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You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Medical Symptoms Guide > Rashes: Common Causes of Rashes

Rashes

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Alternate Names : Erythema, Rubor, Skin Lesion, Skin Rash, Skin Redness or Inflammation


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Rashes: Common Causes

A simple rash is called dermatitis, meaning inflammation of the skin. Contact dermatitis is caused by things your skin touches, such as:

  • Dyes and other chemicals found in clothing
  • Chemicals found in elastic, latex, and rubber products
  • Cosmetics, soaps, and detergents
  • Poison ivy, oak, or sumac

Seborrheic dermatitis is a rash that appears in patches of redness and scaling around the eyebrows, eyelids, folds of your mouth or nose, the trunk, and behind the ears. If it happens on your scalp, it is called dandruff in adults and cradle cap in infants. Age, stress, fatigue, extremes in weather, oily skin, infrequent shampooing, and use of lotions that contain alcohol all increase your chances of getting this harmless, but potentially bothersome, skin condition.

Other common causes of a rash include:

  • Eczema (also called atopic dermatitis) -- tends to happen in those prone to allergies like hay fever or asthma. The rash is generally red, itchy, and scaly.
  • Medications.
  • Insect bite or sting.
  • Childhood illneses like chicken pox, measles, roseola, rubella, hand-foot-mouth disease, fifth disease, and scarlet fever.
  • Psoriasis -- tends to occur as red, scaly, itchy patches over joints and along the scalp. Your fingernails may be affected as well.
  • Impetigo -- common in children, this is due to an infection from bacteria that live in the top layers of the skin. Appears as red sores that turn into blisters and ooze, ultimately crusting over.
  • Shingles -- a painful blistered skin condition caused by the same virus as chickenpox. The virus can lie dormant in your body for many years and re-emerge as shingles.

Many medical conditions can cause a rash as well. For example:



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Definition
Rashes: Overview & Considerations
Rashes: Common Causes
Rashes: Home Care & Treatment
Rashes: Prevention
Call your Health Care Provider if
What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
Pictures & Images

Topics that might be of interest to you

Diseases & Conditions

Chickenpox
Contact Dermatitis
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Fifth Disease
Hand - Foot - Mouth Disease
Herpes Zoster
Impetigo
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Kawasaki Disease
Measles
Psoriasis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Roseola
Rubella
Scarlet Fever
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Tests & Exams

Skin Lesion Biopsy
Skin Test Anergy

Other Topics

Insect Bites and Stings
MMR - Vaccine
Poison Ivy - Oak - Sumac Rash

Review Date : 12/1/2003
Reviewed By : Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Boston, Ma., and Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by Steven Angelo, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (10/29/2002).

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A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial reviewers. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Page Last Updated: 19 Jul, 2008