You might look at a red, swollen area which is itchy and painful on your skin and wonder what it is. It might be a rash. A rash can be an indicator of several medical problems. It can occur due to an irritant (a substance causing irritation) or allergies. As a rash can be caused due to multiple reasons, it is crucial to figure out the exact cause to receive appropriate treatment.1 You might be allergic to certain substances, and when these touch your skin can lead to the formation of a rash. Therefore, the occurrence of rashes can be due to skin allergies too. Even though a rash may be uncomfortable and painful, it is not contagious. i.e. It cannot spread from one person to another.2 However, to soothe your skin, there are various home remedies for skin rashes that you might find useful. But, before diving into that, we need to know about a few things described further.
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Certain substances present in the environment like pollen, moulds, or plant and animal substances can cause allergic reactions on the skin, especially during summer or spring.
When the skin comes in contact with a substance that causes irritation (allergen), it alerts the immune system, leading to a skin rash. This condition is called allergic contact dermatitis, where dermatitis simply means the irritation of the skin.2 Some of the causes are:
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If you are able to avoid the substance causing the reaction, the rash usually clears up in 2 to 4 weeks. You can try soothing your skin with a cool, wet cloth and other self-care steps at home. Visit a dermatologist if the symptoms worsen.
Dr Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology
As stated above, skin allergies and rashes can occur due to multiple reasons. It occurs within minutes, hours or days after coming in contact with an allergen. Whenever our skin comes in contact with an allergen, it develops symptoms; this condition is called allergic contact dermatitis.2 Whenever it happens, you can recognise it by knowing that the rash:
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Colloidal oatmeal dissolved in a bath can relieve itchiness. Oats contain anti-inflammatory substances such as linoleic oil and oleic acid oatmeal works as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant to relieve skin itchiness, dryness, and roughness. Studies Trusted Source has shown that the oils in oats work together to help repair skin.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka – MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)
Skin allergies and rashes are a common occurrence as we come across several potential allergens during our daily activities. Treatment for these rashes can be of various types, as will be suggested by your doctor. It might take time for the rash to go away even after beginning the treatment.2 However, there are home remedies for skin rashes that you can try if you are looking for natural remedies for rashes and skin allergies.
The scientific name of German chamomile is Matricaria recutita L. The flower can be used externally to manage skin inflammation, rashes and eczema, among many other allergic skin conditions. Human studies show that it is more effective than hydrocortisone (a constituent of creams used to treat rashes) in managing chemical-induced toxic dermatitis.4 As a skin allergy home remedy, you can use a few teaspoons of German chamomile leaves to brew a tea and drink it. It is also a constituent of various ointments available on the market.5 You can also use the German chamomile flower extract by making a paste of the flowers and gently dabbing it over the rash.
Sage leaf is one of the home remedies for skin rashes. Sage is a medicinal plant native to the Mediterranean region and has been used in herbal medicine for ages to manage minor skin inflammations. In laboratory and animal studies, it was found that certain compounds present in sage showed inflammation alleviating properties. Use of this in children below the age of 18 and pregnant and lactating women is not recommended.4 As an at-home skin rash remedy, you can use sage oil made from the sage leaf and apply it gently over the rash using a cotton swab.
In a clinical trial, it was seen that evening primrose can reduce the symptoms of atopic dermatitis. It was also found to reduce the symptoms of eczema when applied on rashes topically. Therefore, you can use evening primrose as a skin allergy home remedy. It might help in reducing inflammation, dryness, itch and exfoliation (removal of dead cells) of the skin. Please note that it should not be used by people with schizophrenia and epilepsy, children, or pregnant and breastfeeding women.4 You can make use of it as a natural home remedy for skin rashes by adding a few drops of evening primrose essential oil in tea and drinking it. You can also apply the essential oil to rashes.
Fenugreek seeds are a part of traditional herbal medicine for the management of eczema and mild local inflammation of the skin. In animal studies, fenugreek seeds extract exhibited inflammation alleviating properties. It should not be used by children and adolescents below the age of 18.4 There is a need for more studies in humans to prove its efficacy; nonetheless, it is being used as one of the home remedies for skin rashes. You can use it as a skin allergy home remedy by taking a few fenugreek seeds, boiling them in water, and using the water for bathing.
Aloe vera gel was found to reduce acute (adverse or extreme) skin inflammation in animal studies. The presence of enzymes, sterols and carbohydrates attribute to the inflammation-reducing property of aloe vera gel. It can be used topically to deal with minor skin inflammations and skin inflammation disorders. Rarely, it may cause allergy on contact, so use it cautiously. Moreover, the use of freshly extracted aloe vera gel seems to be more beneficial.4 As a natural home remedy for skin rashes, you can use fresh aloe vera leaf to obtain the gel and apply it to your rash. It might help soothe your skin rash.
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Oat straw is scientifically known as Avenae stramentum. It contains a lot of bioactive compounds. It can be used to deal with many skin inflammations and seborrheic (disease-causing scaling and flaking of the skin) skin diseases, especially those accompanied by itching.4 You can use oats as one of the home remedies for skin rashes by mixing little oats in curd and honey and applying it to your skin rashes. This remedy can be used as one of the home remedies for face skin allergy.
As a traditional herbal medicine, oak bark has been used to manage minor skin inflammation, purulent skin diseases (diseases with pus discharge from skin rashes) and exuding eczema (fluid-filled blistering of skin). The use of oak bark was reported to cause allergies in some cases, so be cautious while using it. Using oak bark for longer than a week and in children and adolescents below 18 years is not recommended.4 You can use the bark of the oak tree as a home remedy for skin allergies by using it to prepare baths by adding the oak bark or oak bark essential oil. The oak bark is a constituent of a few herbal preparations for managing skin rashes as well.
Flaxseeds are also known as linseeds and scientifically known as Linum usitatissimum. It is cultivated worldwide but mainly in India, Turkey, Morocco and Argentina. It contains many bioactive components and might have skin smoothening (emollient), irritation relieving (demulcent), and inflammation alleviating properties, all of which are beneficial for skin allergies and rashes. Flaxseeds can be used as a warm poultice by wrapping the seeds in a cloth, gently warming them, and applying them to swellings and rashes.4 You might also be able to gain its beneficial effects by adding it to your diet.
Though there are studies that show the benefits of the given herbs and home remedies in the condition, these are insufficient, and there is a need for further studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of these herbs and home remedies on human health.
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You should contact your doctor if you notice one of the following symptoms:
You must not rely on home remedies for the management of the condition; you should consult a qualified doctor for an advice for the condition.
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If you see a red area associated with pain and swelling, it might be a rash. A skin allergy to an animal or plant substance, metal, etc., might be what caused your rash. Skin rashes are caused mainly by an inflammatory reaction to allergens (substances that cause allergy). So, in order to treat it rightly, you need to identify the cause first. Even after all of this, it might take some time for the rash to disappear. There are home remedies for skin allergies like oak bark, flaxseeds, aloe vera gel and German camomile that you can try. However, if the rash gets worse and doesn’t go away or if you notice the signs of infection (redness, swelling and heat), you should consult your dermatologist (skin and hair doctor) and seek their medical advice.
Also Read: Red Spots on Skin: Causes, Symptoms, and Research-Based Treatment Strategies
Yes, there are home remedies for skin rashes like aloe vera gel, fenugreek seed, oats, oak bark, evening primrose, etc. that you can try.4
Yes. You can try fenugreek, aloe vera gel, or flaxseeds that are grown and used commonly in India as a home remedy for skin rashes.4
No. There is no evidence showing the benefit of green tea for skin allergies.
Yes, skin allergy can occur due to grass. Skin allergy can be caused by a substance in the environment like plant and animal substances, pollen or mould.3
No. skin allergy is not contagious. You cannot get it from person to person contact. It occurs when the skin comes in contact with an allergen (allergy-causing substances).2
1. Rashes [Internet]. MedlinePlus. [cited 2022 Jun 6]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/rashes.html
2. Contact dermatitis [Internet]. Cleaveland Clinic. [cited 2022 Jun 6]. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6173-contact-dermatitis
3. Summer skin rashes [Internet]. Healthdirect. [cited 2022 Jun 6]. Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/summer-skin-rashes
4. Dawid-Pać R. Medicinal plants used in treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. Adv Dermatology Allergol [Internet]. 2013;3(3):170–7. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3834722/
5. Shenefelt PD. Herbal treatment for dermatologic disorders [Internet]. Benzie I, Watchel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects: Second Edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. 383–403 p. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92761/
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
Recently, reports of new cases of fever due to a strange infection have started emerging from some districts in the state of Odisha and HImachal Pradesh. Deaths have been reported due to Scrub typhus infection in these states. With reports of the Scrub Typhus disease emerging in some parts of the country again, it is essential to be aware and stay safe! Read on to know more about the safety measures and symptoms of this fever.
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains Scrub Typhus as a disease caused by the bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi. This is a rickettsial disease (not to be confused with bone development disease rickets) that occurs when a person is bitten by infected mite larvae called ‘chiggers’.
These mites predominantly breed in bushy areas or scrubs, therefore the disease is also called Bush Typhus. Reports suggest that the chiggers are rapidly spreading due to the heavy rain experienced by some parts of India in the past months. Once infected, the average incubation period for this bacteria is 10-12 days within which one can start experiencing symptoms. People with immunity disorders are more prone to severe symptoms due to this infection.
Scrub typhus if left untreated and in the long term may cause respiratory distress, gastrointestinal bleeding, and acute renal failure, getting immediate medical help is very essential in such situations.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
A telltale sign for doctors to identify whether a person is afflicted with Scrub Typhus or not is based on some lab tests and to check for ‘eschars’. Eschars are bite marks that are characterized by their dark colour due to dead tissue in the affected body part. Chigger bites are painless and symptoms can help identify whether someone has scrub typhus or not. Some of the common symptoms include:
Scrub Typhus symptoms can start developing as early as 4-5 days after the bacteria enter the body. If left untreated, the infection can be fatal since it may affect your respiratory system, kidneys, brain and can even lead to multi-organ failure. This disease needs instant medical care.
Scrub typhus is one of the tropical rickettsial infections which if left untreated, can have fatal consequences. It can be easily identified when they have high fever with eschar like rashes.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
If a person is suspected to have Scrub Typhus and encounters any of the symptoms of the disease, a doctor should be consulted immediately. If the disease is identified early then it can be cured quite easily with the help of antibiotic medication. Scrub Typhus treatment takes effect quickly and people recover within a few days of receiving the dose of antibiotics.
Scrub Typhus treatment may need to be accompanied by treatment for other ailments too which occur in the case of advanced stages of the bacterial infection.
The easiest way to prevent scrub typhus is to avoid bushy areas or regions with dense vegetation that are damp or water-logged. However, if you need to travel and work in such areas there are preventive measures that you can take.
Scrub Typhus is an infection that thrives during the monsoon as these larvae do not survive during the summers or winters. Take precautions when going outdoors and you can prevent this infection. All chigger bites do not cause infection (only infected chiggers pass on the typhus bacteria) however, always visit a doctor if you see bite marks on your body or experience fever or any other scrub typhus symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are important. Do not ignore trying to self diagnose or ignore any fever – it can be due to COVID-19, seasonal flu, dengue, typhoid, malaria, scrub typhus or any other reason and requires diagnosis and treatment by a doctor. Follow all the safety measures and stay healthy.
Ref
https://www.cdc.gov/typhus/scrub/index.html
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
