Freelance Writing Jobs | Today's Articles | Sign In

Common Summer Rashes

Identifying and Treating Simple Skin Breakouts

Jun 3, 2009 Amy Andersen

Sun, warmth, and new activities affect the skin. Understanding why red pimples appear or why skin itches and flakes, is the first step toward taking care of summer rash.

In order to treat the rash correctly, it must be diagnosed correctly. If the rash doesn’t heal or seems to get worse, a professional opinion is needed. Most over the counter creams and lotions come in brand name and store names (e.g. CVS, Walgreen’s, Target, etc) Often the store brand is cheaper and usually it is the same. Check the ingredients written on the box to be sure.

Heat Rash, Miliari, Prickly Heat

Heat rash is deceptive and looks like several other rashes including acne or hair follicle irritation. When the body gets too hot and can’t evaporate sweat fast enough, the pores clog and small papules are created at each sweat gland.

Keep the area dry and clean. Don’t put any cream or ointments on it that will further clog the skin. Wear lose cotton clothing.

Swimmers Itch or Swimmers Rash

A red rash appears where ever the bathing suit wasn’t; in other words, on exposed skin. The rash may be from chlorine in a pool or from lake-swimming parasites. It is self-limiting, which means it will go away by itself but in the mean time use a hydrocortisone cream or anti-itch cream if needed, for comfort.

Tinea Versicolor

These are the white/pink/tan spots that appear on tanned skin. It is of cosmetic nuisance only (not harmful) and due to a mild yeast growth on the skin. The discolorations have probably been there all along but only become visible since they don’t tan. The cure is to keep the skin one un-tanned color. OTC creams containing selenium sulfide or selsun blue shampoo applied over night and washed off the next morning for 5-7 days may hasten the disappearance. Sunscreen must be used to prevent reoccurrence.

Poison Ivy

The rash appears a few days after touching the plant. It is red, itchy and has bubbles (vesicles). The moisture in the vesicles can spread the poison ivy further.

Wash clothes that have been exposed
Cut fingernails to prevent scratching or prevent the plant oil staying under the nails that may spread it further.
Don’t pet your animals until you are better.
Take oatmeal baths for comfort, e.g. Aveeno
Use hydrocortisone cream
Use an anti itch cream such as calamine of caladryl
Take an antihistamine such as benadryl to help the itching and reaction.
Get professional care if it doesn’t go away in a week or gets worse. A steroid dose pack may be necessary.

Folliculits, Barber Rash

Tiny red bumps at the base of hair shafts may appear in areas not usually shaved or aggressively shaved in summertime such as groin or bikini hairs or underarm hair. The area is irritated by shaving, sun, and then by salt water or chlorine or tanning lotions or deodorant or moisturizers.

Keep it clean and dry and use an antibacterial cream such as bacitracin or neomycin twice a day for a few days until it heals. Don’t shave until the area is better.

Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis), Tinea Corporis, Ring Worm

A rash under in the skin folds is itchy, pink, and bumpy. Less diffuse might be a circular rash on the arm or abdomen with a central clearing (ring worm). It may also appear between the toes and form white crusting areas. Heat may be a factor, no worm is involved and it will often clear by keeping the skin folds apart if possible, the skin dry, and an antifungal powder or cream. It may take a few weeks to clear. It is a fungus so using footwear in wet public places such as showers or gyms helps spread it or prevent it.

Topical antifungals include

Lotrimen
Lamisil
Jock itch cream
Monistat

The copyright of the article Common Summer Rashes in General Medicine is owned by Amy Andersen. Permission to republish Common Summer Rashes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

poison ivy warning