SKIN HEALTH
Most skin rashes are harmless and, at most, they can cause us discomfort or just not look great on exposed parts of our body. They often clear up on their own or respond well to simple home remedies. You might be surprised at the number of effective home remedies to be found in your kitchen! In this article, we’ll look at some of the more common skin rashes and offer some simple, safe home remedies for skin rash treatment.
A skin rash can cause itchiness, a burning sensation on the skin and sometimes can become painful. There can be any number of causes for skin rashes. These can range from common, everyday environmental causes like stress, insect bites or allergic reactions to conditions caused by bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections.
Before we go any further, let’s just point out when you should take a skin rash more seriously.
In these cases, it’s always safer to seek professional medical advice.
We’ll look at a few of the more common and easily treatable skin rashes and skin rash treatments.
Hives are also commonly known as nettle rash, welts or weals. These rashes appear as discoloured, raised bumps, which often appear to be filled with a liquid, and they may tingle, itch or burn.
Two commonly asked questions are: Can stress cause skin rashes? Can alcohol cause skin rash? The answer to both is yes. In fact, the most common triggers for hives are stress, heat, alcohol and caffeine. Hives can also be caused by an allergic reaction, an infection or certain medications
Eczema is probably one of the most common skin rashes as it occurs in many different forms, such as atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis and others. It causes dryness, scaly patches, itchy skin, blisters and swelling. There are a number of causes that contribute to eczema, including genetics. The most common causes are environmental factors that trigger an immune response. This immune response could be from certain plants, fabrics, soaps and many other things.
If you’ve ever contracted chicken pox, you may be more prone to suffering from shingles, as they’re caused by the same virus. Shingles is a painful skin rash that usually appears in groups of clear blisters and normally lasts for 2 to 3 weeks. Shortly after the blisters appear, they break open and form a crust.
There are a number of skin rashes caused by fungal and bacterial infections and we’ll look at a few of the most common and some home remedies for fungal skin rash treatments and bacterial skin rash treatments.
Fungi and bacteria can be found everywhere, including on your skin. In fact, your skin is alive with a host of microscopic organisms such as fungi, bacteria, mites and viruses which together make up what is known as your skin microbiome. This works together with your body’s immune system to protect you from disease. On healthy balanced skin, these microscopic organisms don’t cause any problems, unless there’s an imbalance. Imbalances can often be caused by something as simple as the skin not getting enough ventilation or where there’s too much moisture. Areas such as your feet and groin are usually where problems arise.
Here are some of the common fugal skin infections and bacterial skin infections:
Ringworm: Ringworm is a fungal skin rash and is not caused by a worm. It appears as a ring-shaped rash with slightly raised edges and can be itchy.
Athlete’s foot is a fungal skin rash that normally affects the area between your toes. It causes itching and burning, and it can cause your skin to blister, crack and become quite painful.
This is a fungal skin infection that affects the groin and thigh area as an itchy, red rash.
Erysipelas (St. Anthony’s fire): This bacterial skin rash is an infection that causes an intense, burning sensation. The skin rash can appear red and swollen and is commonly found on the face and legs. It can be caused by skin disruptions such as athlete's foot or eczema.
Hot tub folliculitis (jacuzzi folliculitis): This is a bacterial skin rash normally contracted through contaminated water in hot tubs/jacuzzies or any frequently used body of warm water. The skin rash can appear as puss-filled bumps and an itchy red rash. It commonly appears on the chest or groin and people with acne or eczema are more prone to contracting it. It will often disappear on its own but in some severe cases, it may require antibiotics.
There are quite a few medical skin conditions that could cause itchy skin. Some of these include eczema and psoriasis, which can cause dry, red, flaky and itchy skin. Because these can be serious medical conditions, it’s best to get in touch with your GP or a medical professional to properly diagnose this skin condition and to give you the best treatment for skin itching.
Itching skin could also potentially be caused by an allergic reaction to an irritant or another external factor. Some of these include specific plants, certain metals, rubber, some fabrics and dyes, foods, or even ingredients in your laundry detergent or skincare products. If you have a severe allergic reaction, you should contact a medical professional immediately.
If you find that your skincare products are causing an allergic reaction that results in itching skin, it’s a good idea to stop using them and look for a hypoallergenic alternative. Our Sanex BiomeProtect Dermo Hypoallergenic Shower Gel is created with a soap free formula and it also helps to minimise the risk of irritation, which might cause itching skin.
