Blog Rash

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that causes redness and scaling between the toes. Athlete’s foot is treated with topical antifungal medications.

The feet are the most common area infected by certain fungi called dermatophytes, causing tinea pedis or athlete’s foot. Athlete’s foot is a very common problem experienced by up to 70% of the population at some time in their life. Read the rest of this entry »

Ringworm is a fungal infection that typically occurs on the body. The rash is typically round, red, raised, and scaly on the outside of the lesion. Ringworm can be effectively treated with oral or topical medications.

Ringworm, known in medical terms as tinea corporis, is actually not caused by a worm, but by a fungus. Tinea corporis refers to a fungal infection of the body or face, not including the beard area on men. Ringworm occurs more commonly in warm, tropical environments, affects men and women equally, and affects all ages equally. Read the rest of this entry »

Eczema is an itchy rash that is closely related to allergies. It is also known as “the itch that rashes.”

The exact cause of eczema is not known, but it seems to be related to abnormalities in the epidermis that make the skin drier than normal and more sensitive to common chemicals.

Eczema is diagnosed based on the presence of major and minor criteria. There is no cure for eczema, but its symptoms can be managed by lifestyle changes and medications. Read the rest of this entry »

Scabies is a rash caused by a tiny mite that burrows under the skin. The rash is red, bumpy, and often located on wrists, between fingers, in armpits, and around the waistline. Scabies is treated with a lotion to kill the mite, but the rash can last up to a month.

Chicken Pox - Varicella Virus Infection

Chicken pox is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the varicella virus. The word chickenpox comes from the Old English word “gican” meaning “to itch” or from the Old French word “chiche-pois” for chickpea, a description of the size of the lesion.

Who Gets Chicken Pox

Chickenpox is a disease of childhood - 90% of cases occur in children aged 14 years and younger. Before widespread vaccination, the incidence of chicken pox in the United States approached the annual birth rate, averaging between 3.1 and 3.8 million cases per year. Chicken pox can occur at any time, but occurs most often in March, April, and May in temperate climates. Read the rest of this entry »

Poison ivy is known in medical terms as Rhus Dermatitis which is a type of contact dermatitis. As the study implies, a contact dermatitis is an irritation of the skin caused by contact with a specific irritant. In the case of poison ivy, the irritant is called urushiol which is a resin found in the plants in the Anacardiaceae family and the Rhus genus. Plants included in this classification are poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Also included are the cashew nut tree, mango tree, Asian lacquer tree, and marking nut tree. Read the rest of this entry »

Pityriasis rosea is a common, self-limited rash that typically occurs in healthy adolescents and young adults. The appearance of the rash is striking and often causes concern to the bearer and family, but it truly does resolve on its own.

Pityriasis Rosea Facts

The cause of pityriasis rosea is unknown. Studies looking for a viral or bacterial origin are not conclusive to date. Although its cause is unknown, the rash itself is associated with the following characteristics: Read the rest of this entry »

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that affects 1% to 3% of the world’s population. It is characterized by periodic flare-ups of well defined, red patches covered by a silvery, flaky scale on the extensor surfaces and the scalp. There are several variations of psoriasis but the most common type is chronic plaque psoriasis. The exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, but it is believed that a combination of several factors contributes to the development of this disease. Read the rest of this entry »