The location, appearance and color of a rash will help your doctor make a diagnosis. Look for care suggestions on this chart for common rashes and other skin conditions.
Trusted medical advice from the
American Academy of Family Physicians.
American Academy of Family Physicians.
Go to familydoctor.org Home
Trusted medical advice from the
American Academy of Family Physicians.
American Academy of Family Physicians.
Skin Rashes & Other Skin Problems
Step 1
Selecting A Symptom
- Abdominal Pain (Stomach Pain), Long-term
- Abdominal Pain (Stomach Pain), Short-term
- Ankle Problems
- Breast Problems in Men
- Breast Problems in Women
- Chest Pain in Infants and Children
- Chest Pain, Acute
- Chest Pain, Chronic
- Cold and Flu
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Ear Problems
- Elimination Problems or Constipation
- Elimination Problems or Constipation in Infants and Children
- Eye Problems
- Facial Swelling
- Feeding Problems in Infants and Children
- Fever
- Fever in Infants and Children
- Foot Problems
- Genital Problems in Infants (Female)
- Genital Problems in Infants (Male)
- Genital Problems in Men
- Genital Problems in Women
- Hair Loss
- Hand/Wrist/Arm Problems
- Headaches
- Hearing Problems
- Hip Problems
- Knee Problems
- Leg Problems
- Lower Back Pain
- Menstrual Cycle Problems
- Mouth Problems
- Mouth Problems in Infants and Children
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Nausea and Vomiting in Infants and Children
- Neck Pain
- Neck Swelling
- Shortness of Breath
- Shortness of Breath in Infants and Children
- Shoulder Problems
- Skin Rashes & Other Skin Problems
- Throat Problems
- Tooth Problems
- Urination Problems
Step 2
Answering Questions
Is your face, chest, or back covered in small, pus-filled sacs/bumps or pimples, blackheads, or sore, red bumps?
Do you have a flushed appearance, perhaps with redness around your cheeks, chin, forehead, or nose?
Do you have a painful red bump or a cluster of painful red bumps?
Do you have a small, boil-like infection around a hair shaft or pore?
Do you have red, tender, and swollen areas of skin, perhaps around a cut or scrape?
Do you have red, itchy bumps on your skin, and are they sprinkled randomly?
Do you have irregular, raised, or flat red sores that appeared after taking medicine?
Have bumps formed suddenly on your face or body?
Do you have a red, itchy, scaly, and oily rash, and does it affect the areas around your eyebrows, nose, or the edge of your scalp?
Is the person an adult?
Is the person a child and does the dry, scaly skin cover the head?
Do you have a red, scaling rash, and did it begin after contact with clothing, jewelry, or perfume?
Do you have a red, itchy rash, and are blisters forming? Are the bumps in a linear pattern? Do they look like streaks of bumps in a line?
Are there red, swollen, tender bumps in your armpits or other areas where hair grows?
Do you have small red dots on your skin, or larger, bruise-like spots that appeared after taking a prescription or over-the-counter medicine?
Do you have a rash that started with a single scaly, red, and slightly itchy spot (likely on your chest or back), and within a few days, did large numbers of smaller patches of the rash, some red and others tan, break out over your chest and abdomen?
Do you have an intensely itchy rash with red bumps and blisters, and does it appear on your elbows, knees, back, or buttocks?
Do you have large, red bumps on your skin that seem to bruise, and are they tender to touch?
Do you have a white, scaly rash over red, irritated skin, possibly on your elbows and knees or the back of your neck or behind your ears?
Do you have a red, blotchy rash, with “target-like” sores or hives?
Do you have a red rash that is raised on your forehead and face, then spreading to your neck, trunk, and downward, and do you have a fever and sore throat?
Do you have multiple blisters on your face, chest, and back, and spreading downward, along with a fever, cough, aches, tiredness, and sore throat?
Do you have red blisters that are extremely painful and that may crust?
Is the person a child or an adult who had a fever and then developed a bright red rash covering the cheeks (“slapped cheek” appearance)?
Do you have soft white or flesh-colored bumps that don’t itch or cause other symptoms? Do they spread after they are picked or scratched?
