What 4 Common Skin Rashes Look Like

Impetigo

Impetigo is a common skin infection. It's usually caused by either Streptococcus (strep) or Staphylococcus (staph) bacteria.

Impetigo is most common on the face or limbs. Its distinctive features are:

• An eruption of red sores
• Clear fluid or pus leak from sores
• Formation of a honey-colored crust

Bacteria typically enter your body through a cut, scrape, burn, or insect bite.

Children often get impetigo after a cold. Using tissues makes the skin around their noses raw. And that gives the bacteria easy access. 

The honey-colored crust is usually a tell-tale sign of impetigo. Still, your healthcare provider may order a bacterial culture to confirm the diagnosis.

When impetigo involves large blisters (known as bullae), it's called bullous impetigo. It's a less common form. Young children are most likely to have it.

Impetigo may cause minor itchiness. But it's generally not painful. That sets it apart from shingles and other types of eruptive lesions.

Impetigo is typically treated with antibiotics.

Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis)

Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is a common fungal infection. Symptoms include:

• A red rash between the toes or on the soles of the feet
• Flaking or broken skin
• Discomfort ranging from mild itchiness to painful blisters

Athlete's foot between the toes is called interdigital tinea pedis. When it's mainly on the soles, it's moccasin-type tinea pedis. Blister-like outbreaks are acute vesicular tinea pedis. (Vesicle means blister.)

Athlete's foot spreads easily in moist, unhygienic environments. That can include spas and locker room floors. It's treated with topical antifungals.

Healthcare providers often diagnose athlete's foot on appearance alone. However, other conditions, like plaque psoriasis, can cause similar symptoms, so if your rash doesn't respond to antifungals, you may be tested for other causes.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disorder. It's chronic and inflammatory. Triggers may include:

• Stress
• Medications
• Infection
• Skin injury
• Environmental triggers like the sun

Between 1% and 8% of the global population has psoriasis.

In autoimmune disorders, your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. This triggers inflammation.

In psoriasis, the skin cells are attacked. New ones are produced faster than the old ones can be shed. That leads to a buildup of cells—the psoriasis rash.

Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis. Symptoms include:

• Red or dark patches of skin covered with thick, silvery scales
• Itching, burning, and/or soreness
• Flaking, cracked, dry skin that can bleed when scratched

Plaque psoriasis is most common on the elbows, knees, and scalp.

Other types of psoriasis are:

• Pustular psoriasis: Pus-filled lesions
• Guttate psoriasis: Small, pink bumps shaped like teardrops

Psoriasis is often diagnosed by its appearance. It may require a skin biopsy for confirmation.

No blood tests can diagnose psoriasis. Your healthcare provider may rule out similar skin conditions such as:

• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Lichen planus
• Pityriasis
• Squamous cell skin cancer

Treatment varies by the severity of the outbreak. It may include topical steroids, immunosuppressants, and UV light therapy.

Psoriasis sometimes goes away without treatment. It can recur suddenly, as well.

Shingles

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful rash. It's caused by a reactivation of the varicella virus. That's the virus that causes chickenpox.

Most people have a 20% to 30% chance of developing shingles at some point during their lifetime. High-risk groups include people with compromised immune systems. 

Shingles typically strikes later in life. Symptoms often come in two phases:

• Pre-eruptive stage: A dull, localized ache and increased sensitivity to touch.
• Eruptive stage: Tiny, painful blisters appear. They may burst and scab over.

Shingles is contagious during the blistering phase.

Shingles almost always affects just one side of the body. It's a nerve infection and is limited to an area of skin supplied by a single nerve. This area is called a dermatome.

The pain of shingles ranges from prickly, persistent discomfort to deep, excruciating pain.

Shingles sometimes causes long-term nerve pain. This is called postherpetic neuralgia. Older adults and those whose shingles is untreated are at higher risk.

See a healthcare provider as soon as you recognize the rash with fluid-filled blisters. Early treatment with antiviral drugs such as Zovirax (acyclovir) can shorten the outbreak. It also keeps it from spreading to vulnerable parts, like your eyes.

A highly effective shingles vaccine known as Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) is available. Vaccination is recommended for all adults 50 and older.