Skin rashes are characterized by a change in the texture and color of your skin. They can be caused by allergies, intoxication, heat or they can be a symptom of a separate illness, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. When a skin rash happens after you come into contact with chemicals, detergents, dyes or poison ivy, it is called contact dermatitis. Other types of rashes include seborrheic dermatitis, which is when the rash occurs in different parts of your face, such as on your nose, mouth and eyelids. Consult your dermatologist before self diagnosing and treating a skin rash.
Step 1
Observe your skin rash carefully. Aspects you want to consider are the location of your rash, which will help you narrow down what kind of rash you may have, and the color of your skin on the rash and around it. Some rashes such as ring worm, will be red in the center and slightly white on the rim of the rash.
You can use a lupe to examine your rash closely and notice whether there are minute bumps on it or boils. Another aspect to keep in mind is whether your rash is itchy and if it spreads when there is heat or moisture.
Step 2
Touch your rash to feel the temperature of your skin. When rashes cause inflammation, they are usually warm or hot. According to MayoClinic.com, a common heat rash is miliaria rubra, which causes small, red blister-like bumps on your skin. Miliaria crystallina also causes boils, but they are not red and do not cause stinging as the rubra boils do.
Step 3
Wait at least 24 hours to see if your skin rash diminishes, it remains the same, or gets worse. Many times rashes are contact dermatitis, which are caused by mild irritations your skin has when it comes in contact with external elements such as dyes on cloth, soaps or perfume. Once you remove these elements, your skin will begin to heal and the rash will eventually disappear without treatment.
Step 4
Make note of anything that may be causing an allergic reaction and giving you a rash. There are rashes that may come from taking certain medications especially antibiotics and diuretics. If you suspect you are experiencing a drug rash, you must contact your dermatologist as it may be the initial sign of a more severe allergic reaction and thus should be treated promptly.
Step 5
Consult a dermatology book or a trusted online source, such as MayoClinic.com or MedlinePlus, to look at photographs of rashes that might resemble yours and to determine the type you are experiencing.
Things You'll Need
- Lupe (optional)
