Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBites, Stings, and Outdoor RashesCosmetic, Cleaning Products, and Other Household ExposuresAllergic or Sensitivity ReactionsBacterial, Viral, Fungal, and Parasitic InfectionsMedicationsAutoimmune DisordersOther Health Condition-Related CausesTreatmentWhen to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Bites, Stings, and Outdoor Rashes
Cosmetic, Cleaning Products, and Other Household Exposures
Allergic or Sensitivity Reactions
Bacterial, Viral, Fungal, and Parasitic Infections
Medications
Autoimmune Disorders
Other Health Condition-Related Causes
Treatment
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
This article helps readers figure out how particular rashes appear, what skin rash treatments and at-home remedies exist, and when to seek medical attention.
Iuliia Burmistrova / Getty Images
Alphabetical List of Common Rashes and Their Causes
Bug bites and stings can be painful and itchy and cause swelling in the area. Most bug bites are harmless and can be treated at home, but some can spread diseases like:
Other outdoor rashes include skin reactions after contact with certain plants like poison ivy, oak, or sumac.Poison ivy rashescan vary in appearance from typical red, itchy bumps to black spot poison ivy dermatitis, which looks like its name suggests.Poison ivy rash can also appear as streaks or spots.
Heat RashHeat rash (miliaria or prickly heat) happens when sweat gets trapped and blocks the sweat glands. It causes inflammation and small, itchy, red bumps like little blisters or pimples. Therash color varies based on a person’s skin tone(e.g., red bumps may be darker on darker skin tones) This type of rash is most common on the neck, scalp, chest, groin, or elbow creases.
Heat Rash
Heat rash (miliaria or prickly heat) happens when sweat gets trapped and blocks the sweat glands. It causes inflammation and small, itchy, red bumps like little blisters or pimples. Therash color varies based on a person’s skin tone(e.g., red bumps may be darker on darker skin tones) This type of rash is most common on the neck, scalp, chest, groin, or elbow creases.
What Does a Heat Rash Look Like and How Is It Treated?
Rashes from exposure to irritants can appear crusty or scaly and include lesions and fluid-filled lesions (vesicles). During more severe skin reactions, hypersensitivity to sun exposure can occur, along with oozing blisters.
Many household irritants are found in:
Exposure to irritants found in everyday household products is said to account for around 80% of skin rashes.
Contact Dermatitis
Allergic or sensitivity reactions cause an immune system response. The rash will likely be itchy, red, pink, and raised or flat at the allergen contact point. Blisters and oozing can occur in severe reactions. These types of rashes can develop afterrepeat exposure to an allergen, but some people do react more quickly than others.
What Causes Allergies? Common Allergens and Other Factors
Somerashes from infectionswill cover a small surface area, whereas others will spread deeper into the skin. Exact symptoms depend on the type of infection but typically include:
Skin infections may be particularly common in people with eczema.
Types of Bacterial Skin Infections and How to Treat Them
Adverse drug interactions or “drug hypersensitivity” can cause an itchy rash or tender bumps and blisters. It’s said the most common type of drug reaction ishives (urticaria).
Anyone of any age can experience a drug reaction. Symptoms typically resolve without permanent damage to the skin. However, symptoms may remain for days or weeks after the medication causing the reaction has been stopped.Before stopping medication, consult with a healthcare provider.
How Can You Find Out If You’re Allergic to a Medication Before You Take It?
In autoimmune disorders, the immune system targets healthy skin cells, leading to various rash types. People withpsoriasis, for example, experience sped up skin cell growth, leading to build-up known as plaques and patches known as scales.
Many otherautoimmune skin conditionscan cause a rash. Examples include:
Autoimmune Skin Disorders
There are other autoimmune disorders and also inflammatory diseases that can cause a rash. Examples include:
HIV RashHIV infections can cause a flat rash with reddened skin patches (macules) and small raised bumps (papules). The rash appears two to six weeks after exposure to HIV.It is itchy and painful.
HIV Rash
HIV infections can cause a flat rash with reddened skin patches (macules) and small raised bumps (papules). The rash appears two to six weeks after exposure to HIV.It is itchy and painful.
Childhood illnesses and infections that cause rashes include:
13 Pictures of Common Skin Rashes
How to Identify and Treat Skin Rashes
When in doubt about the cause of a rash, consult a healthcare provider.
General guidelines for at-home treatments, home remedies, or natural ways of relieving rash symptoms include:
Oral histamines or topical steroids may also be suggested to relieve itching and other rash symptoms. If the rash is widespread, a healthcare provider or dermatologist may prescribe a short-term course of injectable or oral corticosteroids.
Severe rash may require stronger orprescription-strength hydrocortisone or other steroid creamtreatment.
