Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It Looks LikeAssociated SymptomsWhat Causes TSS?Other Causes of Your RashHow TSS Is TreatedPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Looks Like
Associated Symptoms
What Causes TSS?
Other Causes of Your Rash
How TSS Is Treated
Prevention
Toxic shock syndrome(TSS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening illness that happens as a result of certain infections. It can develop suddenly and cause symptoms like high fever, muscle aches, rapid heartbeat, and a distinct rash. This sunburn-like rash usually covers large body areas and involves skin peeling.
This article discusses the toxic shock syndrome rash, including how it’s treated and how to prevent it.
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What Does a Toxic Shock Syndrome Rash Look Like?
A telltale sign of TSS is experiencing a widespread, flat rash that covers much of the body.
This rash is often described as asunburn, with excessive skin peeling that happens a week or two after the rash appears. The peeling may be especially noticeable on the palms of the hand or the soles of the feet.
Other Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome
In addition to the characteristic sunburn-like rash, some of the other symptoms that come along with TSS can mimicflu-like symptoms, including:
What Causes Toxic Shock Syndrome?
Bacteria cause TSS. The most common strain with TSS isStaphylococcus aureus(S. aureus), thoughStreptococcus(strep) andClostridiumbacteria can also lead to TSS.
AlthoughS. aureusnaturally exists in the human body without any issue, it can trigger an infection if the bacterium enters the body of someone who hasn’t developed natural antibodies against it.Instead of protecting the body and destroying the invaders, theimmune systemoverreacts to the presence of the bacterium.
While cases of TSS have commonly been linked to using high-absorbencytampons, there are other possible ways to contract this illness, including:
The chances of developing TSS are greater if you’ve experienced it before.
A Word From VerywellWomen with a history of toxic shock syndrome related to the use of tampons should not use tampons again. Otherwise, experts recommend using the least absorbent tampon possible and never wearing a single tampon for more than eight hours.—CASEY GALLAGHER, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Women with a history of toxic shock syndrome related to the use of tampons should not use tampons again. Otherwise, experts recommend using the least absorbent tampon possible and never wearing a single tampon for more than eight hours.—CASEY GALLAGHER, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Women with a history of toxic shock syndrome related to the use of tampons should not use tampons again. Otherwise, experts recommend using the least absorbent tampon possible and never wearing a single tampon for more than eight hours.
—CASEY GALLAGHER, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Other Possible Causes of Your Rash
While a toxic shock syndrome rash is usually pretty distinctive, you may be experiencing another trigger for your skin irritation, especially if you aren’t noticing the other serious signs of TSS.
Sunburn
A TSS rash may look most similar to asunburn. However, a sunburn rash usually only occurs on skin exposed to the sun. Both trigger widespread skin redness in people with lighter skin and lead to skin peeling, but there are a few differences.
A TSS rash involves skin peeling off in large portions, usually on the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet, which isn’t typical of a sunburn. It also comes with flu-like symptoms that wouldn’t be seen with a sunburn.
People with darker skin tones may not experience visible redness with either condition.
Heat Rash
With a heat rash, aside from the rash, you likely wouldn’t notice any other symptoms or feel unwell, the way you would with a TSS rash.
Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitisoccurs when your skin is exposed to an irritating substance. It causes an itchy, dry rash that may appear red or discolored depending on your skin tone. Commonly affecting the hands, feet, neck, face, and lower legs, contact dermatitis can come on suddenly or develop more slowly.
Similar to a TSS rash, contact dermatitis rash can spread from the original site of the irritation and potentially cause an infection.
Rosacea
Rosaceais an inflammatory skin condition that causes a rash, usually on the face. This type of rash can appear like flushing or a patch of swollen, clustered, potentially discolored bumps that may contain pus.
Cellulitis
Cellulitisis a bacterial skin infection that causes inflamed, painful skin irritation that may be warm to the touch and involve blisters.It commonly develops from strep bacteria, one potential trigger for TSS.
Cellulitis can come with serious complications if not treated withantibiotics. Like TSS, asevere cellulitiscase can require emergency care with intravenous (IV) antibiotics and other intensive treatment.
