Common skin rash types and how you can identify them

When your skin is exposed to an allergen, a toxin, or any kind of infection, it develops an unusual texture in response. This reaction of the skin is known as a skin rash. The most common problems associated with a skin rash are a pain, oozing out of fluids, and in some cases itching. In appearance, skin rashes can vary widely—from swelling of a tissue to the painful sores on the skin. However, sometimes it can get difficult to identify a skin rash, even for someone who is trained to do so.

Based on their appearance, symptoms, and recovery pattern, skin rashes can be of different types. For example, there are certain kinds of skin rashes that get cured with time and do not need any external help. However, for other rashes, you might have to seek medical help from a dermatologist. To classify them broadly, a skin rash can either fall in the category of being infectious or non-infectious.

There are numerous types of skin rashes. However, some of them are more common than others. The ones that can be found more commonly are listed here and how you can identify them.

Hives
On coming in contact with certain allergens or infections, the immune system responds by releasing histamine in the bloodstream. As a result, the small blood vessels tend to expand and start leaking fluid into the epidermis, the uppermost layer of the skin. When the fluid gets accumulated in the epidermis, it causes swelling and this skin rash is known as hives. Some of the most common characteristics associated with hives are:

Inflammation
Itching
Sponginess of the skin
Affects a large area of skin

Impetigo
The most common type of skin infection caused either by streptococcal or staphylococcal bacteria is known as impetigo. Herpetic impetigo is the most common type of impetigo and it usually occurs on the face or on the limbs. Few of the characteristics associated with impetigo are:

Tiny blisters that erupt on the skin surface
The occurrence of a honey-colored crust on the skin

Shingles
On coming in contact with a reactivated herpes zoster virus, the virus responsible for chickenpox, the skin reacts in the form of an allergy, which is commonly known as shingles. People with a weak immune system are at the highest risk of developing this type of skin rash. Shingles usually affect people who are in their later stages of life and it can be identified by:

A mild ache in the initial stages
Sensitivity to touch
Formation of a cluster of tiny blisters
Ulcers
Pain ranging between prickly feeling to severe aches

Athlete’s foot
This is a common skin rash type often caused by fungal infection. The most common characteristics to identify this type of skin rash are:

Red rashes that usually occur between toes or the soles
Mild itch
Blisters that can cause pain
Flaking

Eczema
A variety of factors can cause skin rashes, including infections, medications, heat, allergens, and immune system disorders. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is one of the most common skin disorders that causes a skin rash. Some of the common characteristics of an eczema skin rash are:

Dry skin
Raw, sensitive, and swollen skin from scratching
Itching, which may get severe, especially at night
Thickened, cracked, and scaly skin
Red to brownish-gray patches, especially affecting the hands, the face and the scalp (in infants), feet, the inside bend of the elbows and knees, ankles, eyelids, wrists, upper chest, and neck
Small, raised bumps that may leak fluid and crust over upon scratching

Christmas tree rash
Christmas tree rash, also known as pityriasis rosea, is a fine, scaly, and itchy rash that usually first appears as a single patch on the chest, the back, or the abdomen. After its first appearance (herald patch), the skin rash may spread as small patches to other parts of the back, the neck, or the chest. The common characteristics for recognizing this skin rash are: