Crohn’s Disease Rash: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSkin SymptomsCausesTreatmentWhen to Seek Care

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Skin Symptoms

Causes

Treatment

When to Seek Care

Crohn’s disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract.Symptomsrange from mild to severe and can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fever.

Around 6%–40% of people withCrohn’smay have symptoms outside the digestive tract.The most common of these complications affect the skin, causing rashes, hives, and lesions, and impacts up to 20% of people withIBD.Most of these skin conditions are treatable and occur when Crohn’s is active.

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Common Skin Symptoms

Skin symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease can appear on any part of the body. They can manifest in various ways, ranging from red bumps on the legs to sores in the mouth and in the anal region.

Some of these Crohn’s-related skin symptoms include the following:

Along with the skin, Crohn’s can also affect the joints, eyes, kidneys, liver, bones, and gallbladder.

Flares and RemissionMost people alternate between periods when the symptoms of Crohn’s are more severe, calledflare-ups, and periods when the disease is in remission and symptoms decrease or disappear.Although everyone experiences flares differently, some common symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, skin rashes, mouth ulcers, and fatigue.

Flares and Remission

Most people alternate between periods when the symptoms of Crohn’s are more severe, calledflare-ups, and periods when the disease is in remission and symptoms decrease or disappear.Although everyone experiences flares differently, some common symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, skin rashes, mouth ulcers, and fatigue.

Most people alternate between periods when the symptoms of Crohn’s are more severe, calledflare-ups, and periods when the disease is in remission and symptoms decrease or disappear.

Although everyone experiences flares differently, some common symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, skin rashes, mouth ulcers, and fatigue.

While researchers are still investigating the exact cause of skin involvement in Crohn’s disease, several known factors exist.

Skin lesions have also been associated with anti-TNF treatments, or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, commonly used to treat Crohn’s.

A zinc deficiency can manifest as crusted plaques on the arms or legs or near the mouth, calledacrodermatitis enteropathica. This usually resolves withzinc supplementation.

Other Conditions That Cause Similar Skin Problems

Th17 CellRecent animal studies have shown that the T helper (Th) 17 cell is a major component in the development of Crohn’s. It is also known that the Th17 cell is involved in many autoimmune skin diseases, which might explain why skin symptoms are common in Crohn’s disease.

Th17 Cell

Recent animal studies have shown that the T helper (Th) 17 cell is a major component in the development of Crohn’s. It is also known that the Th17 cell is involved in many autoimmune skin diseases, which might explain why skin symptoms are common in Crohn’s disease.

Treatments

Treatment for skin issues related to Crohn’s disease depends on the type of skin disorder.

Medications are the most common form of treatment. These include but are not limited to:

Sometimes your current medication may be the cause of your skin problems and you may be taken off the drug. However, do not discontinue any drug without your healthcare provider’s consent.

Supplementation may be all that is needed to relieve skin issues due to a vitamin deficiency,

Antiseptic mouthwashes can help with oral lesions. Wet compresses with a sterile solution can help relieve pain, promote new skin formation, and prevent infection of skin lesions.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If you notice these changes or characteristics in skin symptoms, consult with your healthcare provider:

If you use immunosuppressant drugs for Crohn’s, this may increase your risk of non-melanoma skin cancers. It’s important to get an annual skin check from a dermatologist.

Summary

People with Crohn’s disease may experience symptoms outside the digestive tract, including skin issues. Understanding how Crohn’s disease can affect the skin can help you manage your symptoms. Rashes and lesions can occur from Crohn’s or medication used to treat Crohn’s and can appear anywhere on the body.

Most skin problems can be resolved with medication. However, some such as fistulas, may require surgery. If you live with Crohn’s and notice new lesions or rashes on your body, talk to your healthcare provider so that they can create a treatment plan that works best for you.