How Toxic Shock Syndrome Is Treated
Because TSS can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation, it’s important to get medical attention as soon as possible to prevent severe complications. TSS requires treatment with hospitalization and IV antibiotics (like penicillin) for at least several days to resolve the infection.
A healthcare provider will give you IV fluids to replace lost fluids. Other supportive care tactics to help manage complications and speed up recovery, include:
How to Prevent Toxic Shock Syndrome
The main tactics for preventing TSS revolve aroundproper tampon usageand hygiene. This starts with choosing tampon products carefully, which includes:
People who use tampons should be aware of TSS symptoms and be advised to seek urgent medical care if they develop. And because TSS is linked to certain contraceptive devices, anyone who is interested in using those products should discuss it with their healthcare provider and carefully follow instructions on the medication label.
Anyone who’s previously experienced a case of TSS should avoid tampon use altogether to prevent a repeat occurrence.
Summary
A toxic shock syndrome (TSS) rash is a widespread, sunburn-like skin irritation that often spreads to the palms and soles of the feet and eventually causes skin peeling. You’d also notice flu-like symptoms like fever and muscle aches with TSS, along with the telltale rash.
Because TSS can quickly develop into an emergency with life-threatening complications, anyone who notices this rash should seek immediate medical attention.
14 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.Toxic shock syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Toxic shock syndrome (TSS).Tong SY, Davis JS, Eichenberger E, Holland TL, Fowler VG Jr.Staphylococcus aureus infections: epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and management.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2015 Jul;28(3):603-61. doi:10.1128/CMR.00134-14National Health Service UK.Toxic shock syndrome.MedlinePlus.Sunburn.American Academy of Family Physicians.What is heat rash?MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis.National Library of Medicine.Allergic contact dermatitis: Overview.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rosacea.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cellulitis: Everything you need to know.MedlinePlus.Cellulitis.American Academy of Pediatrics.Toxic shock syndrome.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Your changing body: Puberty in girls.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Toxic shock syndrome.
14 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.Toxic shock syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Toxic shock syndrome (TSS).Tong SY, Davis JS, Eichenberger E, Holland TL, Fowler VG Jr.Staphylococcus aureus infections: epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and management.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2015 Jul;28(3):603-61. doi:10.1128/CMR.00134-14National Health Service UK.Toxic shock syndrome.MedlinePlus.Sunburn.American Academy of Family Physicians.What is heat rash?MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis.National Library of Medicine.Allergic contact dermatitis: Overview.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rosacea.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cellulitis: Everything you need to know.MedlinePlus.Cellulitis.American Academy of Pediatrics.Toxic shock syndrome.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Your changing body: Puberty in girls.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Toxic shock syndrome.
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.Toxic shock syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Toxic shock syndrome (TSS).Tong SY, Davis JS, Eichenberger E, Holland TL, Fowler VG Jr.Staphylococcus aureus infections: epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and management.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2015 Jul;28(3):603-61. doi:10.1128/CMR.00134-14National Health Service UK.Toxic shock syndrome.MedlinePlus.Sunburn.American Academy of Family Physicians.What is heat rash?MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis.National Library of Medicine.Allergic contact dermatitis: Overview.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rosacea.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cellulitis: Everything you need to know.MedlinePlus.Cellulitis.American Academy of Pediatrics.Toxic shock syndrome.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Your changing body: Puberty in girls.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Toxic shock syndrome.
MedlinePlus.Toxic shock syndrome.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
Tong SY, Davis JS, Eichenberger E, Holland TL, Fowler VG Jr.Staphylococcus aureus infections: epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and management.Clin Microbiol Rev. 2015 Jul;28(3):603-61. doi:10.1128/CMR.00134-14
National Health Service UK.Toxic shock syndrome.
MedlinePlus.Sunburn.
American Academy of Family Physicians.What is heat rash?
MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis.
National Library of Medicine.Allergic contact dermatitis: Overview.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Rosacea.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cellulitis: Everything you need to know.
MedlinePlus.Cellulitis.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Toxic shock syndrome.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Your changing body: Puberty in girls.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Toxic shock syndrome.
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