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Health Check:
7 rashes you shouldn’t ignore
The itchy red bumps came out of nowhere and you’re wondering whether
this mystery rash is something you need to show to your doctor or if you
can soothe it away with over-the-counter salves.
As it turns out, plenty of rashes respond well to over the counter
remedies. But some are a sign of something more serious, experts say.
One important rule of thumb is to seek help if the rash came with other
symptoms. “The majority of rashes are not life threatening,” says Dr.
Daniela Kroshinsky, an associate professor of dermatology at Harvard
Medical School and director of inpatient dermatology and paediatric
dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital.
 “But,
if you’re feeling generally unwell and having a rash, that would be a
reason to seek medical attention Your primary care physician or
dermatologist should be able to help you triage whether it’s something
that should be seen and whether it needs to be seen urgently.” A rash
can be a warning sign of a serious medical problem, such as an
autoimmune disease or a Lyme infection, says Dr. Laura Ferris, an
associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center. Or it could simply be the result of a harmless, though
vexing, insect bite or a brush past some poison ivy.
Signs that your rash needs to be looked at by a medical professional:
1. If you have a fever or pain accompanying the rash you should get
it checked out. It could be a sign that you have an infection or are
experiencing an allergic reaction.
2. If you have a sudden spreading of bruise like lesions, it might be
a symptom of vasculitis and you need to get that looked at because your
clotting cells might not be working right.
3. If your rash continues unabated, you might have an infection. Some
rashes start out completely benign, but then a secondary infection
develops because the integrity of the skin, which is a barrier against
potential pathogens, has been disrupted. Signs of an infection include
warmth and pain, yellow or green cloudy discharge and a bad odour.
4. Any rash that is widespread can be a sign a major allergic
reaction. For example, if this happens within two weeks of starting a
new medication, the concern would be a reaction to the medication.
5. Rashes that start to blister should send you straight to the
doctor’s office, unless you have good reason to suspect you’ve come in
contact with poison ivy.
6. Purple spots that appear on your hands and feet could be a sign of
a bacterial infection of the heart. You can look at the skin as a window
to the inside of the body.
7. If you develop a circular shaped rash and you’re in an area where
Lyme disease is endemic, you should get it checked out.
If you’re not ready to see your doctor taking a phone photo of your
rash. It can be helpful when visit the doctors, since the rash could
have changed by then. This will tell them what it looked like before you
started treating it with bacitracin or hydrocortisone. It will help them
get a sense of the evolution of the rash.
Dr Kroshinsky counsels, keep in mind that the preparations you use to
treat your skin condition might make things worse. “One thing to keep in
mind is that if you’re using a preparation with topical antibiotics, a
significant number of people are allergic to bacitracin and neomycin,”
she explains. “If the area you are treating becomes itchy or blistery
you might want to stop using them and see a doctor.”
And if you feel unsure about the rash, don’t hesitate to seek medical
advice from a dermatologist, Ferris says.
“We’re trained to distinguish between concerning and non-concerning
rashes and getting you on the appropriate treatment,” she adds.
- Today Health
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