Rash
Alternate Names : Cutaneous Eruption
A rash is an area of the skin that has broken out or changed in appearance. It may affect one small patch of skin or the entire body.
What is going on in the body?
There are many skin changes that can occur with a rash, including:
swelling
warmth
blisters
bumps
color changes
itching
pain
Skin can react or break out for many different reasons, ranging from allergic reactions to infections and even cancer.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
There are many possible causes of a rash. General categories include:
infections, such as ringworm; Lyme disease; syphilis; measles;chickenpox; scabies; roseola; impetigo; genital herpes and herpes zoster; Rocky Mountain spotted fever;Kawasaki disease;hand, foot, and mouth disease; cat scratch disease; Group A strep infections; staphylococcus infections; diaper rash; and scarlet fever
allergic reactions, which can be from medications, metals, chemicals, soaps, lotions, foods, or other materials
primary skin diseases, such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, or rosacea, which often occur for unknown reasons
autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma,, and ulcerative colitis
other conditions and diseases, such as diabetes or pregnancy
skin cancer or a cancer deeper in the body that causes a rash
leukemia, a blood cancer
inflammation of blood vessels, called vasculitis, in the skin
poor circulation, which commonly causes rashes in the lower legs
reaction to various childhood vaccinations, such as the chickenpox vaccine
heat or sun exposure
Other causes are also possible. Sometimes the cause is not found.
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