COMMON SKIN RASHES
TheirCauses and Cures
Dr. Stephanie Hill
Skin rashes are caused by many different things. They are frequently recognized by symptoms
of blistering, dryness, itching, reddening, or scabbing of the skin. Some of the more common
ailments that fall into the category of skin rashes are eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. This
paper discusses these three common types of skin rashes.
ECZEMA
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, causes the skin to appear red and blotchy. The disease
can occur at any age, from infants to adults, but it typically occurs from infancy to childhood. It
affects about 3 percent of the United States population. There are two types of eczema—atopic
eczema and hand eczema.
Atopic Eczema. Atopic eczema is caused by contact with woolen clothing, by heat, by
detergents, by the house dust mite, and by stress.
Hand Eczema. Hand eczema is caused by detergents, grease, oils, sensitive skin, and too much
exposure to wet work.
DERMATITIS
Dermatitis is often referred to as contact dermatitis. Some of the more common substances
that cause dermatitis are cosmetics, jewelry, household and industrial chemicals, perfumes,
plants, rubber, and soaps. Contact dermatitis is further classified as either allergic contact
dermatitis or irritant contact dermatitis.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis. This skin rash occurs after contact is made with certain substances,
called allergens. The rash occurs as a reaction of the body’s immune system to expel the
allergen from the skin. Common allergens are often found in jewelry and cosmetics metals.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis. This skin rash does not require exposure to an allergen but can
develop when you come in contact with substances such as detergents, oils, skin cleansers, and
solvents.
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PSORIASIS
Psoriasis is achronic skin disease characterized by skin scaling and inflammation. This disease
affects about 5.5 million people in the United States. It occurs in all age groups and affects both
men and women. When psoriasis develops, patches of skin redden and become covered with
scales. The skin then cracks and may cause severe irritation in places like the face, scalp,
elbows, knees, and lower back.
It is believed that psoriasis is a disorder of the immune system in which there are not enough
white blood cells to help protect the body against infection and diseases of this type.
