Skin being the largest organ of our human anatomy they also tend to have wear and tear just like other organs of our body. Heart and lungs which are performing their work all day and every day since birth wear down due to our physical activities and as we age.
The more toxic our day-to-day activities like consuming alcohol and tobacco the faster the deterioration rate. Similarly, rashes and wrinkles are wear and tear symptoms of the skin due to pollution exposure and our daily activities. In this article, we walk you through what rashes are, symptoms, causes, and much more.
What are Rashes?
Our skin covers all the vital organs inside our body, making it the “organ of organs” according to LiveScience. Skin is considered the largest organ in our body by physicists. When an organ is so big and has the most crucial function, it has to be well maintained.
Due to increasing pollutants, even a healthy individual who does not smoke or drink and consumes a fiber-rich healthy diet also faces dermatology issues like rashes, wrinkles, and itching allergies. Rashes are changes in color or texture of your skin, often interchangeable with skin redness or inflammation, or skin lesion.
Rashes are not typically a life-threatening issue, however, the underlying cause can be of different reasons that need to be addressed at the very earliest stage. In some cases, they can be due to a general allergic reaction or an infection due to a cosmetic product. Sometimes, they are indicative of health complications.
Other Symptoms of Rashes
Rashes are patches that occur in red color and can appear anywhere in the body, typically seen in eyebrows, eyelids, mouth, nose, trunk, and behind the ears. In rare cases, they may also appear on the groin areas. If you see rashes on your scalp, then it is due to dandruff.
The most extreme of rashes is when the rash turns a purple-like spot inside the skin and causes pain. Not only age factors or any allergic conditions trigger rashes, but also other situations like stress, fatigue, weather extremes, oily skin, infrequent shampooing, and alcohol-based lotions can cause skin irritation and cause the skin to weaken resulting in wrinkles and rashes.
3 Main Causes of Rashes
There are more than 10 different reasons you get skin rashes, but the following are the most common causes
1. Infections like STDs
Certain infections like Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) can cause various symptoms including skin rashes, itching, and dryness. Rashes caused by STIs generally appear in the groin area, and around the genitals as the bacteria initially affects the genitals. Some types of STDs can also cause rash and dryness around the mouth and the oral cavity.
If you are sexually active, it is highly recommended to get screened for STDs if you see skin rash symptoms. Diagnostics providers like DxSaver.com have a network of labs that provide STD screening listed in one place.
2. Chemicals in elastic/latex and cosmetics, soaps, and detergents
This is one of the most common causes of skin allergies resulting in rashes and itchiness. When you switch to a new type of cosmetics or soaps from a regularly used one, then the chemical composition of the new product can cause dry skin, irritation, and rashes. As your skin becomes used to the older type of cosmetics/soap then new products can cause an allergic reaction.
3. Dyes and other chemicals in clothing
Similar to the soaps and detergents, the chemicals used in certain dressing products can also be a cause of skin rashes. If you are working in cine industries, and/or if you are a model, you can certainly have come across clothing-based allergic reactions at least once in a lifetime.
Apart from these causes, childhood illnesses such as chickenpox, measles, rubella, hand-foot-mouth disease, fifth disease, and scarlet fever can cause rashes once in a while during the long run.
How are Rashes Treated?
Rashes can be treated if diagnosed rightly at the right time. Some rashes go away on their own without any cream or antibiotics. Some are generally the most common ones like soap and detergent allergies.
There are creams like Hydrocortisone (1%) which can be bought without a prescription and helps soothe the many types of rashes. In the case of stronger medicines, OTC will require a doctor’s prescription. If you live in a country where extreme weather conditions are common then moisturizers can work.
Often, the cause and the type of a rash can be determined by how it looks and its symptoms. Blood tests and skin biopsy are the most commonly prescribed methods to diagnose the cause.
Depending on the cause of your rash, medicated creams/lotions, medicines are taken by mouth, if the medication failed, skin surgery would be recommended. For more complicated skin disorders, you will be directed to a dermatologist.
What happens if Rashes are Left Untreated?
Even though rashes are not a major health issue, sometimes they tend to go away on their own without any medications. But, not all types of rashes can be cured without any drugs. Most of the rashes need a medical diagnosis. Leaving rashes untreated can lead to rashes breakout and can spread to every other part of the body. Untreated rashes can also lead to skin peeling and other severe dermatological conditions according to the underlying cause.
Conclusion
Every single organ plays a crucial role in keeping your body up and running healthily. Skin being the more important one, it has to be taken care of. Rashes, itchiness, and wrinkles are not very serious issues, however, they need to be addressed as quickly as possible. Wrinkles often come as we age, but itchiness and rashes are caused by either infections or a reflection of something wrong in your body. So get tested for allergies or consult with your physician to best assess your condition.
