Random Red Patches On Skin

Shingles: Treatment And Prevention

There is no treatment for shingles, but there are ways to expedite the healing process to reduce the risk of further complications. You can do this by taking medication or getting an injection that contains corticosteroids and local anesthetics. Shingles can be very painful and detrimental to your health if not treated. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, if you have shingles on your face that go untreated, it can cause permanent eye damage. Taking an antiviral medication can save your eyesight and prevent long-term nerve pain.

Insect Bites And Stings

Aside from the pain that accompanies bug bites, their bites can also leave itchy red bumps on your skin. Although they can cause discomfort, most insect bites are usually harmless. Not all bites and stings are the same. For example, mosquito bites produce a small red, round, and puffy bump.

Bites from bed bugs are quite different. Compared to mosquitoes and spider bites, bites from bed bugs produce bigger rashes.

Other insects that can produce itchy red bumps on your skin include

If you enjoy spending time outdoors, youre likely to get a bit now and then. The good news is, most bites fade away in 714 days.

The signs of a bug bite show almost immediately. If you notice a bug bite on your skin, quickly wash the area with soap and water.

If the itching is unbearable, you can apply a cold compress to the bite mark. Alternatively, you can apply calamine lotion to relieve the itching.

Top tip: Prevention is always better than cure. If you wake up from sleep with bite marks, you may have a bedbug infestation. I recommend you remove all your beddings, clothes and treat the area with a repellent.

Treatment For Red Patches On Skin

Treatment for red patches on the skin will vary depending on what the underlying cause of the redness is. For mild cases, natural home care options might be available. Due to this varying causes, it is difficult to offer a general treatment option for red, blotched skin. It is, therefore, important to first diagnose the underlying cause of the redness before you can attempt to get rid of the symptom.

For most cases of skin redness such as eczema, calamine lotion may offer relief for the itching caused by the rash on the skin. If the red skin persists for more than a day, then oral antihistamine may be used. Topical ointments such as anti-itching creams and anti-inflammatories may also be used. For fungal or bacterial infection causing the red patches on the skin, antifungal and antibacterial creams or gel may help in treating the conditions respectively.

As mentioned, the red skin could also be caused by anxiety or high-stress level. If this is the case, then treating the condition will involve adopting relaxation techniques such as slow breathing and other activities such as yoga and meditation.

Aloe Vera a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory may get rid of the redness on the skin by taking down the inflammation and cooling the skin. You will also need to:

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When To Seek Medical Help

See your doctor if the rash doesn’t improve by itself, seems to be getting worse or if you have signs of skin infection such as:

• pain, swelling, redness or warmth around the affected area
• pus draining from the lesions
• swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, neck or groin
• a fever or chills

Rarely, some rashes are an early stage of serious infections affecting the whole body, the brain or spinal cord. You should see your doctor or call triple zero if your rash is associated with:

• severe headache, neck stiffness, and fever

Other Causes Of Skin Discoloration

Other conditions and medical treatments that can cause skin discoloration include:

• Bleeding into the skin.This happens when blood vessels burst due to injury, bruising, or an allergic reaction.
• Radiation therapy.Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that can cause the skin to blister, itch, and peel.
• Spider veins. Damaged veins that can appear as clusters of red, blue, or purple lines underneath your skin, particularly in your legs.
• Hormonal changes. Hormonal changes may cause the development of melasma hyperpigmentation.
• Thermal injuries. Skin discoloration can occur after healing from burns such as those associated with frosbite, sunburn, fire, and electrical injuries.
• Toxic exposures. Chronic application or ingestion of silver compounds and heavy metals can

You should schedule an appointment with a doctor if you:

• have any lasting changes in your skin color
• notice a new mole or growth on your skin
• have an existing mole or growth that changed in size or appearance
• have any other concerning symptoms, such as pain, inflammation, or discharge

At your appointment, your doctor will first take a look at areas of skin discoloration and ask you about any changes youve noticed. They will also ask about other symptoms you may be experiencing.

• blood tests to check for conditions that may cause changes in skin color

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Yellow Reddish Or Brown Patches On Your Skin

Necrobiosis Lipoidica

This skin condition often begins as small raised solid bumps that look like pimples. As it progresses, these bumps turn into patches of swollen and hard skin. The patches can be yellow, reddish, or brown.

You may also notice:

• The surrounding skin has a shiny porcelain-like appearance
• You can see blood vessels
• The skin is itchy and painful
• The skin disease goes through cycles where it is active, inactive, and then active again

necrobiosis lipodica.

Take action

• Get tested for diabetes, if you have not been diagnosed.
• Work with your doctor to better control your diabetes.
• See a dermatologist about your skin. Necorbiosis lipodica is harmless, but it can lead to complications.

Mosquito And Insect Bites

Causes: Some rashes result from insect bites including those from mosquitoes, spiders, ants, fleas, flies, and wasps. Following the insect bite is an allergic reaction in the form of a swollen, itchy bump.

Treatments: In most cases, rashes resulting from a mild allergic reaction to insect bites can go away on its own. However, you may need to take a trip to the emergency room or your general practitioner in the case of a more severe reaction. A doctor will prescribe a topical cream in these cases.

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Psoriasis: Treatment And Prevention

While there is no exact cure for psoriasis, the goal of psoriasis treatment is to stop the skin cells from regenerating so quickly. You can do this with topical therapy, light therapy, or oral and injected medication. The treatment method you should use depends on the severity of your psoriasis. You can also do various things to prevent psoriasis flare-ups, such as avoiding cold weather, taking good care of your skin by moisturizing regularly, reducing stress, and using a humidifier.

When To See A Board

Because many conditions can cause your face to turn red, its essential to get the right diagnosis. Board-certified dermatologists are trained to treat thousands of conditions that affect the skin.

If the redness on your face lasts more than 2 weeks, make an appointment to see a dermatologist.

Have a skin, hair, or nail problem?

No one understands your skin better than a board-certified dermatologist. Partner with the expert for the best care.

ImagesImages 1,2,3,4,5,8,9: Used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.

Images 6, 10: Used with permission of Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology:

• 6 – J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008 58:959-63.

• 10 – J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 77:719-27.

Image 7: Getty Images

ReferencesChamlin SL and Lawley LP. Perioral dermatitis. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatricks dermatology in general medicine . McGraw Hill Medical, USA, 2008:709-12.

Cohen DE. Irritant contact dermatitis. In: Bolognia JL, et al. Dermatology. . Mosby Elsevier, Spain, 2008:223-30.

Cohen DE and Jacob SE. Allergic contact dermatitis. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, et al. Fitzpatricks Dermatology in General Medicine . McGraw Hill Medical, New York, 2008: 135-46.

Costner MI, Sontheimer RD. Lupus erythematosus In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, et al. Fitzpatricks Dermatology in General Medicine . McGraw Hill Medical, New York, 2008:1515-35.

All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology

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Red Spots And Skin Cancer

Skin cancer, from melanoma to basal cell carcinoma, may also appear in the form of red spots, scaly plaques or moles on the skin. Make sure to consult a doctor if you are unsure about any bump or spot on your body that:

· wont go away over time· is changing or getting worse· appears suddenly, without any obvious reasons· looks suspicious and makes you feel concerned.

Do a smart check now with SkinVision and get an instant risk indication.

Symptoms Of Pityriasis Rosea

The signs and symptoms of pityriasis rosea include:

• A large single spot forms.
• The herald patch is scaled and coloured red to tan.
• A fine rash of small spots starts to appear within a week of the first patch appearing.
• The spots become small oval patches that are coloured red to tan.
• The patches seem crinkly and loose in the centre.
• The rash may be itchy.
• The upper body and upper arms are usually affected.
• The patches may follow the ribs in lines.
• The rash may spread to the upper thighs.
• Occasionally, the rash may spread to include the neck and lower face.

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What Are The Complications Of A Skin Rash

Theyre bothersome and unsightly, but skin rashes usually respond well to treatment. They rarely cause serious problems. Potential issues include:

• Anaphylaxis: A severe allergic reaction can cause a skin rash and a life-threatening condition called anaphylaxis. Extreme swelling from anaphylaxis can close air passages. People in anaphylaxis need an immediate epinephrine injection to counteract this allergic response. If youve ever felt your throat or mouth swelling when you get a rash, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to carry an EpiPen®.
• Infection: Scratching an itchy rash can break open the skin, allowing germs to get in. Scratching puts you at risk for developing a bacterial skin infection.

Red Patches On Skin That Itch And Painful

Itchy and painful red patches on the skin can be annoying, discomforting and worrisome especially if you do not understand what the underlying cause is. The rash might cause irritation, a burning sensation and a continued urge to scratch.

A common cause of these symptoms is Cellulitis. Cellulitis is a common skin condition that results from the infection of the skin and the soft tissues underneath. Cellulitis occurs when a bacteria enters through a break in skin and spreads. This is what causes the infection which might result in swelling, redness, pain and a feeling of warmth.

Erysipelas is another infection that could cause the pain and itching on the skin. It is an acute, febrile infectious disease caused by a specific streptococcus. This infection is characterized by a deep-red inflammation of the skin or mucous membranes.

Chicken pox an acute contagious disease especially of children could also be the underlying cause of the redness and itchy painful bumps on the skin. Finally, Acne marked by the occurrence of inflamed and infected sebaceous glands in the skin is a possible reason for red pimples on face and other body parts. Acne is most common in children.