Irritated, itching skin or an itchy skin rash can also be caused by certain parasites and infections. Some of these include insect bites, head lice, chickenpox or ringworm. It’s best to get in touch with a medical professional if you suspect you have any of these so they can correctly diagnose you and offer you the best treatment for skin itching.
You’ll be pleased to know that many of the following home remedies can be found in your kitchen. These remedies are safe (if applied responsibly) and can be used on a variety of skin rashes mentioned in this article, including bacterial skin rash treatment and fungal skin rash treatment.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is a wonderful remedy for any number of skin complaints and skin rashes, owing to its calming anti-inflammatory property. It should be a staple in every kitchen, bathroom or medicine cabinet. For a soothing bath, just add half a cup of baking soda. As a topical remedy add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to just enough water to form a paste. Apply this to the affected area and leave it for about 15 mins. Repeat as necessary.
Apple cider vinegar: Here’s another good, old-fashioned cure-all that every home should have. It’s particularly good for skin rashes as it relieves inflammation. You can either dose yourself by drinking a couple of spoons of apple cider vinegar every day or add a cup or 2 to your bath. It can also be used as a topical treatment by diluting some apple cider vinegar in a bowl of warm water and dabbing the affected area a few times a day.
Aloe Vera: Aloe vera is widely considered one of nature’s best remedies for any number of skin complaints, including skin rashes, with its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. You can simply take an aloe leaf, cut it and apply the gel directly to your skin. You should feel its calming effect straight away.
Oatmeal: Oatmeal is another natural, safe remedy that you’ll often see recommended in treating certain skin rashes and complaints. It works because of its anti-inflammatory properties. The best way to use this remedy is by adding a couple of cups of oatmeal to your bath and, for extra effectiveness, you can also add a cup of baking soda.
Ginger: Ginger is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Grate some fresh ginger and press out the juice. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey to this and take it as a drink. Or you can apply it topically to the skin by peeling some fresh ginger and applying it directly to the area of the skin rash.
Turmeric: Turmeric contains powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antihistamine properties that are ideal as a skin rash treatment. Add a teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of warm milk, or add a teaspoon to your favourite juice, smoothie or meal. Or you can create a paste and apply it topically by adding a small amount of water to a spoon or two of turmeric powder.
Chamomile: We all know about chamomile’s wonderful soothing properties, and it works just as well for soothing skin rashes. Prepare a cup of chamomile tea as normal and simply apply it to the affected area with some cotton wool. Or, add chamomile tea to your bath and enjoy a long soak in the soothing water.
Witch hazel: Witch hazel, along with chamomile, is known to be effective for reducing inflammation. Witch hazel can be applied topically to the affected area using either witch hazel water or in a cream.
Honey: Another of nature’s wonder cures. Honey is antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory, and can be applied directly to the skin. If you’re going to use honey for your eczema, try and use medical grade honey. You can apply it as follows:
Before you go to bed in the evening, apply a thin layer of honey to the affected area.
Cover this area with gauze or a bandage. In the morning, remove the dressing and clean the area.
Plain yoghurt: Plain, unsweetened, preferably organic yoghurt has proven to be an effective treatment for fungal skin rash treatment. Yoghurt contains a bacterium which helps prevent the fungi from spreading and kills the existing fungi causing the infection. Use cotton wool swabs to apply the yoghurt to the skin rash. Leave the yoghurt to dry completely and then rinse off. Repeat until the rash disappears.
Salt (for athlete's foot): Dissolve 2 to 4 tablespoons of salt into 1 or 2 litres of warm water and soak your feet for 10 or so minutes. Repeat this as often as necessary.
Essential oils: The following essential oils contain anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can be effective in treating skin rashes: Chamomile oil, Eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil. Important. Depending on your skin type, some essential oils can cause skin allergies, so test the oil on a small area of your skin first.
There is no one best treatment for itching skin because it will very much depend on the cause. If the cause of your itching skin is because of a medical condition, you should seek the advice of a medical professional who will be able to offer you the best treatment for itching skin.
If your itching skin is caused by a specific skin type, like dry skin or sensitive skin, try keeping it hydrated and moisturised with products specifically designed for this purpose.
We hope that you now have a better understanding of skin rashes and their potential causes and that we’ve been able to offer you some helpful, safe, home remedies for how to soothe skin rashes.
Zac Handler, M.D. is a board-certified academic dermatologist and an assistant clinical professor in dermatology at Rutgers University New Jersey Medical School and New York Medical College. Dr. Handler holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, San Diego, and received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Nebraska.
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