It is understandable that when a person notices they have a rash on their skin, they immediately want to understand where the rash came from, and they want to try to fix it. Since a rash is not a specific diagnosis, but instead a way to describe any type of skin inflammation, discoloration or something that affects the normal appearance of your skin, it can be difficult to pinpoint what type of rash a person has.
Rashes can be caused by bacteria, they can be caused in response to an allergic reaction, they can happen because the person has parasites, they may be viral or they may be a reaction to a certain type of medicine. There are many different types of rashes, and most can only be accurately identified by an experienced dermatologist like Dr. Yeoman.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
This is by far the most common type of rash adults in America experience. It is identified by red eruptions on the skin. They are often itchy and are usually found on a person’s forehead, on their ears or on their cheeks.
Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is also called eczema. Eczema is characterized by red, itchy and weeping rashes on the skin. Eczema often presents itself on the elbows, the back of the knees, the neck, wrists or ankles. This is an infirmity that affects children as well as adults. While just about anyone can have eczema, it is more commonly found in individuals who have some sort of allergies.
Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a rash that comes as a result of an allergic reaction. The rash happens when you come into contact with something like a chemical or another substance that you are allergic to. These rashes also tend to be weepy and oozy. They usually only affect the area of the skin that comes into direct contact with the offending substance.
An example of this type of rash would include something like poison ivy or poison oak. The same types of rashes are produced by wearing costume jewelry that contain nickel.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis produces an eruption on the skin. It does not weep, and it does not ooze. For most individuals, psoriasis occurs on the elbows, knees or scalp. This can be a very frustrating rash to deal with because it creates scaly patches of skin that fall off. They affect a person’s clothing, they accumulate in a person’s bed and they can be found wherever an individual who is battling psoriasis sits or lays down.
Learn More During a Consultation
In most cases, the only way to identify the type of rash that you have is to visit a dermatologist. During an evaluation at Dr. Yeoman’s Dermatology Office, our team can look at the rash, assess your symptoms and, based on this information, provide you with a course of treatment that will be right for you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at our office in Poplar Bluff or Paragould.
