Rashes

What are rashes?

A rash is a change in the color or texture of your skin that feels irritated, bumpy, or painful. There are numerous types of rashes that can result from a variety of underlying medical conditions or environmental substances.

Common rashes that Canton Urgent Care treats include:

• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Shingles
• Scabies
• Contact dermatitis

Rashes can be mildly irritating or result in other serious medical complications, with symptoms varying in severity based on the cause of the rash.

What are some symptoms of common rashes? 

Depending on your specific skin condition, you may experience a wide range of symptoms.

Contact dermatitis 

Contact dermatitis is a rash that results from making contact with an allergen. A red, itchy rash usually develops within hours after the contact and can further develop into oozing blisters and raw, painful patches of skin.

Scratching affected skin can cause worsening irritation and may even result in a skin infection.

Eczema 

Eczema causes scaly patches of skin and intense itching. It usually affects the bends of the knees and elbows.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is similar to eczema, causing itching but it tends to be more mild. The rashes appear as well-defined, silver-colored skin patches, typically forming on the scalp, knees, elbows, and your lower back. 

Shingles 

Shingles is a viral infection that develops from varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. 

The virus can remain dormant in the nerve tissue around your brain and spinal cord, reactivating at a later time as painful blisters on any part of your body.

Shingles cause red, blistery rashes and skin that’s sensitive to touch. 

Scabies

Scabies rashes are pink, raised bumps that often form a line. Some people develop scaly patches that resemble eczema, while others with intense symptoms form thick crusts on their skin.

Your provider at Canton Urgent Care can determine which type of rash is affecting your skin after an evaluation and a review of your symptoms.

How are rashes treated?

Depending on the type and severity of the rash, your provider may recommend over-the-counter or prescription medications to reduce the pain and irritation of a rash. You may need to take these medications orally or use them as a topical treatment.

There isn’t a cure for the shingles virus, but your provider can prescribe antiviral drugs to reduce your risk for complications. If the rash is the result of a bacterial infection, they can provide antibiotics to clear the infection.

After finding out the root cause of your rash, your provider may create a treatment plan to help prevent rashes from affecting your health in the future.

To find out more about available treatment options for rashes, call Canton Urgent Care, book an appointment online, or walk in for expert care today.