Skin infection rashes: 6 Causes, Symptoms and Prevention

Skin infection rashes: Causes Treatments and Prevention
Rashes: rashes are the abnormal changes in the skin’s texture, color or look usually caused by infections, heat, allergens, immune system disorders, and certain medications. Skin rashes are often itchy and painful resulting from inflammations formed on the skin.

Rashes can occur on any part of the body. People with light or white skin tones may have rashes looking white, gray, or purple on their skin whiles those with dark or black skin look reddish.
Skin rashes may include skin bumps that look like pimples or sores, blotchy, scaly, or red skin, and itchy or burning skin.

Skin infections: Skin infections are many conditions and disorders that cause pain, swelling, irritations, and discomfort to the skin. Skin infections are caused by disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, viral, fungi, and parasites.

Difference between skin infection and skin infection rashes

You may want to know exactly the difference between skin infections and skin rashes. In simple terms, skin infections are conditions or disorders of the skin that are caused by germs and disease-causing pathogens like fungi, bacteria, viruses, and parasites that invade and attack the skin resulting in pain, irritations, swelling, and sores while skin rash can be a symptom caused by a skin infection, heat, allergens, and some irritants.

Not everyone who has skin rashes may necessarily have an infection or skin infections. Although skin rashes can be a sign of infection or health condition and may be caused by the presence of germs or pathogens, minor conditions like allergens and other environmental factors can trigger skin or body rash.

How do skin infection rashes look like

Skin rash’s appearance depends on the cause and its severity, most often rash will break out in the form of tiny bumps, inflammations, flaky and scaly skin, white patches, blisters, sores, and redness of the skin.

Symptoms

You may experience symptoms like

• Skin redness or soreness
• irritation
• flaking skin
• itching
• tiny, fluid-filled blisters that ooze when scratched
• dry, scaly, or crusted skin
• painful tiny bumps
• sores that may bleed when scratched.

You may experience mild symptoms depending on the type of skin rash, your skin type, and the infection severity. Some skin rash may be wild and go away on their own. Report any abnormal or outburst of skin rashes and signs to your doctor. He may perform a proper test on you to detect the cause of it. Below are the signs to look out for and seek immediate medical help to;

Severe symptoms of skin infection rashes

• swellings of the face(eyes, neck, mouth, or lips)
• difficulty breathing
• chronic itching, soreness, and discomfort
• severe bleeding when scratched
• difficulty swallowing
• blurred vision or painful itchy and watery eyes
• high fever or body temperature
• loss of appetite and unexpected weight loss
• persistence irritations

 

Causes and risk factor

The majority of skin rashes are caused by infections. When the skin is infected, rashes may occur as signs or symptoms of the illness however some skin rashes may be caused by other factors which includes chemical substances, skin products, medications, autoimmune conditions, and many more. Below are the bulleted points of the various factors causing skin rashes;

Infections and skin disorders.

Skin infections and disorders like bacterial, fungi, viral or parasitic infections may cause skin rashes such as yeast infections, scabies, shingles, HIV, etc. Skin disorders cause majority of skin rashes which including, Atopic dermatitis(eczema), Pityriasis rosea, contact dermatitis, and ringworm, among others.

Heat.

Heat due to hot, humid weather or overdressing. This occurs when the flow of sweat is obstructed. Example of a condition caused by heat is known as Heat rash(miliaria)

Allergens of medications

Allergens may result in skin rashes in some patients. Drug and some medication can cause skin rashes in some patients who are allergic to the chemical and substances found in these products.
A condition known as Drug rash may occur as a side effect of taking a drug or as an allergic reaction to it. Antibiotics, diuretics, and other medications may cause body or skin rash.

Immune system disorders

Autoimmune conditions(a situation where the body’s immune system attacks its tissues) can cause some skin rashes. An example is Lichen planus. A weakened immune system has been linked to some skin rashes. The body’s inability to fight infections due underlying health conditions like HIV/AIDS can cause skin rash and other health problems.

