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What is the cause of red itchy skin rash? What do red itchy spots on skin mean? Do you have dry and red itchy skin? Find out the cause here.
Dealing with dry itchy skin in winter or summer can be a nightmare. It gets worse if you grate until you hurt your skin or get blisters out of it. They can be unsightly and if they are colored, they will create attention from those around you. Most spots, patches or circles obtained from dry itchy skin are red in color. However, their causes are very different.
This article will explore the various types of red itchy skin rashes, spots, patches and circles. Knowing the exact cause of your type of red itchy skin is the beginning of finding the right cure. Majority of the red itchy spots are harmless. Nevertheless, they have to be removed with the help of some creams, ointments, oral medications and even a change of lifestyle for fast relief. What causes a red itchy skin rash? Find out next.
Red Itchy Skin Rash Cause
If you discover you have a rash on your itchy skin, you will also be interested to know the other elements of it. The color and texture will be of utmost importance especially if you want to describe it to your doctor, pharmacist, friends or a stranger going through the same predicament. Most rashes have the red color due to the inflammation on skin.
A red itchy skin rash will not just appear from mere scratching, there has to be an underlying cause. There are many causes of such rashes from infections of bacteria, viruses, fungi to certain diseases and allergens. Hormonal changes may also lead to the formation of red colored rashes on your skin. Another cause of the rashes could be bug bites.
As you can see, red itchy skin rashes can be taken care of by over the counter medications and prescription medicines. However, before finding the best medication it is wise to consult your physician to avoid making it worse. Furthermore, the physician will give a definite diagnosis as opposed to when you buy several medications from the drugstore to try on the rashes.
The common cause of a red itchy skin rash would be:
- Eczema
- Diaper rash in children
- Heat rash
- Intertrigo
- Psoriasis especially in its early stages
- Scabies
- Anaphylaxis
- Measles
- Lyme disease, which gives a bull’s eye red rash
- Bites and stings from bees, spiders, fleas, lice, etc
- Shingles
- Chicken pox
- Pityriasis rosea or Christmas tree rash
- Poison from poison ivy, sumac and oak
- Swimmer’s itch
- Reactions to medications
Dry Red Itchy Skin from Eczema
Eczema is a skin condition that occurs in 10-20% of the population according to everydayhealth.com. Therefore, if you find yourself with dry red itchy skin, it could be eczema. It affects the elbows, behind the knees, hands and even the feet. If you have dry itchy feet with blisters, it could be that you have a form of eczema known as dyshidrotic. This is however, not red in color. The blisters are clear. It is also possible that you could be having a fungal infection also known as athlete’s foot.
Psoriasis is also responsible for dry red itchy skin. However, mostly it will have dry and silvery patches. There are many forms of eczema and knowing them will enable you to know, which kind exactly you are suffering from. The various types of eczema include:
- Neurodermatitis, which forms scaly patches on head, legs, wrists and forearms
- Nummulur eczema, patches that are coin shaped
- Contact eczema, caused by an allergen that your skin comes into contact with
- Atopic dermatitis, which is an itchy inflamed skin
- Contact dermatitis, which is dry, red, itchy and weepy
As you can see, eczema comes in many forms both red and clear in color. The causes of these types could be allergens, hormonal changes, and contact with poisonous substances among other causes.
Patches and Red Itchy Spots on Skin
Red itchy skin may present itself in form of patches or spots. There are certain skin conditions that lead to the formation of red splotches on skin. If you see red blotches on your skin, it is possible that you are suffering from
- Psoriasis, which is usually a genetic disorder
- Pityriasis rosea also known as Christmas tree rash, which appears mostly on chest and upper back
- Pityriasis Rubia Pilaris
- Rosacea
These splotches happen to be bigger than ordinary red itchy spots on skin. Therefore, they make your skin appear as if burned or slapped because the area of discoloration is big. With the right treatment, these should go away without any difficulties.
Red Itchy Skin on Face, Around Eyes, Legs & Neck
Allergies are the common cause of red itchy skin on face. When you have a certain food allergy, you will get blotches on your cheeks and even around your eyes. Any itchiness around eyes may affect your eyes such that they may become watery and red. You may also have bags below the eyes or dark circles. These bags are also known as periorbital hyperpigmentation.
Some sufferers of red itchy skin around eyes complain of their eyes being puffy to the point of shutting. This is a common case of people with food allergies. The allergy may also affect the neck area and the ears. You can get out of this predicament by keeping a timetable of the foods you eat. Most people who are allergic to wheat, nuts, eggs and milk products will have these symptoms.
When it comes to red itchy skin on the legs, it is important that you have it checked out especially if ou are a woman. Some patches on your legs could be an early sign of skin melanoma or itchy skin cancer. The naked eye cannot determine if it is cancer or not, you will need a biopsy from a dermatologist. However, it could also be simply nummular eczema, which is harmless.
Common causes of red itchy skin on face include:
- Contact dermatitis, which is allergy from soaps, cosmetics, hair products and nail polish among others
- Hay fever
- Lyme disease
- Lupus
- Allergy
- Steven Johnsons syndrome , which is rare
Red Itchy Circle on Skin – What a Round Red Patch or Spot Means
Some skin conditions may affect the skin in certain shapes. This is the case with fungal infections of the skin such as ringworms and jock itch. Ringworms commonly cause the red itchy circle on skin. However, there are other probable causes such as:
- Lichen plunus, which forms a reddish purple circle
- Nummular eczema, which is a coin shaped that occurs mostly on legs, torso and arms.
