Rash and itchy skin: causes, relief and when to get checked
Most rashes come from something that touched the skin, like poison ivy or a new soap, or from hives, eczema or a virus. Many improve with gentle care at home. A rash with fever, spreading redness, painful blisters or a recent tick bite should be checked at Urgent Care Center of Westmont in Westmont, IL.
Contact dermatitis, from things like poison ivy, soaps, lotions or latex, is a very common cause of an itchy rash.
Hives are raised, itchy red bumps that usually go away on their own.
Shingles causes a painful, blistering rash on one side of the body, often in a single stripe.
Poison ivy oil can stay active on tools and clothing for up to 5 years, but blister fluid does not spread the rash.
A circular or expanding rash after a tick bite should be checked, since it can be an early sign of Lyme disease.
What usually causes a rash?
A rash is a change in the color, texture or feel of your skin. MedlinePlus explains that the cause can often be found from how the rash looks, where it is and what other symptoms come with it. Here are common causes, listed roughly from most to least common.
Common causes of a rash
Cause
How common
Clues
Contact dermatitis
Very common
Itchy, red skin where something touched it: soaps, detergents, cosmetics, latex, or poison ivy, oak or sumac
Eczema
Common, often with allergies or asthma
Red, itchy, scaly patches
Hives
Common
Raised, itchy red bumps, often from a food, medicine, infection or stress
Viral rashes in children
Common in kids
Fifth disease, roseola, hand-foot-mouth disease or chickenpox, often with fever or cold symptoms
Bug bites and stings
Common in warm months
Itchy bumps, often on uncovered skin
Impetigo
Common in children
Sores or blisters with honey-colored crusts
Shingles
Less common
Painful blisters in a stripe on one side of the body
Medicine reactions
Less common
A new rash after starting a medicine
Lyme disease rash
Less common
An expanding red patch at a tick bite, 3 to 30 days later
How to tell common rashes apart
Look at the shape, where it is and how it feels. These patterns come from MedlinePlus, the CDC and NIOSH.
Rash clues
What you see or feel
Often points to
Red streaks, patches or weeping blisters a few days after yard work or a hike
Poison ivy, oak or sumac
Raised, itchy red welts
Hives
Dry, red, scaly, itchy patches in someone with allergies or asthma
Eczema
Pain, itching or tingling first, then a band of blisters on one side
Shingles
Sores with honey-colored crusts in a child
Impetigo
An expanding red patch that may clear in the center, warm but rarely itchy
MedlinePlus and NIOSH suggest these steps for common, mild rashes.
Wash gently with a mild cleanser and warm, not hot, water. Pat dry. Do not scrub.
Stop any new soap, lotion or cosmetic that might be the cause.
Leave the rash uncovered when you can.
Try calamine lotion or wet compresses for poison ivy and other contact rashes.
Over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream helps many itchy rashes. Do not put creams on broken skin.
An oral antihistamine can ease itching. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can make you drowsy.
Oatmeal baths can calm itching, and moisturizer helps eczema.
Just touched poison ivy?
Wash your skin right away with dish soap, rubbing alcohol or a poison plant wash and plenty of water. Scrub under your nails. Wash clothes, gloves and tools too, because the oil can stay on them for years.
How long to wait: many contact rashes and hives improve once the trigger is gone. The CDC says shingles blisters scab over in 7 to 10 days and clear within 2 to 4 weeks. If home care is not helping, or the rash is spreading or getting worse, get it checked.
When should you go to urgent care for a rash?
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Urgent care is a good fit for most rashes. Come in if any of these are true:
A rash with fever, joint pain or a sore throat
Red streaks, swelling, warmth, pus or very tender skin, which can mean infection
A painful, blistering rash on one side of the body
A rash after a tick bite, or after time in wooded, brushy or tall-grass areas
Poison ivy on the face or genitals, or a severe or widespread reaction
A new rash after starting a medicine. Do not stop the medicine until you talk to a clinician.
Sores with honey-colored crusts, which can spread to others
Home care is not working, or the rash keeps spreading
If any warning sign listed at the bottom of this page applies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room instead of urgent care.
Urgent Care Center of Westmont, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, sees rashes 7 days a week. Our team is led by board-certified physicians.
QuestionsWhen the rash started, new products, plants, foods or medicines, time outdoors, possible tick bites, and whether anyone else at home has it.
Skin examYour clinician looks at the rash closely and checks for fever, swollen glands and signs of infection. Many rashes can be identified by exam alone.
Tests when they helpIf a rash comes with a sore throat, a strep test may be done. Other lab tests are ordered only when they will change your care.
Many insurance plans are accepted, and self-pay visits start from $125.
Rashes in kids vs. adults
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Children
Kids get many viral rashes, such as fifth disease, roseola and hand-foot-mouth disease. These often come with fever or cold symptoms, and many fade on their own. Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that is common in children and can spread to others. The CDC notes strep throat can cause a rash called scarlet fever. A rash with fever in a child is worth a visit. Our fever guide explains when fever itself needs care.
Adults
Adults often get contact rashes from work products, cleaners, latex or yard work. Shingles happens when the chickenpox virus wakes up again years later. The CDC warns that shingles on the face can affect the eye, and recommends vaccination to help prevent serious complications.
How to prevent rashes, including poison ivy and tick bites
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Wear long sleeves, long pants and gloves for yard work and hikes.
Wash skin, clothes and tools after touching poison ivy, oak or sumac. Never burn these plants, since the smoke can harm your lungs.
Use an EPA-registered insect repellent, such as one with 20% DEET or picaridin.
Check yourself, your kids and pets for ticks, and shower within 2 hours of coming inside.
Remove ticks quickly. IDPH says removing a tick within 24 hours lowers the risk of disease.
Switch to gentle, fragrance-free products if your skin reacts easily.
Wash hands often to stop impetigo and viral rashes from spreading.
The Illinois Department of Public Health says ticks live in and near wooded areas, tall grass and brush, so check carefully after walks in forest preserves around Westmont, IL. Found a tick? See tick bite care, or browse our other symptom guides, including bites and stings.
Get a rash checked if it comes with fever, joint pain or a sore throat, shows signs of infection like red streaks, warmth or pus, is painful and blistering on one side of the body, or appears after a tick bite. Trouble breathing, facial swelling or a purple, bruise-like rash needs emergency care right away.
How do I know if my rash is poison ivy?
Poison ivy usually causes an itchy red rash a few days after contact, often with red streaks or patches, bumps and weeping blisters where the plant touched your skin. It does not spread from blister fluid. New spots can appear if the plant oil is still on your skin, clothes or tools.
What does a shingles rash look like?
Shingles is a painful, often itchy rash of blisters on one side of the face or body, usually in a single stripe. Many people feel pain, itching or tingling in that spot for several days before the rash appears. The CDC says the blisters scab over in 7 to 10 days.
Can urgent care treat a rash?
Yes. At Urgent Care Center of Westmont, a clinician examines the rash, asks about triggers and exposures, and explains the likely cause. Treatment may include prescription creams or medicine when appropriate. We see contact dermatitis, poison ivy, hives, shingles, impetigo and rashes after tick bites at our Westmont, IL clinics.
Are hives an emergency?
Usually not. Hives are raised, itchy red bumps that often go away on their own, and an antihistamine can ease the itch. MedlinePlus warns that in rare cases hives come with swelling in the airway that makes breathing hard. That is a medical emergency, so call 911.
What cream helps an itchy rash?
For many mild rashes, over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream can ease itching and redness. Calamine lotion helps poison ivy and other contact rashes. Moisturizer helps eczema. Do not put creams on broken skin. If a rash does not improve with these, a clinician can recommend a stronger prescription option.
Is a rash after a tick bite serious?
It can be. The CDC says the Lyme disease rash appears 3 to 30 days after a bite, often around day 7, and slowly expands, sometimes to 12 inches or more. A small bump that fades in a day or two is usually not Lyme. See a clinician for an expanding rash, fever or aches after a tick bite.
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