Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesWhen to Get HelpDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
When to Get Help
Diagnosis
Treatment
Pruritis is the medical term for itching. When an itchy rash develops on the arms or legs, the first step to treatment is identifying the cause. Once the cause is determined, then targeted treatment can begin.
This article will cover many of the common causes of an itchy rash on the arms and legs, how to diagnose the rash, and treatment options.
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What Causes a Rash on Arms and Legs?
There are many possible causes for an itchy rash on the arms and legs. Here is information on each type of rash and what distinguishes it from other rashes.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis is an allergic response that happens after skin has come into contact with an allergen. There are numerous allergens that can cause an allergic reaction to the skin. Some of the most common are:
An allergic contact dermatitis rash may not form until 24 to 48 hours after exposure. The rash can produce the following symptoms:
One of the best ways to determine if a rash on the arms or legs is allergic contact dermatitis is to look at the rash pattern. For example, is there a mark from a watch, or does the rash follow along on the legs wheregrassor poison ivy grazed it?
Contact a healthcare provider if there is no clear cause for the rash.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis: An Overview
Flea Bites
Fleas are tiny bugs that feed on animal and human blood. A flea bite does not usually cause a serious rash.
The rash from a flea bite can cause the following rash symptoms:
If someone is allergic to a flea bite, the rash may be more significant with blistering and swelling.
Heliotrope Rash Symptoms in Dermatomyositis
Fifth Disease
Fifth diseaseis a viral illness that is also known as parvovirus. It causes a characteristic red rash on the face that appears like a slap. It is most commonly seen in children.
There can also be a rash on the arms, legs, chest, and back. However,in healthy people, fifth disease tends to be a mild illness that resolves on its own. It is passed on from person to person through respiratory secretions like salvia from a cough or sneeze.
The symptoms of a fifth disease rash include:
What Is Parvovirus?
Allergic Eczema
The itchy rash develops where the allergen touched the skin. Allergic eczema commonly affects body parts that frequently come in contact with the environment, such as arms and legs.
The rash that allergic eczema creates has the followingsymptoms:
Eczema
Chickenpox
The classic chickenpox rash is red and itchy. The rash will have blisters filled with fluid that eventually scab over. Othersymptomscan include fever, fatigue, headache, and decreased appetite.
Zika Rash: Everything You Need to Know
Cellulitis
Cellulitisis a bacterial infection of the deep layers of the skin. It can infect anywhere on the body but is commonly seen in the legs and feet.
The symptoms of a cellulitis rash include:
If left untreated, the infection can spread through the body causing more serious symptoms like a bloodstream infection.
Stomach Rash: Causes and Treatments
Drug Allergy
Adrug allergyis an immune response to a certain medication. The immune response can be small, only causing a rash, or the response can be significant, causinganaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that causes difficulty breathing and decreased blood pressure.
Any drug can cause an allergy but certain ones are more commonly seen:
Symptoms of a drug allergy vary fromhives(an itchy rash) and swelling to difficulty breathing. Whenever a drug allergy is suspected, it’s important to contact a healthcare provider.
Measles
Measlesis a highly contagious virus that starts seven to 14 days after exposure. The illness begins with a cough, fever, runny nose, and red watery eyes. Two to three days later small white spots (Koplik spots) begin to appear in the mouth. Then, three to five days after that the measles rash begins.
Themeaslesrash typically starts on the face, along the hairline. It then moves down the face to the arms, body, and legs.
The rash appears with flat red spots. A person can have a very high fever with the rash, up to 104° Fahrenheit.The rash is usually not itchy, but the heat from a high fever can make someone itchy.
Hives
One of the main characteristics of a hives rash is how it can come and go, sometimes very fast. Other traits of ahivesrash include:
Hives usually go away in 24 to 48 hours.
Other
There are so many different causes of itchy rashes on the arms and legs. The above list of causes is extensive but not exhaustive. Here are a few other potential causes of itchy rashes:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Also, it’s important to see a healthcare provider if the following symptoms occur with a rash:
Diagnosing Itchy Rashes
Healthcare providers can usually diagnose a rash largely based on its appearance and health history.
How Itchy Rashes Are Treated
Treatment for an itchy rash on the arms and legs will depend upon the cause of the rash. One of the first steps to treating the rash is to remove the cause if possible. Once the cause is removed, here are other treatment options:
Always check with a pharmacist or healthcare provider before starting a new medication.
Summary
An itchy rash on the arms and legs can cause work, life, and sleep disruptions. There are many different rash causes, from a drug allergy to poison ivy. Finding out what is causing the rash is the first step toward getting better.
Once the underlying cause of the rash is found, treatment can be geared for that specific cause. Treatment can usually be done from home; however, if it does not get better or worsens, it’s time to talk to a healthcare provider for further guidance.
15 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Contact dermatitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fleas, mites, and chiggers.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About fleas.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About parvovirus B19.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eczema.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chickenpox (varicella).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Drug allergies.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles symptoms and complications.Kanani A, Betschel SD, Warrington R.Urticaria and angioedema.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(2):59. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0288-zAmerican Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101 in adults.Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, Kim H.Anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(2):54. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0283-4Mohanty A, Gupta P, Arathi K, et al.Evaluation of direct examination, culture, and histopathology in the diagnosis of mucormycosis: Reiterating the role of KOH mount for early diagnosis.Cureus. 2021 Nov;13(11):e19455. doi:10.7759/cureus.19455Nowak D, Yeung J.Diagnosis and treatment of pruritus.Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(12):918-924.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Poison ivy.
15 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Contact dermatitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fleas, mites, and chiggers.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About fleas.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About parvovirus B19.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eczema.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chickenpox (varicella).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Drug allergies.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles symptoms and complications.Kanani A, Betschel SD, Warrington R.Urticaria and angioedema.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(2):59. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0288-zAmerican Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101 in adults.Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, Kim H.Anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(2):54. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0283-4Mohanty A, Gupta P, Arathi K, et al.Evaluation of direct examination, culture, and histopathology in the diagnosis of mucormycosis: Reiterating the role of KOH mount for early diagnosis.Cureus. 2021 Nov;13(11):e19455. doi:10.7759/cureus.19455Nowak D, Yeung J.Diagnosis and treatment of pruritus.Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(12):918-924.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Poison ivy.
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.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Contact dermatitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fleas, mites, and chiggers.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About fleas.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About parvovirus B19.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eczema.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chickenpox (varicella).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Drug allergies.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles symptoms and complications.Kanani A, Betschel SD, Warrington R.Urticaria and angioedema.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(2):59. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0288-zAmerican Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101 in adults.Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, Kim H.Anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(2):54. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0283-4Mohanty A, Gupta P, Arathi K, et al.Evaluation of direct examination, culture, and histopathology in the diagnosis of mucormycosis: Reiterating the role of KOH mount for early diagnosis.Cureus. 2021 Nov;13(11):e19455. doi:10.7759/cureus.19455Nowak D, Yeung J.Diagnosis and treatment of pruritus.Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(12):918-924.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Poison ivy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Contact dermatitis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fleas, mites, and chiggers.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About fleas.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About parvovirus B19.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Eczema.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chickenpox (varicella).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About cellulitis.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Drug allergies.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Measles symptoms and complications.
Kanani A, Betschel SD, Warrington R.Urticaria and angioedema.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(2):59. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0288-z
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101 in adults.
Fischer D, Vander Leek TK, Ellis AK, Kim H.Anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(2):54. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0283-4
Mohanty A, Gupta P, Arathi K, et al.Evaluation of direct examination, culture, and histopathology in the diagnosis of mucormycosis: Reiterating the role of KOH mount for early diagnosis.Cureus. 2021 Nov;13(11):e19455. doi:10.7759/cureus.19455
Nowak D, Yeung J.Diagnosis and treatment of pruritus.Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(12):918-924.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Poison ivy.
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