Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsChickenpoxShinglesPoison Ivy, Oak, and SumacEczemaSkin InjuryScabiesImpetigoID ReactionHome Remedies for ItchingWhen to See a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Chickenpox
Shingles
Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac
Eczema
Skin Injury
Scabies
Impetigo
ID Reaction
Home Remedies for Itching
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Some rashes clear up on their own, but more severe ones require medical treatment. If you’re unsure what caused your itchy blisters, or your symptoms don’t ease with over-the-counter medicines, see a healthcare provider.
A person can have between 100 and 300 blisters during achickenpox infection. They commonly appear on the trunk, face, and scalp, but may also show up on the mucous membranes of the throat, eyes, anus, and genitals. The blisters eventually get cloudier and burst, leaving a yellowish crust.
Other symptoms of chickenpox, which may begin a day or two prior to the rash, include:
The chickenpox virus spreads easily through coughs, sneezes, or contact with ruptured blisters. It is now far less common than it used to be due to the widespread availability of a chickenpox vaccine.
If you have the itchy, blister rash associated with chickenpox, home remedies and over-the-counter pain relievers may provide some relief.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoShingles.CMSP / Gettty Images
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.
CMSP / Gettty Images
Shingles' blisters cause persistent and often severe pain when they rupture. They heal in seven to 10 days. A rare complication,postherpetic neuralgia, can cause pain that lasts for weeks, months, or even years.
Shingles typically affects people aged 50 and older, and anyone who was exposed to chickenpox is at risk.A blister’s fluid can transmit the virus to others who haven’t had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine.
If you suspect you have shingles, see your healthcare provider. You may need an antiviral medication, which can decrease the severity of the outbreak and help the rash clear up more quickly.
Rhus Dermatitis (Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac)
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPoison ivy rash on arm.JodiJacobson / Getty Images
Fluid from rhus dermatitis’s blisters can’t spread the rash to other people, but contact with the oil on a person’s skin or clothing can.
Poison ivy, oak, and sumac rashes will heal on their own in about three weeks, and over-the-counter treatments can help relieve the symptoms. However, if the rash is more widespread or severe, see a healthcare provider.
Dyshidrotic Eczema
Dyshidrotic eczema.Getty Images / Iuliia Mikhalitskaia
Getty Images / Iuliia Mikhalitskaia
Dyshidrotic eczema, orpompholyx, is an itchy rash that looks almost like tapioca pudding. It mainly develops on the hands and feet and isn’t contagious.The cause is unknown, but it’s believed to be related to abnormal immune function.
Dyshidrotic eczemamay leave behind red, dry, and cracked scales. Large, painful blisters can also develop, and if they’re on your feet, it may be hard to walk. The rash is often treated withtopical steroids, prescription medications that decrease inflammation, so it’s important to see a healthcare provider for treatment.
It’s easy to mistake this skin condition fordermatitis herpetiformis(DH), an intensely itchy rash that is a common symptom of celiac disease. The main difference is the color of the fluid-filled bumps, which are red or purple in DH and white or flesh-toned in eczema.
Trauma (any type of injury) to the skin can cause an itchy blister rash to develop. Skin injuries include:
These types of rashes can often be treated with over-the-counter creams and home remedies. However, severe skin traumas carry a risk of infection and may need medical treatment.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoP. Marazzi / Science Photo Libary / Getty Images
P. Marazzi / Science Photo Libary / Getty Images
A scabies rash commonly appears on:
Scabiescan be transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, and from contaminated clothing and bedding. It is commonly treated with anti-parasitic lotions that kill both the mite and its eggs, but prescription oral treatments are also available.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoScience Photo Library / Getty Images
Science Photo Library / Getty Images
Sores quickly develop into blisters, which leave behind a honey-colored crust after bursting. A less common form of impetigo, which most often affects babies and younger children, causes large blisters known asbullae.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoID reaction.HKPNC / Getty Images
HKPNC / Getty Images
AnID reactionis a rash that erupts in response to another rash. It is often a complication of a fungal infection, such as:
Treating the fungal infection—with an oral or topical medication, depending on its cause— should clear up an ID reaction.
Home Remedies
Home remedies can’t treat a virus or infection that’s causing a rash, but they can help relieve itchiness while the skin heals. Some options to consider include:
Contact a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
A sudden and fast-spreading rash is a sign of a potentially life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. Seek emergency medical care if your symptoms include mental confusion or trouble breathing.
Summary
Minor rashes can often be relieved with home care. However, more serious ones require medical treatment. See your healthcare provider if your rash is made up of blisters that appear suddenly, turns into open sores, is near your eyes or on your genitals, or doesn’t show signs of improvement after a few days.
A Word From Verywell
—CASEY GALLAGHER, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chickenpox symptoms and complications.Mayo Clinic.Chickenpox.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).Monroe J.Toxicodendron contact dermatitis: a case report and brief review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(9 Suppl 1):S29-S34.Vozianova SV, Dyadyk OO, Boyko VV, Radkevich YS.Genetic-morphological peculiarities of response to standard therapy in patients with dyshidrotic eczema of palms and soles.Wiad Lek. 2018;71(9):1707-1713. [Article in Ukrainian. Abstract referenced.]Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Texas A&M University.Blister beetle.Nemours: TeensHealth.I got blisters from a sunburn. What do I do?Banerji A.Scabies.Paediatr Child Health. 2015;20(7):395-402.Pereira LB.Impetigo - review.An Bras Dermatol. 2014;89(2):293–9. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142283Leung AK, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea corporis: an updated review.Drugs Context.2020;9:2020-5-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-5-6.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to relieve itchy skin.American Academy of Dermatology.Rash 101 in adults: When to seek medical treatment.MedlinePlus.Rash evaluation.
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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chickenpox symptoms and complications.Mayo Clinic.Chickenpox.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).Monroe J.Toxicodendron contact dermatitis: a case report and brief review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(9 Suppl 1):S29-S34.Vozianova SV, Dyadyk OO, Boyko VV, Radkevich YS.Genetic-morphological peculiarities of response to standard therapy in patients with dyshidrotic eczema of palms and soles.Wiad Lek. 2018;71(9):1707-1713. [Article in Ukrainian. Abstract referenced.]Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Texas A&M University.Blister beetle.Nemours: TeensHealth.I got blisters from a sunburn. What do I do?Banerji A.Scabies.Paediatr Child Health. 2015;20(7):395-402.Pereira LB.Impetigo - review.An Bras Dermatol. 2014;89(2):293–9. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142283Leung AK, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea corporis: an updated review.Drugs Context.2020;9:2020-5-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-5-6.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to relieve itchy skin.American Academy of Dermatology.Rash 101 in adults: When to seek medical treatment.MedlinePlus.Rash evaluation.
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.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chickenpox symptoms and complications.Mayo Clinic.Chickenpox.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).Monroe J.Toxicodendron contact dermatitis: a case report and brief review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(9 Suppl 1):S29-S34.Vozianova SV, Dyadyk OO, Boyko VV, Radkevich YS.Genetic-morphological peculiarities of response to standard therapy in patients with dyshidrotic eczema of palms and soles.Wiad Lek. 2018;71(9):1707-1713. [Article in Ukrainian. Abstract referenced.]Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Texas A&M University.Blister beetle.Nemours: TeensHealth.I got blisters from a sunburn. What do I do?Banerji A.Scabies.Paediatr Child Health. 2015;20(7):395-402.Pereira LB.Impetigo - review.An Bras Dermatol. 2014;89(2):293–9. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142283Leung AK, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea corporis: an updated review.Drugs Context.2020;9:2020-5-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-5-6.American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to relieve itchy skin.American Academy of Dermatology.Rash 101 in adults: When to seek medical treatment.MedlinePlus.Rash evaluation.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chickenpox symptoms and complications.
Mayo Clinic.Chickenpox.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).
Monroe J.Toxicodendron contact dermatitis: a case report and brief review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(9 Suppl 1):S29-S34.
Vozianova SV, Dyadyk OO, Boyko VV, Radkevich YS.Genetic-morphological peculiarities of response to standard therapy in patients with dyshidrotic eczema of palms and soles.Wiad Lek. 2018;71(9):1707-1713. [Article in Ukrainian. Abstract referenced.]
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dermatitis herpetiformis.
Texas A&M University.Blister beetle.
Nemours: TeensHealth.I got blisters from a sunburn. What do I do?
Banerji A.Scabies.Paediatr Child Health. 2015;20(7):395-402.
Pereira LB.Impetigo - review.An Bras Dermatol. 2014;89(2):293–9. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20142283
Leung AK, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea corporis: an updated review.Drugs Context.2020;9:2020-5-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-5-6.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to relieve itchy skin.
American Academy of Dermatology.Rash 101 in adults: When to seek medical treatment.
MedlinePlus.Rash evaluation.
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?
