Rash

Rash
A typical rash

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shankar Kumar, M.B.B.S. [2]]

Overview

A rash is a change in skin which affects its color, appearance, or texture. A rash may be localized to one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, dry, cracked or blistered, swell and may be painful. The causes, and therefore treatments for rashes, vary widely. Diagnosis must take into account such things as the appearance of the rash, other symptoms, what the patient may have been exposed to, occupation, and occurrence in family members.

The presence of a rash may aid associated signs and symptoms are diagnostic of certain diseases. For example, the rash in measles is an erythematous, maculopapular rash that begins a few days after the fever starts; it classically starts at the head and spreads downwards.

Causes

Causes by Organ System

Cardiovascular	Kawasaki syndrome, Rheumatic fever, Vasculitis
Chemical / poisoning	Mercury(II) chloride, Metal fume fever, Dicofol, Lead poisoning, Lewisite, Satratoxin-H, Scombroid food poisoning
Dermatologic	Acne, Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, Actinic keratosis, Boil, Bruise, Cholinergic urticaria, Dermatitis herpetiformis, Dermatomyositis, Duke's disease, Eczema, Eczema vaccinatum, Erythema toxicum, Fifth disease, Gestational pemphigoid, Granuloma annulare, Grover's disease, Hives, Impetigo, Intertrigo, Irritant contact dermatitis, Jock itch, Juvenile dermatomyositis, Keratoderma blennorrhagica, Keratosis pilaris, Lichen planus, Miliaria, Molluscum contagiosum, Photodermatitis, Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, Pityriasis rosea, Porphyria, Psoriasis, Rosacea, Seborrheic dermatitis, Southern tick-associated rash illness, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Warts, Atopic dermatitis, Erythema multiforme, Folliculitis, Hot Tub Folliculitis, Hot tub rash, Tinea faciei, Tinea versicolor, Monkeypox, Mononucleosis, Rabbitpox
-bgcolor="LightSteelBlue"	Ear Nose Throat	No underlying causes
Endocrine	No underlying causes
Environmental	Decompression sickness, Dysbarism, Sunburn, Sweat rash, Photoallergy, Actinic keratosis, Cholinergic urticaria, Photodermatitis
Gastroenterologic	Crohn's disease
Genetic	Darier's disease, Holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency, Tuberous sclerosis, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
Hematologic	Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, Cutaneous T cell lymphoma, Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML), Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Iatrogenic	Eczema vaccinatum
Infectious Disease	TORCH infections Bacteria: Cellulitis, Congenital syphilis, Ehrlichiosis, Erysipelas, Folliculitis, Group A streptococcal infection, Haverhill fever, Hot Tub Folliculitis, Hot tub rash, Human ehrlichiosis, Leptospirosis, Lyme disease, Meningococcal Infections, Meningococcemia, Neisseria meningitidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas dermatitis, Rat-bite fever, Scarlet fever, Streptococcus pyogenes, Syphilis, Toxic Shock Syndrome, Typhoid fever, Typhus, Yersiniosis, Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, Boil, Impetigo Virus: Adenovirus infection, Arbovirus, Asceptic Meningitis, Babanki virus, Barmah Forest virus, Chickenpox, Chikungunya, Colorado tick fever, Coxsackie A virus, Dengue fever, Ebola, Hand, foot and mouth disease, Herpes zoster, HIV, Human Herpesvirus Six, Infectious mononucleosis, Measles, Monkeypox, Mononucleosis, O'nyong'nyong virus, Parvovirus, Rabbitpox, Rickettsialpox, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ross River virus, Rubella, Scrumpox, Shingles, Sindbis virus, Smallpox, Vaccinia, Varicella-zoster virus, West Nile virus, Zika fever, Fifth disease, Molluscum contagiosum Fungi: Blastocystosis, Candidiasis, Ringworm, Tinea faciei, Tinea versicolor, Jock itch Parasite: Dientamoebiasis, Hookworm, Scabies, Schistosoma mansoni, Toxocariasis
Musculoskeletal / Ortho	Fat Embolism Syndrome, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Reactive arthritis, Still's disease
Neurologic	Neisseria meningitidis
Nutritional / Metabolic	Biotin deficiency
Obstetric/Gynecologic	Pregnancy
Oncologic	No underlying causes
Opthalmologic	No underlying causes
Overdose / Toxicity	Alemtuzumab, Atovaquone , Clofarabine Injection , Erlotinib , Gefitinib , Pemetrexed injection , Zafirlukast , Benztropine Mesylate Oral , Sorafenib , Spironolactone
Psychiatric	Anxiety
Pulmonary	No underlying causes
Renal / Electrolyte	No underlying causes
Rheum / Immune / Allergy	Allergy, Atopic dermatitis, Contact dermatitis, Cradle cap, Eosinophilic folliculitis, Erythema multiforme, Food allergy, Hypersensitivity vasculitis, Lupus erythematous, Milk allergy, PhotoallergySalicylate sensitivity, Soy allergy, Uncaria tomentosa, Urticaria, Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, Graft-versus-host disease, Sarcoidosis, Serum sickness, Hives, Irritant contact dermatitis, Seborrheic dermatitis, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Vasculitis, Cholinergic urticaria
Sexual	No underlying causes
Trauma	Road rash
Urologic	No underlying causes
Dental	No underlying causes
Miscellaneous	Body lice, Diaper rash, Road rash

Causes in Alphabetical Order

Abacavir Abatacept Injection Acamprosate ACE inhibitor Aceclofenac Acetaminophen Acetaminophen and Codeine Acetaminophen and Hydrocodone Acetaminophen and Oxycodone Acetaminophen and Propoxyphene Acetaminophen, Butalbital, and Caffeine Acetazolamide Oral Acetohexamide Acetylcysteine Acetylsalicylic acid Acitretin Acne Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans Actinic keratosis Actiq Acyclovir Acyclovir Injection Acyclovir Topical Adalimumab Injection Adefovir Adenovirus infection Albuterol Albuterol Inhalation Aldesleukin Alefacept Injection Alemtuzumab Alendronate Alfuzosin Aliskiren Alitretinoin Allergy Allopurinol Altretamine Amifostine Injection Amikacin Sulfate Injection Amiloride and Hydrochlorothiazide Amineptine Aminophylline Amiodarone Oral Amitriptyline Amitriptyline and Perphenazine Amlodipine and Benazepril Amobarbital Amobarbital and Secobarbital Amoxicillin Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid Amphotericin B Injection Ampicillin Ampicillin Oral Ampicillin Sodium Injection Amprenavir Anagrelide Anakinra Anastrozole Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Angiotensin II receptor antagonist Anisindione Anxiety Aprepitant Arbovirus Aripiprazole Asceptic Meningitis Atazanavir Atopic dermatitis Atovaquone Atracurium Atripala (combination of efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) Auranofin Auranofin Azathioprine Azelaic Acid Topical Azithromycin Aztreonam Aztreonam Injection Babanki virus Barmah Forest virus Becaplermin Beclamide Beclomethasone Oral Inhalation Belladonna Alkaloid Combinations and Phenobarbital Benazepril Benzamycin Benznidazole Benzonatate Benzoyl Peroxide Benztropine Mesylate Oral Beta-lactam antibiotic Betamethasone Topical Bezafibrate Biotin deficiency Blastocystosis Bleomycin Body lice Boil Bortezomib Brimonidine Ophthalmic Brinzolamide Ophthalmic Bruise Budesonide Inhalation Powder Bumetanide Buprenorphine Sublingual and Buprenorphine and Naloxone Sublingual Bupropion Buspirone Busulfan Butabarbital Calamine Calcitonin Salmon Injection Calcitonin Salmon Nasal Spray Calcitriol Candidiasis Capecitabine Captopril Captopril and Hydrochlorothiazide Carbimazole Carboplatin Carisoprodol Carteolol Carvedilol Caspofungin Cefadroxil Cefamandole Nafate Injection Cefazolin Sodium Injection Cefepime Injection Cefoperazone Sodium Injection Cefotaxime Sodium Injection Cefotetan Disodium Injection Cefoxitin Sodium Injection Cefpodoxime Ceftaroline fosamil Ceftazidime Injection Ceftizoxime Sodium Injection Ceftriaxone Sodium Injection Cefuroxime Sodium Injection Cellulitis Cephalexin Cephalosporin Cephradine Injection Cephradine Oral Cetuximab Chickenpox Chikungunya Chloral Hydrate Chlorambucil Chloramphenicol Chlordiazepoxide Chlordiazepoxide and Clidinium Bromide Chloroquine Phosphate Oral Chlorothiazide Chlorpromazine Chlorpropamide Chlorthalidone Chlorzoxazone Cholinergic urticaria Ciclesonide Nasal Spray Cimetidine Hydrochloride Injection Cinoxacin Clindamycin Clobazam Clofarabine Injection Clofibrate