20 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.Gravina AG, Federico A, Ruocco E, et al.Crohn’s disease and skin.United European Gastroenterol J. 2015;4(2):165-171. doi:10.1177/2050640615597835Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Extraintestinal complications of IBD.Faulkes RE.Upper limb erythema nodosum: the first presentation of Crohn’s disease.Clin Case Rep. 2014;2(5): 183-185. doi:10.1002/ccr3.87Weizman AV, Huang B, Targan S, et al.Pyoderma gangrenosum among patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a descriptive cohort study.J Cutan Med Surg. 2014;18(5):361.Muhvić-Urek M, Tomac-Stojmenović M, Mijandrušić-Sinčić B.Oral pathology in inflammatory bowel disease.World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(25):5655-5667. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i25.5655Lima CDS, Pinto RDB, Góes HFO, Salles SAN, Vilar EAG, Lima CDS.Sweet’s syndrome associated with Crohn’s disease.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(2):263-265. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175298Pogacnik JS, Salgado G.Perianal crohn’s disease.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2019;32(5):377-385. doi:10.1055/s-0039-1687834Merck Manual Professional Version.Cutaneous Vasculitis.Merck Manual Professional Version.Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.Aberumand B, Howard J, Howard J.Metastatic crohn’s disease: an approach to an uncommon but important cutaneous disorder.Biomed Res Int. 2017:8192150. doi:10.1155/2017/8192150Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease.Wójcik B, Loga K, Włodarczyk M, Sobolewska-Włodarczyk A, Padysz M, Wiśniewska-Jarosińska M.Extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn’s disease.Prz Gastroenterol. 2016;11(3):218-221. doi:10.5114/pg.2016.61439Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Crohn’s disease.Crohn’s & Colitis UK.Flare-ups.Pasternak G, Chrzanowski G, Aebisher D, et.al.Crohn’s disease: Basic characteristics of disease, diagnostic methods, the role of biomarkers, and analysis of metalloproteinases: A review.Life (Basel). 2023;13(10):2062. doi: 10.3390/life13102062He R, Zhao S, Cui M, et.al.Cutaneous manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease: basic characteristics, therapy, and potential pathophysiological associations.Front Immunol.2023;14:1234535. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1234535Cleynen I, Van Moerkercke W, Billiet T, et al.Characteristics of skin lesions associated with anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a cohort study.Ann Intern Med. 2016;164(1):10. doi:10.7326/M15-0729Gordon BL, Galati J, Yang S, Katz PO, Scherl EJ.Vitamin C deficiency: an under-recognized condition in crohn’s disease.ACG Case Rep J. 2020;7(7):e00424. doi:10.14309/crj.0000000000000424Gravina AG, Federico A, Ruocco E, et al.Crohn’s disease and skin.United European Gastroenterol J. 2015;4(2):165-171. doi:10.1177/2050640615597835Pellicer Z, Santiago JM, Rodriguez A, Alonso V, Antón R, Bosca MM.Management of cutaneous disorders related to inflammatory bowel disease.Ann Gastroenterol. 2012;25(1):21-26.

