Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAtopic DermatitisPoison OakPsoriasisDermatitis HerpetiformisRingwormFolliculitisUrticariaWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Atopic Dermatitis
Poison Oak
Psoriasis
Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Ringworm
Folliculitis
Urticaria
When to See a Healthcare Provider
This article shows pictures of common itchy skin rashes to help identify them. It also covers what causes these rashes and how they are treated.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoAtopic dermatitis.Raimo Suhonen / DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Atopic dermatitis, commonly called eczema, can have different appearances depending on how long it has been present. For example, acute eczema can include blisters and vesicles containing fluid. Subacute eczema present for days to weeks may appear dry and flaky. Chronic eczema that has been present for months to years can cause the skin to become thickened or leathery in appearance. This is calledlichenification.
Eczema is usually found in the flexural areas of the body where they bend. Examples include the elbow folds and behind the knees.
What Is Neurodermatitis?
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPoison oak rash.Darren415 / Getty Images
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoFacial psoriasis.DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Psoriasisappears as thick, silvery scales most commonly found over joint surfaces and the scalp. It is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and plaques on the skin.These plaques can be painful, itchy, and sore. Psoriasis has a genetic component. Treatment can include topical treatments as well as medications such asbiologicsordisease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Dermatitis herpetiformis usually presents as small fluid-filled blisters over the joint surfaces but can also be present on the back of the scalp and lower back region. This rash is often a result of gluten sensitivity, also called celiac sprue. Dermatitis herpetiformis is responsive to a gluten-free diet and treatment with dapsone.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoRingworm/tinea corporis.DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoFolliculitis.DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicles that appears as small pimples, especially overareas of the body where the hair is shaved, such as the lowerlegsin women or the face in men. Since people are covered in hair follicles, the rash can occur in most places on the body. Folliculitis can be treated with antibacterial soaps, including over-the-counter triclosan and chlorhexidine, as well as topical and oral antibiotics.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoUrticaria.Raimo Suhonen / DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Causes and Treatments for Itchy Skin (Pruritus)
See a healthcare provider if your rash is so itchy or uncomfortable that it interferes with your sleep at night or your daily activities. It is also important to see a provider if your rash appears after you start a new medication.
A healthcare professional, including a primary care provider or a dermatologist, can help get to the root cause of the rash, which can help find ways to treat or prevent the rash.
Summary
10 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.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Overview: Eczema.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic dermatitis.National Eczema Association.Managing Itch.UpToDate.Poison ivy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Types of psoriasis: Can you have more than one?National Psoriasis Foundation.Treatment & care.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Harvard Health.Ringworm.Kanani A, Betschel SD, Warrington R.Urticaria and angioedema.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):59. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0288-zNational Institutes of Health.Rash decisions.Additional ReadingKalamaha K, Reis E, Newton S, et al.Atopic dermatitis: a review of evolving targeted therapies.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2019;15(3):275-288. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2019.1560267
10 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.Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Overview: Eczema.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic dermatitis.National Eczema Association.Managing Itch.UpToDate.Poison ivy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Types of psoriasis: Can you have more than one?National Psoriasis Foundation.Treatment & care.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Harvard Health.Ringworm.Kanani A, Betschel SD, Warrington R.Urticaria and angioedema.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):59. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0288-zNational Institutes of Health.Rash decisions.Additional ReadingKalamaha K, Reis E, Newton S, et al.Atopic dermatitis: a review of evolving targeted therapies.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2019;15(3):275-288. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2019.1560267
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.
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Overview: Eczema.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic dermatitis.National Eczema Association.Managing Itch.UpToDate.Poison ivy.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Types of psoriasis: Can you have more than one?National Psoriasis Foundation.Treatment & care.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Harvard Health.Ringworm.Kanani A, Betschel SD, Warrington R.Urticaria and angioedema.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):59. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0288-zNational Institutes of Health.Rash decisions.
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Overview: Eczema.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic dermatitis.
National Eczema Association.Managing Itch.
UpToDate.Poison ivy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Types of psoriasis: Can you have more than one?
National Psoriasis Foundation.Treatment & care.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.Dermatitis herpetiformis.
Harvard Health.Ringworm.
Kanani A, Betschel SD, Warrington R.Urticaria and angioedema.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):59. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0288-z
National Institutes of Health.Rash decisions.
Kalamaha K, Reis E, Newton S, et al.Atopic dermatitis: a review of evolving targeted therapies.Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2019;15(3):275-288. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2019.1560267
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