Rash

Home » Rash » Treatment

Treatment

Treatment for skin rashes varies according to the type of rash and its cause. In most cases, rashes caused by viruses resolve on their own over the course of days or weeks and do not require treatment, except to reduce itching.

Anti-itching lotions (e.g., Calamine®), oatmeal baths, and aloe vera gel may provide relief. To reduce the risk for scarring and secondary infections from scratching, fingernails should be kept short and clean, especially in young children.

Mild rashes that worsen when the air is cold and dry (xerosis) can be treated using moisturizer during the winter months. Topical (applied to the skin) creams and ointments, including over-the-counter and prescription-strength corticosteroids (e.g., hydrocortisone) and nonsteroidal medications, such as tacrolimus (Protopic®) and pimecrolimus (Elidel®) may also be used. Long-term use of corticosteroids may cause thinning of the skin and infections.

Skin infections (e.g., bacterial or fungal) may be treated using antibiotics, which can be applied to the skin (creams, ointments) or taken orally (by mouth), or prescription antifungal creams. Antihistamines reduce itching and may cause drowsiness, providing more restful sleep when taken at bedtime.

Phototherapy involves using ultraviolet A and/or B light waves to treat mild to moderate skin rashes (e.g., psoriasis) in adults and children over the age of 12. In some cases, a drug called psoralen is used in combination with phototherapy. Patients who are receiving phototherapy are monitored carefully during treatment. Long-term side effects include premature aging of the skin and skin cancer.

When topical treatments are ineffective, physicians may prescribe systemic corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), which are taken orally or injected into muscle instead of being applied to the skin. Corticosteroids should not be discontinued suddenly and the dosage is tapered off gradually. They are used only for short periods of time because long-term use can cause serious side effects, including the following:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Increased blood sugar levels
• Infections
• Skin damage
• Thinning or weakening bones

Immunosuppressive drugs (e.g., Cyclosporine) may be used in adults to treat severe skin rashes that do not respond to other treatments. Side effects include the following:

• Headaches
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Infections
• Kidney problems
• Nausea and vomiting
• Numbness and tingling

Prevention

To help prevent simple rashes, identify and avoid substances that irritate the skin and use only hypoallergenic cosmetics and lotions.

Other methods that may be helpful include showering every other day instead of every day, using warm water instead of hot, gentle cleansers instead of soap, and patting the skin dry instead of rubbing.

Learning relaxation techniques (e.g., yoga, meditation) can help reduce stress, which aggravates many types of rash.

© 1998-2008 Healthcommunities.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Rash Resources

	Join Our Rash Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
Are you interested in becoming a nurse? Take this test. Advertising Disclaimer To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer