a doctor’s office can also trigger outbreaks, most likely due to the heat although the exact cause isn’t known. Herpes infections tend to recur in the same spot on your body because the virus lives in the nerve. Rash Rx: First, see your doctor to be correctly diagnosed. Try to schedule an appointment while you’re having an outbreak. A swab from an active lesion will give the most accurate test results. A prescription antiviral medication like Valtrex can reduce the number of herpes outbreaks. Taken in pill form, they can reduce the severity and duration of outbreaks. Topical treatments, such as Zovirax, Biovail and Denavir, can help heal cold sores and reduce pain. Skin problem #8: Shingles Shingles, another viral rash, is a reactivation of the chicken pox virus and can appear when you’re worn down. These painful, blistery rashes tend to come on suddenly, can be anywhere on your body and will follow the path of a nerve on just one side of the body. While shingles isn’t contagious, a person with it can infect others with chicken pox if they’ve never had it. Shingles is more common in older people and those with compromised immune systems, although it can occur in young people too. A shingles rash usually goes away within 2-4 weeks, but the pain from the virus can linger long after. Known as postherpetic neuralgia, this fairly rare condition may require long-term treatment, including antidepressants, pain-relieving lotions and more. Rash Rx: As with herpes, an antiviral medication can reduce the severity and duration of a shingles outbreak. If you have mild pain, an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Calamine, may help. For more information, visit our Skin Health Center. Are You Skin-Care Savvy? The skin is a living, breathing organ, and what you don't know about taking care of it could keep your complexion from looking fantastic. If your skin-care knowledge could barely fill a pillbox, you need a refresher course. Do you know how to put your best face forward?