A rash is an outbreak on the skin that changes the way the skin looks and feels. There are many types of rashes and different causes for those rashes.
Rashes can be infectious or non-infectious. Infectious rashes can be caused from bacterial, viral and fungal sources. Non-infectious rashes have other specific causes.
Common Non-Infectious Rashes:
- Seborrheic Dermatitis – common skin disorder that typically affects the scalp and face; causes flaking red skin
- Atopic Dermatitis – Eczema – very dry skin
- Contact Dermatitis – Rash due to contact with a substance
- Stasis Dermatitis – Rash due to venous insufficiency, typically of the legs
- Psoriasis – Rash that causes red, scaly patches over the skin
- Nummular Dermatitis – Eczema that is annular or round
- “Athlete’s Foot” – Tinea Corporis
- “Jock Itch” – Tinea Cruris
- “Ringworm” – Tinea Corporis (on the body); Tinea Capitis (on the head)
- Onychomycosis – fungal infection of the nail
- “Yeast Infections” – Candida albicans infections
- Tinea Versicolor
- Impetigo – superficial skin infection usually caused by normal skin flora
- Folliculitis – superficial infection of the hair follicles
- Furunculosis – deeper infections of the hair follicles (“boils”)
- Carbunculosis – furuncles that have combined together to form large draining nodules
- Erysipelas – superficial skin infection involving dermal lymphatic vessels
- Cellulitis – deep skin infection
- Herpes Simplex
- Herpes Zoster or “Shingles”
- Warts
- Molluscum Contagiosum
- Viral Exanthems
Other Causes of Rashes
- Scabies- Rash caused from a mite that burrows into the skin
- Pityriasis Rosea – Common rash that is self limiting with no known cause
- Lupus – Autoimmune disease that can cause a rash
- Granuloma Annulare – harmless skin condition that can be associated with other disease states
- Lichen Planus – inflammatory skin condition caused by an abnormal immune response