While it’s not uncommon for someone to break out in a rash, it can cause some alarm. The difficult thing about rashes is that they can be caused by so many different things, especially for those with allergies and sensitive skin. The first thing you should do is try to figure out what is causing the rash, which will make it easier to learn how to treat it and keep it from spreading. Let’s take a look at 4 common types of rashes and how to treat them:
1. Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is one of the most common types of rashes, and it occurs when you are exposed to something directly. It can either be due to direct contact or could be the result of an allergic reaction to something nearby. This type of rash is often characterized by a dry, scaly, and itchy rash. There are many substances that can cause this type of skin rash, including cleaning products and chemicals. There are also some outdoor factors that can cause rashing, with the most common culprit being poison ivy.
2. Heat Rashes
A heat rash occurs when the flow of sweat is obstructed. This is usually due to hot and humid weather or overdressing. Furthermore, prickly heat rash is a type of heat rash that appears as clusters of small bumps that may produce a stinging sensation. Sometimes, the bumps appear as clear, fluid-filled bumps. The good thing about heat rash is that it’s easily treatable. Once the skin cools, the rash resolves itself but it can also be treated using cool compresses or a cold bath.
3. Shingles
Shingles is a painful rash that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which makes it one of the only types of rashes caused by a virus. This is also the same virus that causes chickenpox. One interesting fact is that once you have chickenpox, the virus remains inactive in the nerve tissue in your body, which makes you prone to get shingles later in life. An outbreak of shingles usually begins with pain but no physical signs. From there, clusters of blisters appear in an area on one side of the body. Even after the initial outbreak, pain and itching may persist for weeks or even months. If you are over the age of 50, talk to your doctor about vaccine options to prevent shingles.
4. Drug Rash
Did you know that you can develop a rash as a side effect of taking a drug or as an allergic reaction to it? This can be caused by several types of new medications, including antibiotics, diuretics, or other types of medicine. This type of rash normally begins hours after taking the new medication. Once you stop taking the medication, the spots and rash should clear up in a few days.
How to Treat Rashes
There are a few different products that are typically used to treat rashes, including hydrocortisone and Zanfel. Hydrocortisone is a steroid medicine that works by calming down your body’s immune response to reduce pain, itching, and swelling. For rashes, this is done with a cream, lotion, or ointment. Zanfel is a formulated wash used to remove urushiol, which is the toxin found in poison ivy.
Now that you know about products to treat different types of rashes, check out our entire collection of health supplements and vitamins that can be used to help a variety of health conditions! We look forward to helping you live a happy and healthy life!
