| Skin Rashes The word "rash" does not have an exact meaning or refer to a specific disease or kind of disorder. It's a general term that means an outbreak of bumps on the body that changes the way the skin looks and feels. Rashes can be localised to one area or else be widespread. The way people use this term, a rash can refer to many different skin conditions. Although rashes are seldom dangerous, self-diagnosis is not usually a good idea. Proper evaluation of a skin rash requires a visit to a doctor or other healthcare professional. Skin rashes can affect the epidermis' color, appearance, or texture. It may be localized to a part of the body or affect all of the skin. Common causes of skin rashes are anxiety, allergic reactions, irritants, bacterial or fungal infections, skin diseases such as Eczema or Acne, or exposure to sun or heat. Skin rashes often result in an itch, causing the person to scratch the affected skin area; doing so may increase or spread the rash. Many over the counter products provide temporary relief to skin rashes but because the causes of rashes are diverse, a doctor or dermatologist is the best choice for determining the treatment plan for a particular rash. Plants such as poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac, often are culprits of skin rashes for people working outdoors, hiking or camping. Your Skin and Stress The first thing people teel you about a skin rash is that it's stress related and they would be right. I believe about 60% and that's quite a high figure. When you have something on your mind and it's eating away at you, you get all hot and bothered it causes some people (including me) to come out in blotches and red patches which can also be quite itchy. You can reduce your stress levels by exercising and this in turn will help your skin recover. You do need to be careful though because the rash you currently have may in fact be sweat related so doing exercise may only aggrevate this further. Skin Rash Treatments You cannot always cure a skin rash unless you know what is causing it. If the rash is caused by an irritant which you are still in contact with or exposed to, you won’t get rid of the rash until you get rid of the irritant. Curing the rash as quickly as possible can prevent permanent changes to the skin such as darkening and thickening. Aloe Vera has long been used to treat skin ailments. It has many nutrients and properties beneficial to the skin. Aloe Vera is used as an anti-inflammatory agent. It also provides anti-bacterial and anti-fungal aid. Apply the gel from a leaf of the aloe vera plant directly to the skin rash. If you are not able to find one or do not wish to extract the gel yourself, you can find aloe vera extract at many stores. Apply at least 3 times a day. Olive oil is recommended to soothe dry skin and restore moisture. The skin can also benefit from the healing and renewal properties of olive oil. Skin rashes can be treated by applying olive oil to the affected skin. Oatmeal is another familiar skin treatment option. Besides being a gentle exfoliate, oatmeal will also alleviate inflammation. Pour a cup of oatmeal into your bath water and soak for at least fifteen to twenty minutes. When it comes to skin rashes, alleviating the symptoms should help lead to the cure. You can and should combine several of the treatments to eliminate the skin rash as quickly as possible. Please male sure you keep your skin affected by the rash clean and dry. |
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