Clonazepam Clopidogrel Clorazepate Co-codamol Codeine Oral Colistimethate Injection Colofac Colorado tick fever Congenital syphilis Contact dermatitis Copper gluconate Co-trimoxazole Injection Co-trimoxazole Oral Coxsackie A virus Cradle cap Crohn's disease Cromoglicate Cutaneous T cell lymphoma Cyanocobalamin Injection Cyanocobalamin Nasal Cyclobenzaprine Cyclosporine Cytarabine Cytomegalovirus Immune Globulin Intravenous Injection Dactinomycin Danazol Dapiprazole Ophthalmic Dapsone Daptomycin Darbepoetin Alfa Injection Darier's disease Darifenacin Darunavir Daunorubicin Decompression sickness Deferasirox Delavirdine Dengue fever Dermatitis herpetiformis Dermatomyositis Desipramine Desonide Topical Desoximetasone Topical Dexamethasone Dexmethylphenidate Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine Dextromethorphan Diaper rash Diazepam Diazepam Rectal Diclofenac and Misoprostol Dicloxacillin Dicofol Dicyclomine Didanosine Dientamoebiasis Diethylpropion Diflorasone Topical Diflunisal Digoxin Oral Diltiazem Diphenhydramine Topical Diphenoxylate and Atropine Dipyridamole Disopyramide Disulfiram Dobutamine Hydrochloride Injection Docetaxel Dofetilide Dolasetron Dolasetron Mesylate Injection Doripenem Dornase Alfa Dorzolamide and Timolol Ophthalmic Dorzolamide Ophthalmic Doxepin Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Doxycycline Injection Duke's disease Duloxetine Dysbarism Ebola Econazole Topical Eczema Eczema vaccinatum Efalizumab Injection Efavirenz Eflornithine Ehrlichiosis Emtricitabine Enalapril Enalapril and Felodipine Enfuvirtide Enoxacin Eosinophilic folliculitis Epirubicin hydrochloride Epoetin Alfa Injection Ergoloid Mesylates Erlotinib Erysipelas Erythema multiforme Erythema toxicum Erythromycin and Sulfisoxazole Esomeprazole Estazolam Estradiol Topical Estradiol Transdermal Estrogen and Progestin (Hormone Replacement Therapy) Estrogen and Progestin (Oral Contraceptives) Estrogen Injection Estrogen Vaginal Eszopiclone Etanercept Injection Ethacrynic Acid Ethosuximide Ethotoin Etodolac Etonogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol Vaginal Ring Etoposide Oral and Injection Etoposide Phosphate Exemestane Exenatide Injection Ezetimibe Famciclovir Famotidine Fat Embolism Syndrome Felbamate Felodipine Fenofibrate Fenoprofen Fentanyl Citrate Injection Fentanyl Skin Patches Fexofenadine Fexofenadine and Pseudoephedrine Fifth disease Filgrastim Flavoxate Floxuridine Flucloxacillin Fluconazole Flucytosine Fludarabine Phosphate Fludrocortisone Acetate Flunisolide Oral Inhalation Fluocinolone Topical Fluocinonide Topical Flurbiprofen Fluorouracil Fluorouracil Topical Fluoxetine Fluphenazine Flurandrenolide Topical Flurazepam Fluticasone and Salmeterol Oral Inhalation Fluticasone Nasal Spray Fluticasone Fluvastatin Fluvoxamine Folic Acid Folliculitis Food allergy Formoterol Fosamprenavir Frovatriptan Fulvestrant Injection Furosemide Ganciclovir Ganciclovir Injection

