Causes of Localized Rash or Redness

• Irritants. A rash in just one spot is usually caused by skin contact with an irritant.
• Plants. Many plants cause skin reactions. Sap from evergreens can cause a red area.
• Pollen. Playing in the grass can cause a pink rash on exposed skin.
• Pet Saliva. Some people get a rash where a dog or cat has licked them.
• Food. Some people get a rash if a food is rubbed on the skin. An example could be a fresh fruit.
• Chemicals. Many of the products used in the home or at work can irritate the skin.
• Insect Bite. Local redness and swelling is a reaction to the insect's saliva. Can be very large without being an allergy. You can often get mosquito bites without noticing it at the time.
• Bee Sting. Local redness and swelling is a reaction to the bee's venom. Swelling can be very large without being an allergy.
• Impetigo. A localized rash which spreads quickly. Looks like spots with a golden crust. Often occur around the mouth, but spreads to other areas of the body. It can be passed on to other close contacts. Avoid sharing towels and close contact until it has been treated.
• Cellulitis. This is a bacterial infection of the skin. The main symptom is a red area that keeps spreading. Starts from a break in the skin (such as a scratched insect bite). The red area is painful to the touch. It can spread fast and become serious, so seek medical care if the redness starts to spread or if you start to feel feverish.
• Other Common Causes. Look at the "See Other Care Guide" section. Many rashes that you may be able to recognize are listed there. If you suspect one of them, go there. If not, use this guide.

Localized Versus Widespread Rash: How to Decide

• Localized means the rash occurs on one small part of the body. Usually, the rash is just on one side of the body. An example is a rash on one foot or one part of the foot. Exceptions: athlete's foot can occur on both feet. Insect bites can be in small areas or groups of small spots.
• Widespread means the rash occurs on larger areas. Examples are both legs or the entire back. Widespread can also be on most of the body surface. Widespread rashes always occur on matching (both) sides of the body. Many viral rashes are on the chest, stomach and back.
• The cause of a widespread rash usually goes through the blood stream. Examples are rashes caused by viruses, bacteria, toxins, and food or drug allergies.
• The cause of a localized rash often from contact with the skin. Examples are rashes caused by chemicals, allergens, insect bites, ringworm fungus, bacteria or irritants.
• This is why it's important to make this distinction.

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a common cause of a rash in one area. This often appears as a small rash that will not go away. Contact dermatitis usually starts as raised red spots. It can change to blisters, as in poison ivy. The rash is itchy. Contact dermatitis is an allergic skin rash. The location of the rash may suggest the cause:

• Poison ivy or oak: exposed areas, such as the hands.
• Nickel (metal): anywhere the metal has touched the skin. Neck from necklaces; earlobe from earrings; or fingers from rings. Stomach from metal snap inside pants; wrist from a watch; face from eyeglass frames.
• Tanning agents in leather: tops of the feet from shoes or hands from leather gloves
• Preservatives in creams, lotions, cosmetics, sunscreens, shampoos: where applied
• Neomycin in antibiotic ointment: where applied

When to Call for Rash or Redness - Localized

Care Advice

What You Should Know about Localized Rashes:

• Most new localized rashes are due to skin contact with an irritant.
• Sometimes infections start as a localized rash, but spread to a wider area or multiple patches.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Avoid the Cause:

• Try to find the cause.
• Consider irritants like a plant (such as evergreens or weeds).
• Chemicals used at home or at work (such as detergents, solvents or insecticides).
• Irritants also can include fiberglass or detergents.
• New make up, lotion or new jewelry may be the cause.
• Nickel may cause a rash on your earlobe (for earring wearers) or where jeans studs touch your skin.
• A pet may carry the irritant on its fur, as with poison ivy or oak. Also, you could react directly to pet saliva.
• Review the list of causes for contact dermatitis.

Do Not Use Soap:

• Wash the red area once with soap to remove any remaining irritants.
• Then, do not use soaps on it. Reason: soaps can slow healing.
• Clean the area, as needed, with warm water and pat dry with a clean towel.

Cold Soaks for Itching:

• Use a cold wet washcloth or soak in cold water for 20 minutes.
• Do this every 3 to 4 hours as needed. This will help with itching or pain.

Steroid Cream for Itching:

• If the itch is more than mild, use 1% hydrocortisone cream (such as Cortaid). Put it on the rash. No prescription is needed.
• Use it 3 times per day.
• Exception: do not use this if you think the rash is ringworm.

Try Not to Scratch:

• Scratching will cause more damage to the skin and can lead to infection. Try hard not to scratch.
• Cut the fingernails short.

Return to Work:

• If you have a localized rash, you do not need to miss any work. But, you need to avoid irritants when you do work.

What to Expect:

• Most of these rashes go away in 2 to 3 days.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Rash spreads, gets worse or is painful
• Rash lasts for more than 1 week
• You start to feel feverish
• You think you need to be seen
• Your symptoms get worse

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.




Powered by Remedy Connect, Denver Content Feed.
See our Disclaimer and Privacy Policy.