12 Causes Of Skin Redness And Burning

Red skin is a sign of various diseases

Sudden redness and burning of the skin, sometimes called erythema or flushing, is a common symptom with many possible causes. Sunburn, exposure to irritants, and drug use are just a few. In most cases, erythema is easy to diagnose and treat.

However, sometimes reddening of the skin can be a sign of an underlying medical condition such as lupus or scarlet fever, or a sign of a chronic condition that can be treated, such as psoriasis .

This article describes several possible causes of skin rashes and their symptoms. It explains when to see a doctor and what can be done to soothe the skin.

sunburn

Even if it's overcast, you can still get sunburned. In addition to redness of the skin, the following symptoms may occur:

Superficial burning of your skin
pain, tenderness and swelling
Dry, flaky skin
Deeper burns and blisters from prolonged sun exposure

If sunburn causes severe blisters on large areas of the skin, you should see a doctor. If you feel dizzy or confused after a sunburn, you should also see your doctor.

Irritant contact dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis is a skin reaction that occurs when the skin comes in contact with an irritant.

Among the most frequent offenders:

Skin and hair care products such as soap, shampoo, shaving cream, cosmetics and perfumes.
insect bites
Plants such as poison ivy, oak and sumac
In some jewelry, metals are similar to nickel.
Skin damage from sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) rays
Stagnation of sweat glands from heat
latex gloves
local medicines
Increasing water pollution
humidifiers

Symptoms may include:

red rash
Red itchy bumps
blisters on the skin
itching or burning

If the rash persists or persists after treatment, see your doctor.

Related topics: How to treat contact dermatitis

Allergic contact dermatitis

You may also have a skin reaction if you come into contact with something you are allergic to.

If you regularly work with chemicals or metals, you may develop allergies over time. This condition is called allergic contact dermatitis.

For example, jewelery workers may develop an allergy to nickel. Chemicals in hair dyes can also cause allergic reactions. The rash may be part of your body's immune response.

See a dermatologist if your skin is red and you have the following symptoms:

sudden rash
Rash that spreads all over the body
temperature
Blisters, especially around the eyes, mouth, or genitals
Signs of infection, including discharge, swelling, crusting, pain, fever, or red streaks.

medicine

Herbal supplements, over-the-counter and prescription drugs can cause allergic reactions and other unwanted side effects, including skin rashes.

Medicines that can cause a red rash or hives include:

Antibiotics such as penicillin
Pain relievers, including aspirin, Aleve (naproxen sodium), and Advil or Motrin IB (ibuprofen).
Medicines for epilepsy or autoimmune diseases
chemotherapy drugs

Specific skin side effects of some medications may include:

acne
Red, scaly skin
Dark red or purple rash
blisters or hives
Acne-like rash
purple areas

Allergic reactions to medications can range from mild to severe and can be life-threatening. They usually appear within an hour after taking the medicine. Some symptoms, such as a rash, may not appear for hours, days, or weeks.

Drug allergy symptoms to look out for:

red rash
hives
Temperature
itchy skin
Itchy watery eyes
swelling
dyspnea
labored breathing
Runny nose
anaphylaxis

Reactions to medications can be serious. Sometimes they can be fatal. If you develop a rash after taking the medicine, contact your doctor immediately.

Call your doctor right away if you or a loved one has symptoms of anaphylaxis, including:

labored breathing
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or confusion
Nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea
fast heartbeat
fainting (loss of consciousness or loss of consciousness)

eczema

Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis. This causes dry, sensitive skin with sometimes pale and itchy red patches that flare up.

Eczema can occur at any age. This is common in infants and children, but may go away with time.

Symptoms may include:

Dry flaky patches on the skin
itching
wash your skin
Increased redness, swelling, and itching after scratching or rubbing
skin thickening
Red (or brown-gray) scaly patches on the skin
Small pieces filled with liquid

Eczema looks different depending on a person's skin tone. Eczema usually looks red on fair skin tones and grey, dark brown, or purple on darker skin tones.

If you think you have eczema, talk to your doctor or dermatologist. Allergy tests can indicate which triggers to avoid. You may also need prescription medications to calm the immune system and reduce inflammation.

Related topics: How to treat atopic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis , more commonly known as dandruff or lullaby dermatitis, is a common skin condition affecting the top of the head. It can also affect other parts of the body that have sebaceous glands (sebum-producing glands), such as the face, upper back, and chest.

Anyone can get dandruff, but it is most common in children and adults between the ages of 40 and 60. From time to time it may disappear, or it may intensify.

Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious. It has nothing to do with how pure you are.

This condition can be caused by:

Red, oily, or swollen skin
White or yellowish scales forming a thick crust
Flakes that are easy on the skin
Bubbles filled with liquid
Other skin color changes

Selenium sulfide dandruff shampoo often helps to solve this problem. (If you are treating a child, contact their pediatrician first.) If this does not help, or if you have signs of an infection, see a dermatologist, such as:

damage
He blushed
manure
shell
severe itching

rosacea

Worried about a red rash on your face? If you blush frequently, you may have rosacea .

Possible symptoms:

It blushes or turns red easily, especially when you are stressed or overheated, eat spicy food, or drink alcohol.
Sometimes chronic or persistent redness of the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin
Visible blood vessels on the face
Redness that spreads to the scalp, ears, neck, upper chest, or back
Oily skin with acne-like breakouts
Sensitive skin that burns or stings when using certain products or sunbathing.
swelling or raised skin on the forehead, cheeks, or around the eyes
Thickening of the skin on the nose, cheeks, or forehead
swollen eyelids
Irritated, watery, dry, or bloodshot eyes

Related: What is rosacea?

