Rashes: When to seek treatment?

To the untrained eye, all rashes may look alike and seem easily treatable with over-the-counter oral antihistamines or hydrocortisone cream. However, it is not always so simple. Rashes can appear as blotches, welts or blisters; they can be red, itchy, scaly, or dry; and they can occur in one area of skin or all over the body. In addition, some rashes may come and go, while others never seem to go away.

Although most rashes are not life-threatening, some rashes can signal something more serious. If you have a rash and notice any of the following symptoms, schedule an appointment with our highly experienced board certified dermatology team.

1. The rash is all over your body: A rash that covers the body could indicate something concerning, such as an infection or allergic reaction.
2. You have a fever with the rash: If this is the case, go to the emergency room. This could be caused by an allergic reaction or an infection. Examples of rashes caused by infection include scarlet fever, measles, mononucleosis, and shingles.
3. The rash is sudden and spreads rapidly: This could be the result of an allergy. Allergies to medications are common, and some can be serious. If breathing becomes difficult, go to the emergency room or call 911.
4. The rash begins to blister: If your rash is made up of blisters, or if the rash turns into open sores, it could be the result of an allergic reaction, a reaction to medication, or an internal cause. Seek medical attention if a blistering rash affects the skin around your eyes, multiple areas in your mouth or your genitals.
5. The rash is painful: Painful rashes should quickly be evaluated by our experienced board certified dermatology team.
6. The rash is infected: If you have an itchy rash and you scratch it, it may become infected. Signs of an infected rash are yellow or green fluid, swelling, crusting, pain and warmth in the area of the rash, or a red streak coming from the rash.

Rashes can come in many forms and, depending on the cause, take days or even weeks to heal. There are hundreds of different rashes that can affect the skin. Rather than treating the rash on your own, see our board-certified dermatology team for the proper diagnosis and treatment.

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About the Author

Dr. Allison Brown is a board certified dermatologist and a board certified dermatopathologist. She did her dermatology residency at Medical College of Georgia, and her dermatopathology fellowship at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She received her Doctor of Medicine from Medical College of Ohio, Toledo OH, where she was elected into the alpha omega alpha honor society in her third year, and won the American Medical Women’s Association Achievement Award for graduating with honors. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from John Carroll University. Dr. Brown is a proud member of many associations including American Academy of Dermatology and American Society of Dermatopathology. She received her Doctor of Medicine from Medical College of Ohio, Toledo OH. Dr. Brown specializes in surgical and general medical dermatology such as rashes, warts, acne, hair loss, eczema, as well as prevention, diagnoses, and treatment of skin cancer. Dr. Brown also is very knowledgeable in psoriasis, she did a psoriasis clinical trials fellowship at Case Western Reserve University.