Rashes Specialist

What are rashes?

Rashes describe changes in your skin that affect its color, texture, or appearance. When you have a rash, it might cause itchiness and dryness in your skin and even become painful.

Some rashes can quickly spread to other areas of your body, especially if you scratch your skin. Your risk for a skin infection also increases if you scratch an itchy rash.

What causes rashes?

There are a number of reasons why you might develop a rash, including:

Skin conditions

Underlying skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can cause itchy, recurrent skin rashes.

Medical conditions

Medical conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can lead to irritating or painful skin rashes.

Allergies

You might develop a rash if you make contact with a substance that you’re allergic to, such as poison ivy, detergents, perfumes, or certain chemicals. This type of skin rash is known as contact dermatitis.

When should I seek treatment for rashes?

Not all rashes need medical treatment; however, if you don’t know what’s causing your rash, it’s important that you schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Integrated Dermatology of Newton-Brighton.

You should schedule a consultation if you have a rash that isn’t improving with over-the-counter creams or for a rash that worsens even with home care. Untreated skin rashes can progress to painful infections if you scratch open your skin and allow bacteria to enter.

Your dermatology expert provides skin evaluations, patch testing, and other diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of your allergies. They discuss any new changes in your life, such as using new soaps or skin creams, that might relate to the development of your rash.

How are rashes treated?

A common treatment for many types of rashes is a steroid cream that you apply directly to your skin to relieve the itching and inflammation.

Your provider at Integrated Dermatology of Newton-Brighton can prescribe stronger creams that you can buy at a store. They also offer non-steroid creams to moisturize your skin and ease the discomfort of a rash.

If you have a rash that isn’t going away or is spreading fast, schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Integrated Dermatology of Newton-Brighton. You can call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.