If you notice the first symptoms, consult a dermatologist. Timely treatment can prevent worsening of symptoms.

psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition in which the body produces skin cells too quickly. This rapid growth sometimes causes red spots to appear.

Symptoms of psoriasis may include:

Dry, scaly, red patches on the skin, often on the scalp, elbows, or knees.
silver scales
Fluid-filled lesions
pruritus
Pits or dimples in the nail bed

If you think you have psoriasis, it's important to see a dermatologist. If you get the right diagnosis, you may be able to find a treatment that will relieve or alleviate your symptoms. Treatment may need to be adjusted over time.

Psoriasis is both a dermatological and an autoimmune disease.

autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases cause the body to attack itself. These disorders often cause symptoms that affect the entire body, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, and joint pain. Some common conditions also affect the skin, including:

Lupus : A chronic condition that can cause red sores or a butterfly-shaped rash on the face.
Dermatomyositis : A rare inflammatory condition that causes a red rash on the face, eyelids, chest, back, and arms.

If you have an autoimmune disease, you probably need medication to treat all of your symptoms. In addition to seeing a rheumatologist , a doctor who specializes in these issues, you can add a dermatologist to your treatment team to help with your skin symptoms.

Learn More: Overview of Autoimmune Skin Diseases

folliculitis

Folliculitis is the term for an infection of a hair follicle in the skin. If a hair follicle becomes infected, the skin around it may turn red or dark. He may puff up a little. Sometimes it looks like pimples with a white tip.

Folliculitis occurs when bacteria or fungi enter the hair follicle. Using a dirty hot tub can cause problems. The same goes for shaving, pulling hair, or applying coal tar to the skin.

If folliculitis recurs, you should consult a dermatologist. You may need antibiotics to clear the infection. And early treatment can prevent scarring.

Other bacterial infections

Cellulitis is a common life-threatening bacterial skin infection. This causes a red, swollen and tender rash. This happens when damage to the skin allows bacteria to enter your body.

Cellulite often affects the lower legs, but can also appear in other areas, such as the face or arms.

Without treatment, cellulitis can cause serious complications. Call your doctor right away if you or someone you know has:

Red, swollen rash that spreads quickly
Soft, red skin, warm to the touch
Holes or blisters in the skin
fever and chills

If you notice these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately. The infection can spread and can even lead to death if left untreated.

Scarlet fever is another bacterial infection that can cause reddening of the skin. It is caused by group A streptococcus bacteria, best known for its association with sore throats. However, not all patients with angina develop scarlet fever.

With scarlet fever, a bright red rash appears a day or two after a sore throat. It can start in one place and spread throughout the body. People with scarlet fever may also have a fever and headache.

Related topics: How to treat scarlet fever

viral infections

A red rash is caused by many viruses:

Chickenpox (chickenpox) causes severe itchy, fluid-filled bumps on the body.
Shingles (shingles) causes a very painful red rash that can sting, itch or burn. It may have a striped pattern on the torso or other parts of the body, and may contain fluid-filled blisters.
Measles causes a flat, patchy rash all over the body.
Rubella causes a rough or raised rash all over the body.
Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis) causes a red-purple rash on the body and sometimes in the mouth.
Diseases of the hands, feet, and mouth can cause flat or fluid-filled patches on the soles of the feet, hands, mouth, and other parts of the body.
The fifth disease (or whiplash) causes red spots on the face and a rash on the body.
The sixth disease, or roseola, causes a rash on the trunk, arms, and legs and makes breathing difficult.
West Nile, Zika, and Dengue, transmitted by mosquito bites, cause a rash that can appear on the face, trunk, arms, and legs. In dengue fever, the rash appears as white patches surrounded by red patches.

Some of these viruses are highly contagious. Some of them can be prevented by vaccination. If you think you have a viral infection, check with your doctor. This is especially important if you also have a fever.

Diagnosis of erythema

In many cases, a doctor can pinpoint exactly what is causing the rash. Be prepared to talk about when the rash started and how it has changed over time.

Your doctor should ask:

your medical history
What symptoms do you experience and when do they occur?
medications you are taking
your family history
Recent exposure to irritants or allergens

After talking to you, they can identify the problem. However, allergy tests, blood tests, or a skin biopsy (a tissue sample is taken and examined under a microscope) may be needed to be sure.

If your skin condition is contagious, be sure to consult your doctor. If so, you should know not to share this with others.

Skin redness treatment

Depending on the cause, self-care may be the best way to deal with redness.

Try these strategies to soothe redness and protect your skin:

Eliminate irritating products from your skin care and makeup.
Use gentle cleansers and moisturizers with soothing ingredients like chamomile, aloe, or cucumber. They can reduce inflammation and restore the skin's protective barrier.
Avoid over-exfoliating by taking breaks from scrubbing and scrubbing.
Wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn and skin damage.

To relieve mild discomfort and itching, try the following:

Use an itch cream that contains menthol, calamine, aloe, or oatmeal.
Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream to problems such as insect bites or poison ivy.
For a mild allergic reaction or hives, take an antihistamine such as Allegra or Zyrtec.
Use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, especially if symptoms keep you up at night.
Apply a cold compress for quick relief
Wear light, breathable clothing to reduce friction and overheating.

If the problem does not improve, see your doctor to rule out an underlying cause. You may have an infection or other medical condition. In this case, you may be prescribed antibiotics, antihistamines, drugs to calm the immune system, prescribed ointments or creams, light therapy, etc.

Summary

Redness is a symptom of many skin conditions. It could be an irritant, an infection or allergy, a reaction to a drug, or an underlying medical condition.

See your doctor to find out what is causing the rash. Ignore the rash. This is especially true if you are experiencing symptoms such as blisters, fever, swelling, or itching.