Gatifloxacin Injection Gatifloxacin Ophthalmic Gefitinib Gemcitabine Hydrochloride Gentamicin Sulfate Injection Gestational pemphigoid Glatiramer Injection Glipizide Glucagon Glyburide Glyburide and Metformin Glycopyrrolate Gold salts Graft-versus-host disease Granisetron Granisetron Hydrochloride Injection Granuloma annulare Griseofulvin Group A streptococcal infection Grover's disease Guaifenesin Halcinonide Topical Halofantrine Haloperidol Oral Hand, foot and mouth disease Haverhill fever Heparin Flush Injection 10 units/mL, 100 units/mL Heparin Injection Herpes zoster HIV Hives Holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency Hookworm Hot Tub Folliculitis Hot tub rash Human ehrlichiosis Human Herpesvirus Six Hydralazine Hydrochlorothiazide Hydrocodone Hydrocortisone Injection Hydrocortisone Oral Hydrocortisone Topical Hydrocortisone, Neomycin, and Polymyxin Hydromorphone Hydrochloride Injection Hydromorphone Oral and Rectal Hydroxocobalamin Hydroxychloroquine Hyoscyamine Hypersensitivity vasculitis Ibandronate Ibandronate Injection Ibuprofen Idarubicin Ifosfamide Imatinib Imipenem and Cilastatin Sodium Injection Imipramine Immune Globulin Intravenous Injection Impetigo Indapamide Indinavir Indomethacin Infectious mononucleosis Infliximab Injection Insulin Aspart (rDNA Origin) Injection Insulin Detemir (rDNA Origin) Injection Insulin Glargine (rDNA origin) Injection Insulin Glulisine (rDNA origin) Injection Insulin Human (rDNA Origin) Inhalation Insulin Injection Interferon Alfa-2a and Alfa-2b Injection Interferon Alfacon-1 Injection Interferon beta-1a Intramuscular Injection Interferon beta-1a Subcutaneous Injection Interferon Beta-1b Injection Interferon gamma Intertrigo Ipratropium and Albuterol Inhalation Ipratropium Oral Inhalation Irritant contact dermatitis Isometheptene Mucate, Dichloralphenazone, and Acetaminophen Isoniazid Isosorbide Isotretinoin Isoxsuprine Oral Isradipine Itraconazole Jock itch Juvenile dermatomyositis Juvenile idiopathic arthritis Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML) Kawasaki syndrome Keratoderma blennorrhagica Keratosis pilaris Ketoconazole Ketoconazole Topical Ketorolac Ketotifen Ophthalmic Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease Lamivudine Lamivudine and Zidovudine Lamotrigine Langerhans cell histiocytosis Lansoprazole/clarithromycin/amoxicillin Lead poisoning Leflunomide Leptospirosis Letrozole Leucovorin Calcium Leuprolide Levalbuterol Oral Inhalation Levetiracetam Levofloxacin Injection Levofloxacin Oral Levomethadyl Levorphanol Oral Lewisite Lichen planus Lidocaine Transdermal Lidocaine Viscous Lindane Lisinopril Lithium Lodoxamide Ophthalmic Lomefloxacin Lomustine Loop diuretic Lopinavir Lopinavir and Ritonavir Loracarbef Loratadine Lorazepam Lovastatin Lupus erythematous Lyme disease Magnesium oxide Maraviroc Masoprocol Measles Mebendazole Meclofenamate Medroxyprogesterone Injection Mefenamic acid Mefloquine Megesterol Melarsoprol Meloxicam Melphalan Meningococcal Infections Meningococcemia Meperidine Meperidine Hydrochloride Injection Meprobamate Mercaptopurine Mercaptopurine Mercury(II) chloride Meropenem Mesoridazine Oral Metal fume fever Metaxalone Metformin Methenamine Methimazole Methocarbamol Oral Methotrexate Methyclothiazide

