How to Diagnose Rashes
Skin rashes can herald a host of different diseases and conditions, from chicken pox to eczema, Christmas-tree rash to allergic reactions. Viruses and bacterial infections can cause rashes, as can parasites and heat. Rashes are a symptoms of something else and some are even life threatening like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (References 4), but most are just annoying, since they can be extremely itchy and even painful. (See Reference 1). Mild rashes like heat rash and swimmer's itch will clear up in a few days without treatment, but some other rashes require a visit to a medical professional.
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Instructions
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Take your temperature. If you have a fever (99 degrees or above), and you are experiencing aches or chills, call your doctor. This could be a sign of a disease like chicken pox, measles or mumps.
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Compare your rash to other rashes of known causes. For example, the Mayo Clinic website offers a slideshow of skin rashes, the American Association of Family Physicians has photographs of common bacterial skin infections, and the Global Skin Atlas has hundreds of photographs of common and uncommon rashes.
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Identify any new products you have been using. For example, a new soap introduced in the household could cause a rash. Stop using any suspicious product and see if the rash clears up.
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4
Visit your doctor if your skin rash worsens, lasts for more than a few days, is unbearably itchy, or spreads to other parts of your body. This could be a sign of one of many diseases: your doctor, preferably a dermatologist, is the best person to advise you on a course of treatment.
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Tips & Warnings
Call 911 if you are having trouble breathing, or if your neck or tongue is swollen. This could be a sign of a severe allergic reaction, a potential life threatening emergency.
If you have been taking a new medication and experience a red rash with raised bumps, call your doctor promptly: this could be a sign of an allergic reaction to the medication.
References
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