Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses of Face RashSymptomsComplicationsHome RemediesWhen to Seek CareFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes of Face Rash
Symptoms
Complications
Home Remedies
When to Seek Care
Frequently Asked Questions
A sudden face rash can be related to many different conditions, including allergies and infections; your age and genes may also be a factor when a rash pops up.
“Rash” is a general term that describes an area of irritated skin. The irritation often causes changes to the color, texture, and feel of your skin—producing redness,itching, bumps, scaliness, warmth/burning, and/or pain. Rashes can appear suddenly or develop over several days.
Redness and irritation on your face can not only be uncomfortable but also embarrassing. This article discusses the causes of facial rashes, symptoms, and treatments you can do at home.
Yuliya Shauerman / Getty Images
Alphabetical List of Common Rashes and Their Causes
Many factors can trigger a facial rash. Here’s a look at some of the most common causes.
Infectious Causes
Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can all cause skin infections. Oftentimes, these pathogens enter the skin through a cut, insect bite, or another wound. The resulting infection can cause red bumps and other rash symptoms on your face.
Slapped-Cheek Rash
Allergic Causes
An allergic reaction is a sensitivity to something you’ve eaten, inhaled, or touched. The substance that you’re allergic to is called an allergen. Your body interprets the allergen as foreign or harmful, and your immune system mounts an attack against it.
Allergy symptoms can appear on many parts of the body, including the face.Examples of allergic reactionsthat can cause a rash on your face include:
Autoimmune, Chronic, and Inflammatory Causes
These skin conditions and autoimmune diseases can cause the appearance of a rash on your face:
Life-Threatening Causes
There are potentially life-threatening conditions that can trigger a facial rash, including:
The exact symptoms you’ll experience when you have a facial rash will depend on the underlying cause of your rash. It’s common for someone with a facial rash to notice:
While a rash is often not considered a cause for alarm and will usually clear up quickly, it’s important to watch out for additional symptoms that could indicate a more serious problem. Contact your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following:
How to Get Rid of a Face Rash
There are multiple ways you can take care of a face rash at home, including home remedies and OTC medications.
Home treatments and strategies that can help get rid of a facial rash include:
OTC Medications
The most common OTC medications for facial rashes include:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You should contact your healthcare provider about your facial rash if:
Go to the emergency room if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Summary
Rashes are abnormal changes in skin color or texture. They can appear anywhere on your body, including your face, and can be red, itchy, bumpy, scaly, warm, and/or painful.
A wide variety of conditions can trigger a facial rash, including infections, allergies, and autoimmune diseases. You can treat your symptoms at home with OTC oral antihistamines and/or corticosteroids, but if you aren’t sure what’s causing your rash, see a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis.
Seek medical attention if your rash is spreading quickly or appears to be infected or if you have a fever or blisters in your eyes, mouth, or genital area. See a healthcare provider such as adermatologistwho can pinpoint the underlying cause and come up with a treatment plan.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIf your rash is spreading rapidly, painful, infected, or you have a fever, contact your healthcare provider. Seek immediate medical attention if you have blisters in your eyes, mouth, or genital area; swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat; or if you are having trouble breathing.Allergiccontact dermatitison the face is the result of your skin coming in contact with something you are allergic to. The rash will usually be red with bumps or blisters; you may also notice cracking and flaking.Many foods can cause an allergic reaction which can then lead to a rash on your face, the most common being:Cow’s milkEggsShellfishTree nutsPeanutsSeafoodSoyWheatCitrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, and cinnamon are other potential triggers.
If your rash is spreading rapidly, painful, infected, or you have a fever, contact your healthcare provider. Seek immediate medical attention if you have blisters in your eyes, mouth, or genital area; swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat; or if you are having trouble breathing.
Allergiccontact dermatitison the face is the result of your skin coming in contact with something you are allergic to. The rash will usually be red with bumps or blisters; you may also notice cracking and flaking.
Many foods can cause an allergic reaction which can then lead to a rash on your face, the most common being:Cow’s milkEggsShellfishTree nutsPeanutsSeafoodSoyWheatCitrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, and cinnamon are other potential triggers.
Many foods can cause an allergic reaction which can then lead to a rash on your face, the most common being:
Citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, and cinnamon are other potential triggers.
30 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Rashes.Clebak KT, Malone MA.Skin Infections.Prim Care. 2018;45(3):433-454. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2018.05.004Raff AB, Kroshinsky D.Cellulitis: A Review.JAMA. 2016;316(3):325-337. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.8825Johnson MK.Impetigo.Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2020;42(4):262-269. doi:10.1097/TME.0000000000000320Woolever DR.Skin Infections and Outpatient Burn Management: Fungal and Viral Skin Infections.FP Essent. 2020;489:16-20.John Hopkins Medicine.Shingles.John Hopkins Medicine.Chickenpox.Leung AKC, Barankin B, Hon KLE.Molluscum Contagiosum: An Update.Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov. 2017;11(1):22-31. doi:10.2174/1872213X11666170518114456John Hopkins Medicine.Warts.MedlinePlus.Fifth disease.John Hopkins Medicine.Yeast Infection.John Hopkins Medicine.Seasonal Allergies.John Hopkins Medicine.Contact Dermatitis.John Hopkins Medicine.Rosacea.John Hopkins Medicine.Seborrheic-dermatitis.John Hopkins Medicine.Psoriasis.John Hopkins Medicine.Lupus.John Hopkins Medicine.Dermatomyositis.National Institutes of Health.Pemphigus.John Hopkins Medicine.Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.MedlinePlus.Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.John Hopkins Medicine.Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101 in Adults: When to Seek Medical Treatment.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.NIOSH Fast Facts: Protecting Yourself from Poisonous Plants.MedlinePlus.Shingles.Sánchez M, González-Burgos E, Iglesias I, Gómez-Serranillos MP.Pharmacological Update Properties ofAloe Veraand its Major Active Constituents.Molecules. 2020;25(6):1324. Published 2020 Mar 13. doi:10.3390/molecules25061324Garg S, Zhao J, Tegtmeyer K, Shah P, Lio PA.US Prescription trends of antihistamines for atopic dermatitis, 2011-2016.Pediatr Dermatol. 2021;38(1):324-326. doi:10.1111/pde.14445Kapugi M, Cunningham K.Corticosteroids.Orthop Nurs. 2019;38(5):336-339. doi:10.1097/NOR.0000000000000595American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema Types: Contact Dermatitis Overview.Katta R, Schlichte M.Diet and dermatitis: food triggers.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(3):30-36.
30 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Rashes.Clebak KT, Malone MA.Skin Infections.Prim Care. 2018;45(3):433-454. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2018.05.004Raff AB, Kroshinsky D.Cellulitis: A Review.JAMA. 2016;316(3):325-337. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.8825Johnson MK.Impetigo.Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2020;42(4):262-269. doi:10.1097/TME.0000000000000320Woolever DR.Skin Infections and Outpatient Burn Management: Fungal and Viral Skin Infections.FP Essent. 2020;489:16-20.John Hopkins Medicine.Shingles.John Hopkins Medicine.Chickenpox.Leung AKC, Barankin B, Hon KLE.Molluscum Contagiosum: An Update.Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov. 2017;11(1):22-31. doi:10.2174/1872213X11666170518114456John Hopkins Medicine.Warts.MedlinePlus.Fifth disease.John Hopkins Medicine.Yeast Infection.John Hopkins Medicine.Seasonal Allergies.John Hopkins Medicine.Contact Dermatitis.John Hopkins Medicine.Rosacea.John Hopkins Medicine.Seborrheic-dermatitis.John Hopkins Medicine.Psoriasis.John Hopkins Medicine.Lupus.John Hopkins Medicine.Dermatomyositis.National Institutes of Health.Pemphigus.John Hopkins Medicine.Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.MedlinePlus.Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.John Hopkins Medicine.Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101 in Adults: When to Seek Medical Treatment.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.NIOSH Fast Facts: Protecting Yourself from Poisonous Plants.MedlinePlus.Shingles.Sánchez M, González-Burgos E, Iglesias I, Gómez-Serranillos MP.Pharmacological Update Properties ofAloe Veraand its Major Active Constituents.Molecules. 2020;25(6):1324. Published 2020 Mar 13. doi:10.3390/molecules25061324Garg S, Zhao J, Tegtmeyer K, Shah P, Lio PA.US Prescription trends of antihistamines for atopic dermatitis, 2011-2016.Pediatr Dermatol. 2021;38(1):324-326. doi:10.1111/pde.14445Kapugi M, Cunningham K.Corticosteroids.Orthop Nurs. 2019;38(5):336-339. doi:10.1097/NOR.0000000000000595American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema Types: Contact Dermatitis Overview.Katta R, Schlichte M.Diet and dermatitis: food triggers.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(3):30-36.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Rashes.Clebak KT, Malone MA.Skin Infections.Prim Care. 2018;45(3):433-454. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2018.05.004Raff AB, Kroshinsky D.Cellulitis: A Review.JAMA. 2016;316(3):325-337. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.8825Johnson MK.Impetigo.Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2020;42(4):262-269. doi:10.1097/TME.0000000000000320Woolever DR.Skin Infections and Outpatient Burn Management: Fungal and Viral Skin Infections.FP Essent. 2020;489:16-20.John Hopkins Medicine.Shingles.John Hopkins Medicine.Chickenpox.Leung AKC, Barankin B, Hon KLE.Molluscum Contagiosum: An Update.Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov. 2017;11(1):22-31. doi:10.2174/1872213X11666170518114456John Hopkins Medicine.Warts.MedlinePlus.Fifth disease.John Hopkins Medicine.Yeast Infection.John Hopkins Medicine.Seasonal Allergies.John Hopkins Medicine.Contact Dermatitis.John Hopkins Medicine.Rosacea.John Hopkins Medicine.Seborrheic-dermatitis.John Hopkins Medicine.Psoriasis.John Hopkins Medicine.Lupus.John Hopkins Medicine.Dermatomyositis.National Institutes of Health.Pemphigus.John Hopkins Medicine.Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.MedlinePlus.Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.John Hopkins Medicine.Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101 in Adults: When to Seek Medical Treatment.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.NIOSH Fast Facts: Protecting Yourself from Poisonous Plants.MedlinePlus.Shingles.Sánchez M, González-Burgos E, Iglesias I, Gómez-Serranillos MP.Pharmacological Update Properties ofAloe Veraand its Major Active Constituents.Molecules. 2020;25(6):1324. Published 2020 Mar 13. doi:10.3390/molecules25061324Garg S, Zhao J, Tegtmeyer K, Shah P, Lio PA.US Prescription trends of antihistamines for atopic dermatitis, 2011-2016.Pediatr Dermatol. 2021;38(1):324-326. doi:10.1111/pde.14445Kapugi M, Cunningham K.Corticosteroids.Orthop Nurs. 2019;38(5):336-339. doi:10.1097/NOR.0000000000000595American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema Types: Contact Dermatitis Overview.Katta R, Schlichte M.Diet and dermatitis: food triggers.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(3):30-36.
MedlinePlus.Rashes.
Clebak KT, Malone MA.Skin Infections.Prim Care. 2018;45(3):433-454. doi:10.1016/j.pop.2018.05.004
Raff AB, Kroshinsky D.Cellulitis: A Review.JAMA. 2016;316(3):325-337. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.8825
Johnson MK.Impetigo.Adv Emerg Nurs J. 2020;42(4):262-269. doi:10.1097/TME.0000000000000320
Woolever DR.Skin Infections and Outpatient Burn Management: Fungal and Viral Skin Infections.FP Essent. 2020;489:16-20.
John Hopkins Medicine.Shingles.
John Hopkins Medicine.Chickenpox.
Leung AKC, Barankin B, Hon KLE.Molluscum Contagiosum: An Update.Recent Pat Inflamm Allergy Drug Discov. 2017;11(1):22-31. doi:10.2174/1872213X11666170518114456
John Hopkins Medicine.Warts.
MedlinePlus.Fifth disease.
John Hopkins Medicine.Yeast Infection.
John Hopkins Medicine.Seasonal Allergies.
John Hopkins Medicine.Contact Dermatitis.
John Hopkins Medicine.Rosacea.
John Hopkins Medicine.Seborrheic-dermatitis.
John Hopkins Medicine.Psoriasis.
John Hopkins Medicine.Lupus.
John Hopkins Medicine.Dermatomyositis.
National Institutes of Health.Pemphigus.
John Hopkins Medicine.Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.
MedlinePlus.Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.
John Hopkins Medicine.Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101 in Adults: When to Seek Medical Treatment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.NIOSH Fast Facts: Protecting Yourself from Poisonous Plants.
MedlinePlus.Shingles.
Sánchez M, González-Burgos E, Iglesias I, Gómez-Serranillos MP.Pharmacological Update Properties ofAloe Veraand its Major Active Constituents.Molecules. 2020;25(6):1324. Published 2020 Mar 13. doi:10.3390/molecules25061324
Garg S, Zhao J, Tegtmeyer K, Shah P, Lio PA.US Prescription trends of antihistamines for atopic dermatitis, 2011-2016.Pediatr Dermatol. 2021;38(1):324-326. doi:10.1111/pde.14445
Kapugi M, Cunningham K.Corticosteroids.Orthop Nurs. 2019;38(5):336-339. doi:10.1097/NOR.0000000000000595
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema Types: Contact Dermatitis Overview.
Katta R, Schlichte M.Diet and dermatitis: food triggers.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2014;7(3):30-36.
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