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When To See A Doctor To Address Face Redness

While you may be able to treat your face redness with home remedies, you may want to consider seeing a doctor to have your condition checked out and diagnosed. You should see a doctor if:

• Redness continues for extended periods of time
• You experience burning and irritation around your eyes
• Youre having a flare-up

A doctor may also be able to administer treatments that you couldnt do yourself, such as laser treatment and allergy testing. Overall, youre always better off safe than sorry, so if facial redness persists, it cant hurt to see a doctor to have it checked out. The sooner you talk to a professional, the quicker you can get redness under control with the right treatment.

Extremely Dry Itchy Skin

Dry, itchy skin

If you have diabetes, youre more likely to have dry skin. High blood sugar can cause this. If you have a skin infection or poor circulation, these could also contribute to dry, itchy skin.

Take action

• Tell your doctor about your extremely dry skin. Gaining better control of diabetes can reduce dryness.
• If you continue to have dry skin after you gain better control of your diabetes, a dermatologist can help.

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When To Seek Help For Dry Skin Patches

You should contact a doctor if your dry skin becomes severe or doesnt go away. Its also a good idea to get checked out if you think your dry skin might be a sign of an underlying illness.

Seeking out early treatment for your skin condition may lead to a better outcome. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you dont already have a dermatologist.

Open Sores And Wounds

Having high blood sugar for a long time can lead to poor circulation and nerve damage. You may have developed these if youve had uncontrolled diabetes for a long time.

Poor circulation and nerve damage can make it hard for your body to heal wounds. This is especially true on the feet. These open wounds are called diabetic ulcers.

Diabetes and feet

• Get immediate medical care for an open sore or wound.
• Work with your doctor to better control your diabetes.

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Allergic Reaction: Treatment And Prevention

The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid the substance that youre allergic to. This isnt always easy, so if you cant avoid the allergen entirely, try to reduce your exposure to it as much as possible. Its also important to take your allergy medication as prescribed if you do find yourself having a reaction. If you have a severe allergy, make sure you keep your epinephrine auto-injector on you at all times.

Darker Area Of Skin That Feels Like Velvet

A dark patch of velvety skin on the back of your neck, armpit, groin, or elsewhere could mean that you have too much insulin in your blood. This is often a sign of prediabetes.The medical name for this skin condition is acanthosis nigricans.

Acanthosis Nigricans

Often causing darker skin in the creases of the neck, AN may be the first sign that someone has diabetes.

Take action

• Get tested for diabetes

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Yellowish Scaly Patches On And Around Your Eyelids

These develop when you have high fat levels in your blood. It can also be a sign that your diabetes is poorly controlled.The medical name for this condition is xanthelasma.

Take action

• Tell your doctor about the yellowish scaly patches around your eyes.
• Talk with your doctor about how to better control your diabetes. Controlling diabetes can clear the scaly patches.

Red Patches On Skin During Pregnancy

Red patches on skin during pregnancy is a quite common occurrence. There are a lot of changes that takes place during pregnancy. All these changes are controlled by natural chemicals called hormones. One common such hormones are progesterone. It is common for pregnant women to all over sudden become allergic to food and drinks she used to take before she was pregnant. This can also be true for some medicine.

An allergic reaction is thus a common cause of redness on the skin. Another such condition is pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. PUPPP is a chronic hive-like rash that strikes some women during pregnancy. The condition will in most cases begin on the abdomen and spread to the legs, feet, arms, chest and neck.

Other possible causes of red patches on skin during pregnancy might include:

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Common Causes Of Itchy Red Bumps On Your Skin

After acne, rashes are the second most common skin infection. Although rashes can affect any part of the body, they often affect the legs, arms, and torso.

Like many other infections, the cause of your itchy red skin may be bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic. Although taking over-the-counter treatments can help you eliminate unsightly skin lumps, its usually not so simple. The cause of your itchy red skin has a major role in determining the type of treatment youll take.

Lets dig in! And find out what could be causing your skin to form red itchy bumps.

Fungal Infection Around Groin Area

Jock itch is one of the most common forms of fungal infection of the skin. Jock itch is also referred to as tinea curries, and commonly affect your genitals, inner thighs, and buttock. Jock itch is known to cause an itchy, red and often ring-shaped rash.

The warm, moist areas of the body provide an ideal condition for the growth of the fungus causing this rash. It is common for people who sweat a lot and those who are overweight.

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Reasons Your Face Is Red

Many things can turn our faces red, including sunburn, acne, and hot flashes. Here are 10 less obvious reasons for seeing a red face when you look in the mirror.

irritant contact dermatitisallergic contact dermatitisHow to get rid of the redness: