Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsTreatmentSelf-Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
Self-Care
Anankle rashis a symptom of many health conditions. It may be a sign of a skin problem, infection, or systemic condition like anautoimmune disease. The rash may be limited to your ankles or affect other parts of your body.
An ankle rash often appears as raised pinkish or red bumps that form in clusters. However, the rash color can vary based on skin tones, and be pink or red in lighter skin or closer to your overall skin tone in darker skin. Ankle rashes can also vary based on their cause.
Most ankle rashes are not dangerous. Treatment for an ankle rash will be based on the cause. Some ankle rashes can be a sign of a disease such as diabetes that requires management apart from treating the rash.
This article describes causes and symptoms of ankle rash, as well as a diagnosis and treatment. It also explains home treatments and ways to prevent an ankle rash.
Nature / Getty Images
Possible Ankle Rash Causes
There are numerous possible ankle rash causes, ranging fromallergic reactionsto autoimmune disorders. An ankle rash can occur as a stand-alone condition or a symptom of a problem that causes a rash on your ankles and other areas.
Common causes of an ankle rash include:
#1 Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitisoccurs when you touch something that irritates your skin or causes anallergic skin reaction. There two types of contact dermatitis are irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.
Materials used to make shoes or socks can also cause an ankle rash if you develop a hypersensitivity to any of these common materials used in footwear:
Allergic contact dermatitiscauses a reaction that leads to an itchy rash a day or two after your skin is exposed to an allergen. There are more than 15,000 allergens. Some of the most common allergens that trigger allergic contact dermatitis are:
#2 Allergies
Allergiesoccur when yourimmune systemidentifies a substance as harmful and overreacts to thatallergen,or trigger. The reaction involves a release of chemicals calledhistamines, which cause allergy symptoms at the point of interaction or through your entire body. Allergens that touch your ankle or another part of your skin can cause a skin rash, hives, itching, blisters, or skin peeling.
Common allergens include:
#3 Hives
Urticaria(hives)are red or skin-colored bumps, raised patches, or both on your skin. The bumps cause itching that can range from mild to severe. Hives occur when your body releases histamine and other allergic chemicals in reaction to a range of triggers that can include:
#4 Sunburn
Sunburnis a reddening of the skin that occurs after overexposure to the sun or other ultraviolet (UV) light. It is a reaction caused when the amount of sun exceeds the ability of your skin’smelaninto protect it. The time it takes for sunburn to occur can differ based on the color of your skin, with people of lighter skin tones becoming sunburned faster than those with darker skin tones.
#5 Liver Problems
The buildup of other substances, including lysophosphatidic acid, endogenous opiates, andprogesteronederivatives, may also contribute to itching in liver diseases.
The types of liver disease that can cause itching include:
#6 Diabetes
#7 Psoriasis
Psoriasisis a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation. It occurs when an overactive immune system accelerates skin cell growth.
While normal skin cells complete their growth cycle and shed within a month, psoriasis skin cells complete the cycle in a few days. This causes new cells to pile up on the surface of your skin before old cells shed. Psoriasis appears as a rash of raisedskin plaquesand scales on any part of your skin, including your ankles.
#8 Eczema
The most common form of eczema isatopic dermatitis, a rash that’s common among people withhay fever, asthma, or food allergies.
#9 Cancer
In cancer patients, a rash on your ankles can be a side effect of the following factors:
#10 Circulation Problems
11 Fungal Infections
Fungal infectionsoccur from organisms calledfungi(plural of fungus), which live in the air, water, and soil. Some common fungal infections that can cause a rash on your ankle or elsewhere includeringwormandcandidiasis.
Fungal infections that cause a rash on one part of your body, such as your ankles, can trigger rashes on other uninfected parts of your body. The eruptions, called dermatophytid reactions, are allergic reactions to the fungus, not a reaction from touching the infected area.
#12 Parasitic Infections
Parasitic infectionsare transmitted via contaminated food or water, insect bites, or sexual contact. Some of the most common parasitic infections in North America are:
#13 Compression Stockings
Whilecompression stockingsare useful in managing venous disease and preventingthromboembolic diseasein the deep veins in your legs, some people can experience an ankle rash when wearing them.
Compression stockings can cause an ankle rash in following ways:
13 Causes of an Itchy Foot
Ankle Rash Symptoms
Ankle rash symptoms can vary based on the cause of the rash. While most rashes clear up relatively quickly, some can be long-lasting. Some rashes develop as an immediate reaction to an irritant or allergen, while other rashes form over several days and may be long-lasting.
Generally, most rashes appear as an area of irritated or swollen skin with one or more of the following symptoms:
The skin appearance of some ankle rashes can differ across skin tones. Some examples in which this occurs include:
7 Common Foot Rashes
When to Check In With a Healthcare Provider
While most rashes do not require medical treatment, contact your healthcare provider if you have an ankle rash with the following symptoms:
Call 911 or get emergency medical care if you have an ankle rash with the following signs ofanaphylaxis(a life-threatening allergic reaction):
Based on a physical examination, medical history, and your symptoms, your healthcare provider may use one or more of the following diagnostic tests to determine the cause of your ankle rash:
Why Do I Have a Rash on My Palms?
How to Treat an Ankle Rash at Home
The best way to treat an ankle rash at home will be based on the cause of your rash. The following over-the-counter (OTC) treatments may be effective in managing the ankle rash at home:
Symptoms of an ankle rash may also improve with the following home remedies:
Prescription Medications for an Ankle RashIf your rash persists or worsens despite using over-the-counter treatments and home remedies, your healthcare provider may advise using a prescription treatment. For the best results, always follow instructions regarding use and duration.Depending on the cause of your ankle rash, you may benefit from one of the following prescribed treatments:Topical antifungal treatmentsTopical corticosteroidsOral corticosteroidsAntibioticsAnti-itch creams
Prescription Medications for an Ankle Rash
If your rash persists or worsens despite using over-the-counter treatments and home remedies, your healthcare provider may advise using a prescription treatment. For the best results, always follow instructions regarding use and duration.Depending on the cause of your ankle rash, you may benefit from one of the following prescribed treatments:Topical antifungal treatmentsTopical corticosteroidsOral corticosteroidsAntibioticsAnti-itch creams
If your rash persists or worsens despite using over-the-counter treatments and home remedies, your healthcare provider may advise using a prescription treatment. For the best results, always follow instructions regarding use and duration.
Depending on the cause of your ankle rash, you may benefit from one of the following prescribed treatments:
Self-Care to Control Ankle Rash Symptoms
Consider the following lifestyle changes known to help improve skin conditions such as eczema:
When a rash occurs, the following strategies can support healing as OTC or prescription treatments for your rash and underlying conditions take effect:
Summary
An ankle rash is typically a minor problem. It often occurs as a result of irritants, allergies, or other triggers. An ankle rash can also be a symptom of a skin condition or a more serious systemic disease.
Symptoms of an ankle rash can often be relieved with home treatments and over-the-counter medications. Prescription treatments are available for persistent ankle rashes that do not resolve. In some cases, an underlying condition must be managed for a long-term ankle rash to resolve.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have an ankle rash that lasts longer than a few days. Finding the cause of your ankle rash can help you resolve the problem and preserve your well-being if a chronic condition is involved.
34 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.
Revival Research Institute, LLC.Rash on ankles or itchy ankles: causes, symptoms and treatments.
American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD).Can you get psoriasis if you have skin of color?
American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD).Eczema types: contact dermatitis overview.
American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD).Itchy rash could be contact dermatitis.
Penn Medicine.What are allergies?January 23, 2022.
Penn Medicine.Hives.
MedlinePlus.Sunburn.
Patel SP, Vasavda C, Ho B, Meixiong J, Dong X, Kwatra SG.Cholestatic pruritus: Emerging mechanisms and therapeutics.J Am Acad Dermatol.2019;81(6):1371-1378. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.04.035
Bhalerao A, Mannu GS.Management of pruritus in chronic liver disease.Dermatology Research and Practice.2015 Mar.2015:e295891. doi:10.1155/2015/295891.
Tajiri K and Shimizu Y.Recent advances in the management of pruritus in chronic liver diseases.World J Gastroenterol.2017;23(19): 3418-3426. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i19.3418.
American Diabetes Association.Diabetes and skin complications.
National Psoriasis Foundation.About psoriasis.
MedlinePlus.Eczema.
American Cancer Society (ACS).Itching.
Yosipovitch G, Nedorost ST, Silverberg JI, Friedman AJ, Canosa JM, Cha A.Stasis dermatitis: an overview of its clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and management.Am J Clin Dermatol. 2023 Mar;24(2):275-286. doi:10.1007/s40257-022-00753-5
Northwestern Medicine.What are fungal infections?
Merck Manual Consumer Version.Overview of fungal skin infections.
Sepsis Alliance.Parasitic infections.
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Symptoms after thrombosis (post-thrombotic syndrome).
UpToDate.Patient education: Hives (urticaria) (Beyond the Basics). April 27, 2023.
National Eczema Association.Eczema in skin of color: what you need to know.
UCLA Health.Red and itchy? When to worry about a rash in adults. October 1, 2023.
Penn Medicine.Rash.
American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.Testing and diagnosis. June 28, 2023.
DermNet.Dermatological investigations and tests. December 2016.
NYU Langone Health.Diagnosing eczema and dermatitis.
Kaiser Permanente.Skin rashes: home treatment.
K Health.Best home remedies for rashes. February 4, 2022.
MedlinePlus.Rashes. November 30, 2022.
UCHealth.Skin rashes.
UCLA Health.Anti-inflammatory diet can help find eczema triggers. August 23, 2023.
National Eczema Association.Eczema and exercise. August 13, 2021.
American Cancer Society.Itching.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
