Just about everyone will have a skin rash at some point or another in their life. Rashes can be itchy, they might burn and, in some cases, they hurt. There are other rashes that don’t itch, but they can negatively affect the appearance of the skin. Some rashes can be a sign that you are dealing with a very serious disease.
Rashes range from hives and welts to eczema to heat rash. Rashes can change your skin’s color, or they can change your skin’s appearance. Some people have rashes that are red or pink, and others produce silvery-white scales.
Some rashes are extremely infectious, and others are noninfectious. For example, dermatitis is a noninfectious skin rash. You might get this form of dermatitis as a result of playing outside around poison ivy or poison oak. Or you might get a rash like this as a result of an allergic reaction to food, chemicals or other things around you. Some people will even get this type of rash when they wear inexpensive jewelry, especially jewelry that is made out of nickel. In time, these rashes may cause your skin to peel, or your skin might become thick.
Other examples of rashes that are noninfectious but are very irritating include things like psoriasis. If you have psoriasis, you have thick patches of skin that may be very dry. You might notice this skin on your elbows or on your knees. Some people have such a severe case that it affects the entire body.
Rosacea is also a noninfectious skin rash. Most individuals affected with rosacea are in their mid-30s. It usually doesn’t affect children or teenagers. However, if you have rosacea, you’ll notice that your skin is red, you have bumps and you may even notice a thickening of the skin on your nose.
There are also skin rashes that are very infectious. One example is ringworm. Ringworm usually presents itself by a central circle, usually found in the hair on the body. The center is empty. So, the ringworm kind of looks like a common doughnut.
Scabies is another example of a very contagious disease. It can be transmitted through sleeping in a bed or wearing clothing that is affected with the disease. It is very easy to pass the disease from one person to another, and it can be very difficult to get rid of scabies, especially if they have infected your house.
Most people know what a skin rash looks like. However, they may not know what type of rash they are dealing with. After consulting with our dermatologist at McGuiness Dermatology, they are able to learn about the rash they are battling and get the help they need to get the rash cleared up.
McGuiness Dermatology has offices located in Anna, Prosper, Dallas, Murphy, Plano, Flower Mound and Richardson. Contact us today to schedule a consultation for your skin rash.