Certain medications and treatments

Patients recovering from treatments with medications may suffer from skin rash due to the body’s reactions to the treatments

Chemicals and irritants

Some chemical products can cause skin rashes in some patients, people with sensitive skin may be at higher risk of having skin rash; Chemical products can cause a severe skin rash in some patients.

Obesity and diabetes

Obese and diabetic patients may develop skin rash in some parts of their bodies. Skin inflammations caused by skin-to-skin friction, most often in warm, moist areas of the body like the groin, between folds of skin on the abdomen, under the breast and inner thighs, under arms, and between toes. This can cause rashes to develop in these areas. In severe cases, the affected area may become sensitive and painful resulting in sores cracked skin, and sometimes bleeding.

12 common types of skin infections rashes

• Swimmer’s itch called cercarial dermatitis
• Shingles are known as herpes zoster
• Rosacea
• Ringworm of the body called tinea corporis
• Psoriasis
• Lichen planus
• Intertrigo
• Heat rash called miliaria
• Drug rash
• Contact dermatitis
• Pityriasis rosea
• Atopic dermatitis is commonly known as eczema

Diagnosis

 

 

Diagnosis includes scraping off the affected area and samples studied under the microscope. The doctor will perform physical examinations to diagnose skin infection rash by looking for a potential rash, and other possible symptoms such as sores, pus-like bumps, and inflammations.
Your doctor may perform a secondary laboratory test to confirm the cause and particular type of infection or skin rash.

Treatments

Common skin rash can be treated by creams, ointments, sprays, or anti-itch and antihistamines. Your doctor will be able to provide you with the best treatment method for recovery

Prevention of skin infection rashes

Some skin rashes can be prevented by certain practices and lifestyles. You may avoid coming into close contact with people affected by a skin rash. Other infectious causes of skin rash, may be prevented by protecting and treating yourself against such infections.

Home remedies and lifestyles

• Avoid harsh soaps and other irritants
• apply creams or lotions regularly to your skin
• applying prescription anti- itch and other ointments.
• use powders on skin folds
• use medicated soaps to reduce itching and discomfort
• discontinue using drugs and other products that may cause rash
• use cool compresses or cold baths to reduce heat rash. Also, avoid wearing tight and heavy clothes and excessive heat and humidity
• For bacterial and fungal skin rash, use anti-fungal and anti-bacterial creams and ointments in the affected area.
• Be sure to use all prescriptions and pills for severe cases of skin rash. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, your skin rash might be caused by bacteria or fungi. Use all medications as stated.
• do not discontinue medications or prescriptions as it may result in recurring and serious skin rash or infections.
• Lukewarm baths with salt or baking soda may soothe a swimmer’s itch. You may also use antihistamines or anti-itch creams to reduce symptoms.

 

Key points on Skin infection rashes

• Skin infection can be a result of reactions to some substances or allergic reactions to them.
• If you’re currently recovering from some health conditions and receiving treatments, you may have skin rashes.
• Antibiotics often cause skin rashes.
• Skin rash can be a cause or symptom of an infection. Some sexually transmitted infections may cause skin rash including Syphilis HIV, and Hepatitis B.
• people who are obese are at risk of developing skin rashes in body folds, under arms, inner thighs, and breasts.
• A weakened immune system due to unhealthy diets, infections, or autoimmune conditions and disorders like cancer can cause a skin rash.
• There are numerous ways and means you can get skin rash. If you noticed any substance, or condition that causes your skin to develop rashes, you may want to stay away from such substances and report any medical condition you notice that might be the cause of your skin rash.
• Clean and healthy skin may protect against infection and germs. Practice good personal hygiene.
• Avoid coming into close contact with people who show signs of any skin-related infections,
• You may want to check with a dermatologist if there are any health conditions on your skin, skin types, and product use.
• Seek medical help.