10 Warning Signs to Seek Immediate Care for a Rash
Rashes can take days to weeks to heal. While most will resolve on their own, knowing when to seek medical attention is essential to preventing complications. Experts from the American Academy of Dermatology Association say the following scenarios require medical attention:
Seek Immediate Medical CareSeek emergency medical care if your eyes or lips swell up or you have trouble breathing or swallowing.
Seek Immediate Medical Care
Seek emergency medical care if your eyes or lips swell up or you have trouble breathing or swallowing.
A Guide to Viral Rashes in Adults and Children
Summary
Skin rashes can happen for many reasons, from insect bites, allergies, and medications to autoimmune disorders, HIV, and various skin infections. Rashes have many different appearances. Many will resolve on their own or with at-home treatments, including gentle cleaning, avoiding further irritation, and applying a topical medicated lotion. Some may require medical attention. When in doubt or emergency scenarios, consult with a healthcare provider.
17 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.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips to prevent and treat bug bites.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, or sumac: what does the rash look like?Harvard Health.Heat rash: how to spot it and what to do.National Eczema Association.Contact dermatitis.Yale Medicine.Allergic contact dermatitis.National Eczema Society.Infections and eczema.NYU Langone Health.Types of drug reactions and hives.National Psoriasis Foundation.Causes and triggers.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Scleroderma: signs and symptoms.NYU Langone Health.Types of cutaneous lupus.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Behcet’s disease.Chukwuma O, Saikaly SK, Montanez-Wiscovich M, Winslow C, Motaparthi K.Ocular pseudopemphigoid with concomitant eyelid dermatitis secondary to rosacea.JAAD Case Rep. 2020;7:62-64. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2020.11.007Penn Medicine.Rash.National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dermatomyositis.Altman K, Vanness E, Westergard RP.Cutaneous manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus: a clinical update.Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2015;17(3):464. doi:10.1007/s11908-015-0464-yNational Eczema Association.Contact dermatitis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101.
17 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.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips to prevent and treat bug bites.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, or sumac: what does the rash look like?Harvard Health.Heat rash: how to spot it and what to do.National Eczema Association.Contact dermatitis.Yale Medicine.Allergic contact dermatitis.National Eczema Society.Infections and eczema.NYU Langone Health.Types of drug reactions and hives.National Psoriasis Foundation.Causes and triggers.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Scleroderma: signs and symptoms.NYU Langone Health.Types of cutaneous lupus.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Behcet’s disease.Chukwuma O, Saikaly SK, Montanez-Wiscovich M, Winslow C, Motaparthi K.Ocular pseudopemphigoid with concomitant eyelid dermatitis secondary to rosacea.JAAD Case Rep. 2020;7:62-64. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2020.11.007Penn Medicine.Rash.National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dermatomyositis.Altman K, Vanness E, Westergard RP.Cutaneous manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus: a clinical update.Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2015;17(3):464. doi:10.1007/s11908-015-0464-yNational Eczema Association.Contact dermatitis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101.
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.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips to prevent and treat bug bites.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, or sumac: what does the rash look like?Harvard Health.Heat rash: how to spot it and what to do.National Eczema Association.Contact dermatitis.Yale Medicine.Allergic contact dermatitis.National Eczema Society.Infections and eczema.NYU Langone Health.Types of drug reactions and hives.National Psoriasis Foundation.Causes and triggers.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Scleroderma: signs and symptoms.NYU Langone Health.Types of cutaneous lupus.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Behcet’s disease.Chukwuma O, Saikaly SK, Montanez-Wiscovich M, Winslow C, Motaparthi K.Ocular pseudopemphigoid with concomitant eyelid dermatitis secondary to rosacea.JAAD Case Rep. 2020;7:62-64. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2020.11.007Penn Medicine.Rash.National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dermatomyositis.Altman K, Vanness E, Westergard RP.Cutaneous manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus: a clinical update.Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2015;17(3):464. doi:10.1007/s11908-015-0464-yNational Eczema Association.Contact dermatitis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Tips to prevent and treat bug bites.
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Harvard Health.Heat rash: how to spot it and what to do.
National Eczema Association.Contact dermatitis.
Yale Medicine.Allergic contact dermatitis.
National Eczema Society.Infections and eczema.
NYU Langone Health.Types of drug reactions and hives.
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NYU Langone Health.Types of cutaneous lupus.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Behcet’s disease.
Chukwuma O, Saikaly SK, Montanez-Wiscovich M, Winslow C, Motaparthi K.Ocular pseudopemphigoid with concomitant eyelid dermatitis secondary to rosacea.JAAD Case Rep. 2020;7:62-64. doi:10.1016/j.jdcr.2020.11.007
Penn Medicine.Rash.
National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dermatomyositis.
Altman K, Vanness E, Westergard RP.Cutaneous manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus: a clinical update.Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2015;17(3):464. doi:10.1007/s11908-015-0464-y
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Rash 101.
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