Skin Redness: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Many things can cause red skin, from a simple sunburn to a potentially serious infection. Getting a proper diagnosis of the underlying cause is important for finding the most effective treatment.
If something irritates your skin, extra blood rushes to the skin’s surface to fight off irritants and encourage healing. Your skin can also become red from exertion, such as after a heart-pounding exercise session.
It’s not always a reason for concern, but skin redness can be irritating and uncomfortable. It might also be accompanied by other symptoms. Figuring out its underlying cause can help you treat your skin and keep it from happening again.
Swimsuit marks on the burnt skin of an unrecognizable woman’s shoulder 1412509974 Olga Rolenko/Getty ImagesMany different conditions can cause skin redness. Here are some possible causes.
Diaper rash
located on areas that have contact with a diaper
red, wet, and irritated
warm to the touch
Allergic eczema
may resemble a burn
on hands and forearms
skin is itchy, red, scaly, or raw
blisters that weep, ooze, or become crusty
Rosacea
goes through cycles of fading and relapse
may
by spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, sunlight, stress, and the intestinal bacteria Helicobacter pylori
can cause facial flushing, raised, red bumps, facial redness, skin dryness, and skin sensitivity
Burns
This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.
First-degree burns: Minor swelling and dry, red, tender skin that turns white when pressure is applied.
Second-degree burns: Very painful, clear, weeping blisters and skin that appears red or has variable, patchy coloration.
Third-degree burns: White or dark in color with a leathery appearance and low or no sensitivity to touch.
Chemical burn
This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.
your skin, mucous membranes, or eyes come into contact with a chemical irritant, such as a strong acid or a base
first aid treatments for chemical burns include removing the chemical that caused the burn (including clothing or jewelry that has touched the chemical) and rinsing the skin under lukewarm, slow, running water
Drug allergy
This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.
mild, itchy, red rash may occur days to weeks after taking a drug
severe symptoms like hives, racing heart, swelling, itching, and difficulty breathing
may cause other symptoms including fever, stomach upset, and tiny purple or red dots on the skin
Cellulitis
This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.
caused by bacteria or fungi entering through a crack or cut in the skin
painful, swollen skin with or without oozing that spreads quickly
hot and tender to the touch
fever, chills, and streaking from the rash might be a sign of serious infection requiring medical attention
Scarlet fever
occurs at the same time as or right after a strep throat infection
causes a rash of tiny bumps all over the body
bright red tongue
Angioedema (giant hives)
a form of severe swelling beneath the skin’s surface
may be accompanied by hives and itching
an allergic reaction to an allergen like food or medication
additional symptoms may include stomach cramping and discolored patches or rash on the hands, arms, and feet
Thrombophlebitis
inflammation of a superficial vein caused by a blood clot, typically in the legs
tenderness, warmth, and visible engorgement along the vein
Bone infection (osteomyelitis)
occurs when bacteria or fungi invade a bone
may be
a migration of bacteria or fungi infecting surrounding tissues or the bloodstream, or by penetrating injury or surgery that exposes the bone
can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and warmth in the infected body part as well as fever and chills
Osteosarcoma
form of bone cancer that typically develops in the shinbone (tibia) near the knee, the thighbone (femur) near the knee, or the upper arm bone (humerus) near the shoulder
type of bone cancer in children
may cause bone pain, fractures, swelling, redness, and limping
Sunburn
superficial burn on the outermost layer of skin
can cause pain, swelling, dryness, peeling, and color changes
more severe, blistering burns may occur after extended periods of sun exposure
Skin infection
caused by a wide variety of infectious agents, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites.
may cause color changes, tenderness, itching, and a rash
see a doctor if you have fever, chills, pus-filled blisters, skin breakdown, severe pain, or a skin infection that does not improve or gets progressively worse
Bites and stings
This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.
causes color changes, swelling, itching, and soreness
pain in the affected area or in the muscles
heat around the bite or sting
Heat rash
occurs due to a combination of heat, sweat, and friction
develops on body parts that rub together, such as between the inner thighs or under the arms
causes small clear or white bumps filled with fluid to appear or itchy, hot bumps
Psoriasis
causes scaly, silvery, sharply defined skin patches
on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back
may be itchy or asymptomatic
Ringworm
circular-shaped scaly rashes with raised border
skin in the middle of the ring appears clear and healthy, and the edges of the ring may spread outward
may feel itchy and uncomfortable
Shingles
very painful rash
burn, tingle, or itch, even if there are no blisters present
clusters of fluid-filled blisters that break easily and weep fluid
emerges in a linear stripe pattern that appears most commonly on the torso but may occur on other parts of the body, including the face
may be accompanied by low fever, chills, headache, or fatigue
a burn that’s twice the size of your palm
difficulty breathing
extreme pain
loss of consciousness
redness near or
that is affecting your vision
You should also get medical attention if you have an
, even if you’ve had a tetanus shot.
Optum Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission.
If you see a doctor about your rash, they’ll perform a physical exam. If your symptoms come and go, they’ll ask you to describe them.
They may also ask you questions like:
What activities were you engaging in before you noticed the skin redness?
Are you taking any new medications or using any new skin care or cleaning products?
Do you have a
of any skin conditions?
Have you experienced this skin redness before?
Were you around others who may have a similar rash?
After that, they may order additional testing like a
of the affected area or
to determine if your skin reacts to certain irritants.
Ask your doctor if your skin condition may be
and what steps you can take to prevent its spread. This can ensure that you do not pass on the skin redness to someone else.
Treatments for skin redness depend on what’s causing it. Examples can include avoiding the irritant or allergen that caused your skin redness in the first place.
Other treatments for skin redness include:
cleansing the affected area with soap and water
taking medications like
to minimize irritation
applying topical skin care treatments like calamine lotion to reduce skin redness
Keeping the affected area clean and dry can usually help reduce skin redness. If an infection is the cause of your skin redness, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to reduce the infection’s symptoms.
There are many causes of red skin ranging from mild to severe. While causes like sunburn can be managed at home, more severe symptoms may require a diagnosis and medical treatment.
If you’re not sure what’s causing your skin redness, it’s a good idea to contact a doctor.