Methyldopa and Hydrochlorothiazide Methylergonovine Oral Methylphenidate Transdermal Methylprednisolone Oral Methyprylon Metipranolol Ophthalmic Metolazone Metoprolol Metronidazole Injection Metronidazole Oral Miglitol Miliaria Milk allergy Minocycline Minocycline Injection Minocycline Oral Minoxidil Oral Mitomycin Mitotane MMR vaccine Moclobemide Modafinil Moexipril Molluscum contagiosum Monkeypox Mononucleosis Moricizine Morphine Oral Morphine rectal Morphine Sulfate Injection Moxifloxacin ophthalmic Mycophenolate Nabumetone Nafarelin Nafcillin Sodium Injection Naftifine hydrochloride topical Naltrexone Naproxen sodium Natalizumab Nefazodone Neisseria meningitidis Nelfinavir Neomycin topical Neomycin, polymyxin, and bacitracin ophthalmic Neomycin, polymyxin, and bacitracin topical Nevirapine Nicardipine Niclosamide Nicotine skin patches Nifedipine Nimodipine Nisoldipine Nitazoxanide Nitrazepam Nitrofurantoin Nitroglycerin ointment Nitroglycerin skin patches Nitroglycerin Tablets, Capsules, and Sprays Nizatidine Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug Norelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol transdermal system Norethindrone Norfloxacin Nortriptyline Nystatin Ofloxacin injection Ofloxacin ophthalmic Ofloxacin oral Ofloxacin otic Olanzapine Omeprazole Ondansetron O'nyong'nyong virus Oprelvekin Orlistat Orphenadrine Oseltamivir Oxacillin Sodium Injection Oxandrolone Oxazepam Oxiconazole Oxtriphylline Oxybutynin Oxybutynin transdermal Oxycodone Oxycodone and aspirin Paclitaxel Palivizumab injection Pancrelipase Pancuronium Pantoprazole Papaverine Paroxetine Parvovirus Pefloxacin Pegaspargase Peginterferon alfa-2a Peginterferon alfa-2b Pemetrexed injection Penicillin Penicillin G Potassium or Sodium Injection Penicillin V Potassium Oral Pentamidine Pentamidine Inhalation Pentamidine Isethionate Injection Pentavalent antimonial Pentazocine and naloxone Pentobarbital oral and rectal Pentosan polysulfate Pentostatin Phenazopyridine Phenobarbital Phenytoin Phenytoin oral Photoallergy Photodermatitis Pimecrolimus topical Pimozide Piperacillin sodium and tazobactam sodium injection Piperacillin sodium injection Pirfenidone Piroxicam Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta Pityriasis rosea Plicamycin Polyethylene glycol-electrolyte solution (PEG-ES) Porphyria Posaconazole Pramoxine Pravastatin Prazepam Praziquantel Prazosin Prazosin and polythiazide Prednisone Pregabalin Pregnancy Primidone Probenecid Procainamide Procarbazine Prochlorperazine Procyclidine Promethazine Propafenone Propantheline Propoxyphene Propylthiouracil Proton pump inhibitor Protriptyline Pseudoephedrine and triprolidine Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pseudomonas dermatitis Psoriasis Psyllium Pyrazinamide Pyrimethamine Quetiapine Quinidine Oral Quinupristin and dalfopristin injection Rabbitpox Rasagiline Rat-bite fever Reactive arthritis Reserpine, hydralazine, and hydrochlorothiazide Rheumatic fever Ribavirin Rickettsialpox

