Rash: Check Your Symptoms and Signs With the Symptom Checker by MedicineNet.com

Rash Symptoms

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The word "rash" means a change in the color and texture of skin that usually causes an outbreak of red patches or bumps on the skin. In common usage of the term, a "rash" can refer to many different skin conditions. A rash can be caused, directly or indirectly, by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. Alternatively, a rash may be unrelated to an infectious organism, such as from an underlying medical illness. Medications, chronic medical conditions, and allergic reactions (hives) are among the multiple different causes of rash.

Doctors use specific terms to describe rashes. A macular rash refers to flat, small red patches on the skin, while a papular rash refers to small raised red bumps. If both are present, a rash is called maculopapular. Scaling, blister formation, or ulceration of the skin may be present with a rash. A rash with accompanying blisters is termed a vesicular rash. Itching (pruritus) may or may not accompany a rash.

Main Articles on Rash

Causes of Rash

Acne (Pimples) Acne is a localized skin inflammation as a result of overactivity of oil glands at the base of hair follicles. This...learn more »
Atopic Dermatitis Eczema is a general term for many types dermatitis (skin inflammation). Atopic dermatitis is the most common of the many types of...learn more »
Bed Bugs Bed bugs (from the insect family Cimicidae) are small, reddish-brown tick-like insects that feed by sucking the blood of mammals....learn more »
Chickenpox (Varicella) Chickenpox (chicken pox) is a contagious childhood disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Symptoms have an incubation...learn more »
Coxsackie Virus Coxsackie viruses may be divided into two groups. Type A causes hand, foot, and mouth disease and conjunctivitis, while type B...learn more »
Dengue Fever Dengue fever is contracted from the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms of dengue include headache, fever,...learn more »
Erythema Nodosum Erythema nodosum is a skin inflammation that results in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the...learn more »
Fifth Disease Fifth disease (Erythema infectiosum) is caused by a virus known as parvovirus B 19. Symptoms include low-grade fever, fatigue, a...learn more »
Folliculitis Folliculitis is a skin condition that causes small red bumps to form around the hair follicles. Skin bacteria such as...learn more »
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease Hand-foot-and-mouth syndrome is clinical pattern consisting of a rash on the hands and feet, and in the mouth....learn more »
Heat Rash Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating. It can occur at any age and it appears as a rash that itches or...learn more »
Herpangina Herpangina is a contagious illness often seen in children. It is caused by an enterovirus. Coxsackie virus is the most common...learn more »
Hives Hives, also called urticaria, is a raised, itchy area of skin that is usually a sign of an allergic reaction. The allergy may be...learn more »
Impetigo Impetigo is a contagious skin infection caused by staph and strep bacteria. There are two types of impetigo: non-bullous and...learn more »
Insect Sting Allergies The majority of stinging insects in the United States are from Bees, Yellow Jackets, Hornets, Wasps and Fire Ants. Severity of...learn more »
Jock Itch Jock itch is an itchy red rash that appears in the groin area. The rash may be caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. People...learn more »
Kawasaki Disease Kawasaki disease is a rare children's disease characterized by a fever that lasts more than five days and at least four of the...learn more »
Leishmaniasis Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by the bite of an infected sand fly. The most common types of leishmania infection are...learn more »
Lichen Planus Lichen planus is a common skin disease that features small, itchy pink or purple spots on the arms or legs. the abnormal areas on...learn more »
Lupus Systemic lupus erythematosus is a condition characterized by chronic inflammation of body tissues caused by autoimmune disease....learn more »
Lyme Disease Lyme disease is a bacterial illness, which is spread by ticks when they bite the skin. Initially the disease affects the skin...learn more »
Measles Measles (rubeola) is a highly contagious disease that's caused by a virus. Symptoms include a rash, high fever, cough, runny...learn more »
Meningococcemia Meningococcemia is a bloodstream infection caused by Neisseria meningitides. Meningococcemia symptoms include fever, headache,...learn more »
Monkeypox Monkeypox is a viral disease that causes symptoms such as fever, sweating, and a rash with papules and pustules on the face and...learn more »
MRSA MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria causes skin infections with the following signs and symptoms:...learn more »
Pityriasis Rosea Pityriasis rosea is a rash that begins with a large pink patch with well-defined scaly borders on the back, chest, or neck. In...learn more »
Poison Ivy Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are plants that cause an itchy skin rash and skin inflamation when contacted directly. This poison can...learn more »
Psoriasis Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition that may cause large plaques of red, raised skin, flakes of dry skin, and skin scales....learn more »
Rash The word "rash" means an outbreak of red bumps on the body. The way people use this term, "a rash" can refer to many different...learn more »
Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, the tissue around the joints, as...learn more »
Ringworm The term "ringworm" or "ringworms" refers to fungal infections that are on the surface of the skin. A physical examination of...learn more »
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an infectious disease that's transmitted by the bite of a tick infected with the...learn more »
Rosacea Rosacea is a skin disease that causes redness of the forehead, chin, and lower half of the nose. In addition to inflammation of...learn more »
Roseola Roseola is a viral illness that most commonly affects young children. Symptoms and signs include a sudden high fever that lasts...learn more »
Scarlet Fever Scarlet fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria group A Streptococcus. Symptoms and signs include a rash, sore...learn more »
Shingles Shingles (herpes zoster) is a skin rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Under certain circumstances, such as...learn more »
Smallpox Smallpox is a disease caused by the variola virus. Symptoms and signs include a characteristic rash and high fever. Treatment...learn more »
Staph Infection (Staphylococcus Aureus) Staphylococcus or Staph is a group of bacteria that can cause a multitude of diseases. Staph infections can cause illness...learn more »
Streptococcal Infections Group A streptococcal infections are caused by group A streptococcus, a bacteria that causes a variety of health problems,...learn more »
Sun-Sensitive Drugs (Photosensitivity to Drugs) Sun sensitivity (photosensitivity) is an inflammation of the skin induced by the combination of medications or substances and...learn more »
Tinea Versicolor Tinea versicolor is a fungus infection that mainly affects the skin of young people. Recognized by light or reddish brown spots,...learn more »
Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a condition caused by toxins formed by Staphylococcus aureus or group A Streptococcus bacteria....learn more »
Typhus Typhus is a disease caused by Rickettsia bacteria. Symptoms and signs include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and...learn more »
West Nile Virus West Nile virus (West Nile encephalitis) is a brain infection caused by a virus. People become infected with the virus after...learn more »
Yeast Infection Yeast vaginitis is a yeast infection of the vagina. Symptoms include itching, burning, soreness, pain during intercourse and...learn more »

Other Causes of Rash

Examples of Medications for Rash

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