Blog Rash

Energy saving bulbs could reduce carbon dioxide emissions
The switch to energy-saving light bulbs may put thousands at risk of painful skin reactions, health charities warn.

Fluorescent bulbs can exacerbate skin rashes in people with photosensitive skin conditions, experts said.

The government is planning to prevent the sale of conventional bulbs by 2011 to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

Several groups including the British Association of Dermatologists called for exemptions to allow those affected to continue using traditional bulbs. Read the rest of this entry »

Pediatric Dermatology Basics

Although having a heat rash is common, it is likely not as common as many parents believe, who tend to call any red rash their kids have when it is hot outside a heat rash.

Learning to distinguish heat rash from other common skin rashes, such as impetigo, eczema, folliculitis, and poison ivy, can be helpful so that you can properly treat and prevent this common rash.

As the name implies, heat rash is triggered in certain children when they become overheated, either because they are overdressed or because it is simply too hot outside. As they become hot and sweat, their sweat ducts become blocked and rupture. Read the rest of this entry »

Rashes are a very broad topic, but this Advisory has a narrow focus: dry skin and eczematous rashes. Dry skin is a problem faced by almost all of us on occasion, but it’s always a problem if you have eczema.

What is Eczema?

Eczema is a term used for a group of skin conditions having several things in common: dryness, itching, inflammation and thickening of skin, and recurrence. See the table below for descriptions of the usual types. Read the rest of this entry »

The popular term for a group of spots or red, inflamed skin that is usually asymptom of an underlying condition or disorder. Often temporary, a rash is only rarely a sign of a serious problem. Read the rest of this entry »

The pityriasis rosea main symptoms are a dry skin rash that is scaly in texture and reddish-pink in color. The skin discoloration can range from faint pink to deep red depending on the individual and their skin pigmentation. When this skin rash first becomes evident, one oval spot up to three inches in size becomes visible on the skin. More spots then appear within a few days or even weeks after the first skin rash spot appeared. The affected skin areas can be very itchy for some people, while for others the skin itch may be mild or not present at all. The back and stomach are usually the target skin areas for pityriasis rosea. In some cases the upper thighs, upper arms, or neck region may be affected. Some have described the skin rash shape as a Christmas tree when it occurs on the back. A feeling that the individual has the common cold or a viral upper respiratory track infection often precedes the pityriasis skin rash. Read the rest of this entry »

A TEACHER has endured an agonising build-up to the festive season after suffering a painful head-to-toe rash caused by a severe allergic reaction - to her Christmas tree.

Nicola Coleman, 36, bought the Norwood Spruce from Wyevale Garden Centre and touched it only twice, while carrying it from the car into her house and to place it in the tree stand. Read the rest of this entry »

The Christmas tree rash is a fine scaly rash that ranges its color from pink to tan. The Christmas tree rash often affects the skin and one is sure to get some kind of skin disease if this Christmas rash is not timely cured. The skin condition during the time one has the Christmas rash is common among adults and teenagers. This Christmas rash occurs during spring. There are many kinds of Christmas tree rash. Read the rest of this entry »

What is sun rash?

Most of us enjoy the sun, but some people’s skin can be very sensitive to the sun in spring and summer, especially those with pale skin and red hair. For them, exposure to sunlight results in a rash which may recur throughout the summer.

What are the symptoms of sun rash? Read the rest of this entry »

Is It Just A Simple Rash Or Is It Scabies?

Everyone gets a rash from time to time, maybe because of a dry skin, of the cold weather or because of allergies, but the rash can also be caused by scabies. Scabies is a contagious disease produced by microscopic insects called mites also known as Sarcoptes Scabei, which shelter under the skin and deposit eggs. Due to this, itching will install along with small red marks and blisters all over the fingers, elbows and thighs. Scabies must be properly treated otherwise other skin infections might occur.

Scabies mites are very small; they are about 0.4 mm long and the naked eye can not see them. A magnifying glass could be helpful in finding them.

The female insect is attracted by warm and moist areas of the body where she will lay her eggs for about five weeks. If the treatment is delayed, the eggs will eventually hatch and so the infection will continue to spread. Read the rest of this entry »

Is It Baby Acne, Heat Rash, Or Cradle Crap?

There are a number of skin conditions that babies can get, and two different types of acne. Each one has different treatments and recommendations, so it’s good to know the symptoms of each.

Cradle Crap

Like neonatal acne, cradle crap and seborrheic dermatitis are related to the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, which cause the oil glands to go into overdrive. Cradle crap is:

* crusty, scaly, red patches on baby’s scalp
* caused by overactive sebaceous glands (these produce the skin’s oil)
* there can also redness in the crease of the baby’s neck, armpits, and behind his ears
* when it is only on the scalp, it is cradle crap. When it spreads all over the face, and in the diaper area, it is called seborrheic dermatitis. You should contact your doctor to get a stronger shampoo or alternative treatment if this occurs.

Heat Rash

Heat rash can occur in anyone, though babies are more vulnerable because their sweat glands aren’t fully developed. Thus, they are less able to re-balance their core body temperature. Heat rash is characterized by very small bumps on the skin, surrounded by a red area. Heat rash:

* usually breaks out on areas of the body covered by clothes
* this includes the trunk, groin, and armpits
* it can cause fever and heat exhaustion in severe cases
* hot and humid environments tend to be associated with it more
* it can feel prickly or stinging

Baby Acne

Like teenage acne, baby acne occurs more often in boys than girls. Unlike later forms of acne, it is generally mild or moderate, and rarely severe.

It generally occurs on the face of infants - usually the cheeks, though it can spread to the chin and forehead. When this type of acne is mild to moderate, it is unlikely to lead to permanent scarring. However, if the acne is severe, scars can occur that last into adulthood. Those babies who develop severe acne usually get acne vulgaris when they reach the teenage years. Acne vulgaris is the most common type of acne people suffer from.

Neonatal acne can include features of regular acne like whiteheads and blackheads, as well as papules and pustules. Papules do not have pus in them, and look like small, solid, raised areas of the skin. Pustules do have pus in them, as the name suggests. Pustules generally form in sweat glands or hair follicles. It is composed of inflammatory cells as well as pus.

When there are no comedomes (whiteheads and blackheads), babies may have what is call neonatal cephalic pustulosis. This is a result of an infection by a genus of yeasts called malassezia. There are a number of different species belonging to this genus, although it has not been established whether the different species cause particular skin conditions. Malassezia yeasts can cause seborrhoeic dermatitis and dandruff, as well as neonatal cephalic pustulosis and a range of other conditions.

Neonatal cephalic pustulosis doesn’t usually need treatment, though a topical antifungal cream can be applied.
By: Rebecca Prescott

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