Rifabutin Rifampin Rilmenidine Rimantadine Ringworm Risedronate Risperidone Ritonavir Rituximab injection Rizatriptan Road rash Rocky Mountain spotted fever Rofecoxib Rosacea Ross River virus Rosuvastatin Rubella Salicylate sensitivity Salmeterol oral inhalation Salsalate Saquinavir Sarcoidosis Sargramostim injection Satratoxin-H Scabies Scarlet fever Schistosoma mansoni Scombroid food poisoning Scopolamine patch Scrumpox Seborrheic dermatitis Secobarbital Selegiline Selegiline transdermal Serum sickness Shingles Sibutramine Sildenafil Silver sulfadiazine Silver sulfadiazine Simvastatin Sindbis virus Sirolimus Smallpox Sofosbuvir Sorafenib Sorafenib Southern tick-associated rash illness Soy allergy Sparfloxacin Spectinomycin Spironolactone Spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide Squaric acid Statins Stavudine Still's disease Stool softeners Streptococcus pyogenes Stribild (elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) Sulconazole topical Sulfa drug Sulfadiazine Sulfasalazine Sulfinpyrazone Sulfisoxazole Sulfisoxazole and phenazopyridine Sulindac Sulpiride Sumatriptan injection Sumatriptan oral and nasal Sunburn Sunitinib Sunscreens Suramin Sweat rash Syphilis Tacrine Tacrolimus topical Tadalafil Tamoxifen Tamsulosin Tegaserod Telbivudine Telithromycin Temazepam Temozolomide Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate Terazosin Terbinafine Testosterone Transdermal Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine Theophylline Thiotepa Ticarcillin Disodium and Clavulanate Potassium Injection Ticarcillin Disodium Injection Ticlopidine Tiludronate Tinea faciei Tinea versicolor Tinidazole Tiotropium Tiotropium Oral Inhalation Tipranavir Tobramycin Sulfate Injection Tocainide Tolazamide Tolbutamide Topicort TORCH infections Toxic epidermal necrolysis Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxocariasis Trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide Tranylcypromine Trastuzumab Trazodone Treprostinil Tretinoin Triamcinolone Oral Triamcinolone Oral Inhalation Triamcinolone Topical Triamterene Triamterene and Hydrochlorothiazide Triazolam Triclofos Trihexyphenidyl Trimeprazine Trimethadione Trimethobenzamide Trimethoprim Trimetrexate Glucuronate Trimipramine Triptorelin pamoate Troleandomycin Trospium Trovafloxacin Tuberous sclerosis Typhoid fever Typhus Uncaria tomentosa Urticaria Urushiol-induced contact dermatitis Vaccinia Valacyclovir Valganciclovir Valproic Acid Vancomycin Vancomycin Hydrochloride Injection Vardenafil Vardenafil Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine Varicella-zoster virus Vasculitis Verapamil Verapamil and Trandolapril Von Willebrand factor Voriconazole Warts West Nile virus Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome Yersiniosis Zafirlukast Zalcitabine Zaleplon Zanamivir Inhalation Zidovudine Injection Zidovudine Oral Zika fever Ziprasidone Zoledronic Acid Injection Zolmitriptan Oral Zolpidem Zonisamide

Evaluating a Rash

The causes of a rash are extremely broad, which may make the evaluation of a rash extremely difficult. An accurate evaluation by a doctor may only be made in the context of a thorough history (What medication is the patient taking? What is the patient's occupation? Where has the patient been?) and complete physical examination.

Points to note in the examination include:

• The appearance: e.g., purpuric (typical of vasculitis and meningococcal septicemia), fine and like sandpaper (typical of scarlet fever); umbilicated lesions are typical of molluscum contagiosum (and in the past, small pox); plaques with silver scales are typical of psoriasis.
• The distribution: e.g., the rash of scarlet fever becomes confluent and forms bright red lines in the skin creases of the neck, armpits and groins (Pastia's lines); the vesicles of chicken pox seem to follow the hollows of the body (they are more prominent along the depression of the spine on the back and in the hollows of both shoulder blades); very few rashes affect the palms of the hands and soles of the feet (secondary syphilis, rickettsia or spotted fevers, guttate psoriasis, hand, foot and mouth disease, keratoderma blenorrhagica);
• Symmetry: e.g., herpes zoster usually only affects one side of the body and does not cross the midline.

Typically, according to Anthony Iannazzo, it is never a good habit for one to scratch their rash; as doing so may invigorate the rash and cause it to spread. Gently rubbing the rash may provide temporary relief, but it is more than likely better to avoid contact with the affected areas altogether.

Quick Overview of Symptoms of Skin Rashes/Diseases

Skin Disease	Symptoms	Usual Area of Body
Acne	Covered in small pus-filled sacs, blackheads, pimples or sore red bumps	Face, Chest or Back
Rosacea	Flushed appearance or Redness	Around cheeks, chin, forehead or nose
Boil	Painful red bump or a cluster of painful red bumps	Anywhere
Cellulitis	Red, tender and swollen areas of skin	Around a cut, scrape or skin breach
Insect bite	Red and/or itchy bumps on your skin	Anywhere and can be sprinked randomly
Allergic Reaction	Irregular, raised or flat red sores that appeared after taking medicine/drugs	Anywhere
Hives	Bumps formed suddenly	Anywhere but usually first noticed on face
Seborrheic dermatitis	Bumps and swelling	Near glands
Cradle Cap	Dry, scaly skin	Cover the head of a child
Irritant contact dermatitis	Red, itchy, scaly or oily rash	Eyebrows, nose, edge of the scalp, point of contact with jewellery, perfume or clothing.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis caused by poison ivy, oak or sumac	Red, itchy, scaly or oily rash	Eyebrows, nose, edge of the scalp, point of contact with jewellery, perfume or clothing.
Allergic purpura	Small red dots on your skin, or larger, bruise-like spots that appeared after taking medicine	Anywhere
Pityriasis Rosea	Started with a single scaly, red and slightly itchy spot, and within a few days, did large numbers of smaller patches of the rash, some red and/or others tan	Chest and Abdomen
Dermatitis herpetiformis	Intensely itchy rash with red bumps and blisters	Elbows, knees, back or buttocks
Erythema nodosum	Large red bumps that seem to bruise and are tender to touch	Anywhere
Psoriasis	White, Scaly rash over red, irritated skin	Elbows and knees
Erythema multiforme	Red, blotchy rash, with "target like" hives or sores.	Anywhere
Measles	Red Rash that is raised with a fever or sore throat.	Usually starts first on the forefead and face and spreads downward.
Chickenpox	Multiple blisters with a fever, cough, aches, tiredness and sore throat.	Usually starts first on the face, cheast and back and spreads downward.
Shingles	Red Blisters that are very painful and may crust	Anywhere
Fifth Disease	Started as a fever and then developed a bright red rash	Cheeks
Warts	Soft bumps forming that don't itch and have no other symptoms	Anywhere
Ringworm	Bald spot on your scalp or a ring of itchy red skin	Anywhere
Syphilis	Rash that is red but not itchy	Palms of hands or soles of feet
Jock Itch, Yeast Infection or Diaper rash	Red itchy rash	Groin
Tinea versicolor	Light coloured patches	Anywhere
Impetigo	Crusted, tan-colored sores	Near nose or lip
Scabies	Bite-like sores that itch and spread intensely	Usually start on hands or feet and spread everywhere
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever	A fine rash with a fever and headache	Usually start on arms and legs including the hands and feet
Lupus Erythematosus	A butterfly rash with achy joints	Forehead and cheeks
Jaundice or sign of Hepatitis	Yellowish	Skin, whites of eyes and mouth
Bruise	Blue or black area after being hit	Anywhere
Actinic keratoses	Scaly, pink, gray or tan patches or bumps	Face, scalp or on the backs or your hands
Keloid or Hypertrophic scar	Scar that has grown larger than expected	Anywhere
Lipoma	Soft or rubbery growth	Anywhere
Milia	Lots of white spots	on the face of a baby
Molluscum or Contagiosum	Small, firm, round bumps with pits in the center that may sit on tiny stalks	Anywhere
Sebaceous cyst	Bump with a white dome under your skin	Scalp, nape of your neck or upper back
Skin Tag	Soft, fleshy growth, lump or bump	Face, neck, armpits or groin
Xanthelasma	Yellow area under your skin	Under Eyelids
Melanoma	Dark bump that may have started within a mole or blemish, or, is there a spot or mole that has changed in color, size, shape or is painful or itchy	Anywhere
Basal Cell Carcinoma	Fleshy, growing mass	Areas exposed to the sun
Squamous Cell Carcinoma	Unusual growth that is red, scaly or crusted	Face, lip or chin
Kaposi's Sarcoma	Dark or black raised spots on your skin that keep growing or have appeared recently	Anywhere

Related Chapters

• Dermatology
• Skin Disease
• Dermatitis
  • Seborrhoeic dermatitis
  • Contact dermatitis
• Ringworm
• Plants:
  • Poison ivy
  • Poison Oak
  • Stinging nettle
• Heat rash
• Flushing (physiology)
• Erythema

References

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