20 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.Gravina AG, Federico A, Ruocco E, et al.Crohn’s disease and skin.United European Gastroenterol J. 2015;4(2):165-171. doi:10.1177/2050640615597835Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Extraintestinal complications of IBD.Faulkes RE.Upper limb erythema nodosum: the first presentation of Crohn’s disease.Clin Case Rep. 2014;2(5): 183-185. doi:10.1002/ccr3.87Weizman AV, Huang B, Targan S, et al.Pyoderma gangrenosum among patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a descriptive cohort study.J Cutan Med Surg. 2014;18(5):361.Muhvić-Urek M, Tomac-Stojmenović M, Mijandrušić-Sinčić B.Oral pathology in inflammatory bowel disease.World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(25):5655-5667. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i25.5655Lima CDS, Pinto RDB, Góes HFO, Salles SAN, Vilar EAG, Lima CDS.Sweet’s syndrome associated with Crohn’s disease.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(2):263-265. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175298Pogacnik JS, Salgado G.Perianal crohn’s disease.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2019;32(5):377-385. doi:10.1055/s-0039-1687834Merck Manual Professional Version.Cutaneous Vasculitis.Merck Manual Professional Version.Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.Aberumand B, Howard J, Howard J.Metastatic crohn’s disease: an approach to an uncommon but important cutaneous disorder.Biomed Res Int. 2017:8192150. doi:10.1155/2017/8192150Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease.Wójcik B, Loga K, Włodarczyk M, Sobolewska-Włodarczyk A, Padysz M, Wiśniewska-Jarosińska M.Extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn’s disease.Prz Gastroenterol. 2016;11(3):218-221. doi:10.5114/pg.2016.61439Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Crohn’s disease.Crohn’s & Colitis UK.Flare-ups.Pasternak G, Chrzanowski G, Aebisher D, et.al.Crohn’s disease: Basic characteristics of disease, diagnostic methods, the role of biomarkers, and analysis of metalloproteinases: A review.Life (Basel). 2023;13(10):2062. doi: 10.3390/life13102062He R, Zhao S, Cui M, et.al.Cutaneous manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease: basic characteristics, therapy, and potential pathophysiological associations.Front Immunol.2023;14:1234535. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1234535Cleynen I, Van Moerkercke W, Billiet T, et al.Characteristics of skin lesions associated with anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a cohort study.Ann Intern Med. 2016;164(1):10. doi:10.7326/M15-0729Gordon BL, Galati J, Yang S, Katz PO, Scherl EJ.Vitamin C deficiency: an under-recognized condition in crohn’s disease.ACG Case Rep J. 2020;7(7):e00424. doi:10.14309/crj.0000000000000424Gravina AG, Federico A, Ruocco E, et al.Crohn’s disease and skin.United European Gastroenterol J. 2015;4(2):165-171. doi:10.1177/2050640615597835Pellicer Z, Santiago JM, Rodriguez A, Alonso V, Antón R, Bosca MM.Management of cutaneous disorders related to inflammatory bowel disease.Ann Gastroenterol. 2012;25(1):21-26.

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.

Gravina AG, Federico A, Ruocco E, et al.Crohn’s disease and skin.United European Gastroenterol J. 2015;4(2):165-171. doi:10.1177/2050640615597835Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Extraintestinal complications of IBD.Faulkes RE.Upper limb erythema nodosum: the first presentation of Crohn’s disease.Clin Case Rep. 2014;2(5): 183-185. doi:10.1002/ccr3.87Weizman AV, Huang B, Targan S, et al.Pyoderma gangrenosum among patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a descriptive cohort study.J Cutan Med Surg. 2014;18(5):361.Muhvić-Urek M, Tomac-Stojmenović M, Mijandrušić-Sinčić B.Oral pathology in inflammatory bowel disease.World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(25):5655-5667. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i25.5655Lima CDS, Pinto RDB, Góes HFO, Salles SAN, Vilar EAG, Lima CDS.Sweet’s syndrome associated with Crohn’s disease.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(2):263-265. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175298Pogacnik JS, Salgado G.Perianal crohn’s disease.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2019;32(5):377-385. doi:10.1055/s-0039-1687834Merck Manual Professional Version.Cutaneous Vasculitis.Merck Manual Professional Version.Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.Aberumand B, Howard J, Howard J.Metastatic crohn’s disease: an approach to an uncommon but important cutaneous disorder.Biomed Res Int. 2017:8192150. doi:10.1155/2017/8192150Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease.Wójcik B, Loga K, Włodarczyk M, Sobolewska-Włodarczyk A, Padysz M, Wiśniewska-Jarosińska M.Extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn’s disease.Prz Gastroenterol. 2016;11(3):218-221. doi:10.5114/pg.2016.61439Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Crohn’s disease.Crohn’s & Colitis UK.Flare-ups.Pasternak G, Chrzanowski G, Aebisher D, et.al.Crohn’s disease: Basic characteristics of disease, diagnostic methods, the role of biomarkers, and analysis of metalloproteinases: A review.Life (Basel). 2023;13(10):2062. doi: 10.3390/life13102062He R, Zhao S, Cui M, et.al.Cutaneous manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease: basic characteristics, therapy, and potential pathophysiological associations.Front Immunol.2023;14:1234535. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1234535Cleynen I, Van Moerkercke W, Billiet T, et al.Characteristics of skin lesions associated with anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a cohort study.Ann Intern Med. 2016;164(1):10. doi:10.7326/M15-0729Gordon BL, Galati J, Yang S, Katz PO, Scherl EJ.Vitamin C deficiency: an under-recognized condition in crohn’s disease.ACG Case Rep J. 2020;7(7):e00424. doi:10.14309/crj.0000000000000424Gravina AG, Federico A, Ruocco E, et al.Crohn’s disease and skin.United European Gastroenterol J. 2015;4(2):165-171. doi:10.1177/2050640615597835Pellicer Z, Santiago JM, Rodriguez A, Alonso V, Antón R, Bosca MM.Management of cutaneous disorders related to inflammatory bowel disease.Ann Gastroenterol. 2012;25(1):21-26.

Gravina AG, Federico A, Ruocco E, et al.Crohn’s disease and skin.United European Gastroenterol J. 2015;4(2):165-171. doi:10.1177/2050640615597835

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation.Extraintestinal complications of IBD.

Faulkes RE.Upper limb erythema nodosum: the first presentation of Crohn’s disease.Clin Case Rep. 2014;2(5): 183-185. doi:10.1002/ccr3.87

Weizman AV, Huang B, Targan S, et al.Pyoderma gangrenosum among patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a descriptive cohort study.J Cutan Med Surg. 2014;18(5):361.

Muhvić-Urek M, Tomac-Stojmenović M, Mijandrušić-Sinčić B.Oral pathology in inflammatory bowel disease.World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(25):5655-5667. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i25.5655

Lima CDS, Pinto RDB, Góes HFO, Salles SAN, Vilar EAG, Lima CDS.Sweet’s syndrome associated with Crohn’s disease.An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(2):263-265. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175298

Pogacnik JS, Salgado G.Perianal crohn’s disease.Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2019;32(5):377-385. doi:10.1055/s-0039-1687834

Merck Manual Professional Version.Cutaneous Vasculitis.

Merck Manual Professional Version.Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita.

Aberumand B, Howard J, Howard J.Metastatic crohn’s disease: an approach to an uncommon but important cutaneous disorder.Biomed Res Int. 2017:8192150. doi:10.1155/2017/8192150

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.Signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease.

Wójcik B, Loga K, Włodarczyk M, Sobolewska-Włodarczyk A, Padysz M, Wiśniewska-Jarosińska M.Extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn’s disease.Prz Gastroenterol. 2016;11(3):218-221. doi:10.5114/pg.2016.61439

Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Crohn’s disease.

Crohn’s & Colitis UK.Flare-ups.

Pasternak G, Chrzanowski G, Aebisher D, et.al.Crohn’s disease: Basic characteristics of disease, diagnostic methods, the role of biomarkers, and analysis of metalloproteinases: A review.Life (Basel). 2023;13(10):2062. doi: 10.3390/life13102062

He R, Zhao S, Cui M, et.al.Cutaneous manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease: basic characteristics, therapy, and potential pathophysiological associations.Front Immunol.2023;14:1234535. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1234535

Cleynen I, Van Moerkercke W, Billiet T, et al.Characteristics of skin lesions associated with anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a cohort study.Ann Intern Med. 2016;164(1):10. doi:10.7326/M15-0729

Gordon BL, Galati J, Yang S, Katz PO, Scherl EJ.Vitamin C deficiency: an under-recognized condition in crohn’s disease.ACG Case Rep J. 2020;7(7):e00424. doi:10.14309/crj.0000000000000424

Pellicer Z, Santiago JM, Rodriguez A, Alonso V, Antón R, Bosca MM.Management of cutaneous disorders related to inflammatory bowel disease.Ann Gastroenterol. 2012;25(1):21-26.

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