Do you have a bald spot on your scalp or a “ring” of itchy red skin anywhere on your body?
Do you have a rash that is red, but not itchy and does it affect the palms of your hands or soles of your feet?
Do you have a red, itchy rash that affects your groin area?
Is an area of your skin covered in light-colored patches?
Have crusted, tan-colored sores formed near your nose or lip?
Do you have bite-like sores that itch intensely, and that may have started on your hands, or between your fingers or toes, or along your waist band line?
Did a fine rash start on your arms and legs and also affect the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, and have you had a fever and headache?
Do you have a “butterfly” rash on your forehead and cheeks and do you have achy joints?
Is your skin tinged yellow, and are the whites of your eyes and your mouth yellow?
Do you have a blue or black area on your skin, and did the discoloration occur after the area had been hit?
Are there scaly, pink, gray, or tan patches or bumps on your face, scalp, or on the backs or your hands?
Do you have a scar that has grown larger than expected?
Do you have a soft or rubbery growth that is easily movable and seems to be just under the skin?
Is the person a newborn and is the baby’s face covered in small, white bumps?
Do you have small, firm, round bumps with pits in the center that may sit on tiny stalks or can spread with being picked at or scratched?
Do you have a bump with a white dome under your skin, perhaps on your scalp, nape of your neck, or upper back? Is there a central pore or small hole over the top of the bump?
Do you have a soft, fleshy growth, lump or bump, perhaps on your face, neck, armpits, or groin? Does it appear to be on a stalk?
Do you have a yellow area under your skin, perhaps near your eyelids?
Is there a dark bump that may have started within a mole or blemish, or, is there a spot or mole anywhere on your skin that has changed in color, size, shape, or is painful or itchy?
Is there a fleshy, growing mass that has a “pearly” domed appearance on or near your nose, eyes, or other areas that have been exposed to the sun, such as your back or chest?
Is there an unusual growth on your face, lip, or chin that is red, scaly, or crusted?
Are there dark or black raised spots anywhere on your skin that keep growing or have appeared recently?
Step 3
Possible Causes
Diagnosis
This may be ACNE, a common skin problem that often begins in adolescence and can continue throughout life.
Self Care
See your doctor if over-the-counter acne treatments, such as benzoyl peroxide, don’t help. Gently washing your face with mild soap on a daily basis may be helpful. Sometimes prescription medicines, such as an antibiotic, may be prescribed by your doctor.
Diagnosis
This may be ROSACEA, a skin disease that affects the face.
Self Care
Treatment isn’t usually needed, but antibiotics may be useful for moderate to severe symptoms. Drinking alcohol may worsen the symptoms.
Diagnosis
This could be a BOIL. A cluster of boils is called a CARBUNCLE. These occur due to infection under the skin.
Self Care
Gently compress the BOIL with a warm cloth. Use antibiotic ointments if needed. Call your doctor if the boils don’t come to a head, open and drain, or if the redness spreads or if you develop a fever.
Diagnosis
This could be FOLLICULITIS, an infection of the hair follicle. These can occur after use of a shared hot tub or bath.
Self Care
Most of these will heal on their own. Clean the area with mild, soapy water. Use antibiotic ointments if needed. See your doctor if the condition worsens or doesn’t improve.
Diagnosis
This could be CELLULITIS, an infection of the skin. This can also be normal healing in the first 1-2 days after an injury.
Self Care
Clean the area carefully with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment. Call your doctor if redness and pain increase instead of slowly improving or if you develop a fever.
Diagnosis
These could be INSECT BITES.
Self Care
These aren’t usually harmful. Use hydrocortisone cream, antihistamine, and ice to relieve itching. If symptoms get worse or don’t clear up, call your doctor. If new symptoms arise, such as difficulty breathing, dizziness, or nausea, go to the emergency room right away.
Diagnosis
This could be an ALLERGIC REACTION to the medicine.
Self Care
Call your doctor. Try an antihistamine for itching and rash.
Diagnosis
These could be HIVES (URTICARIA), a skin reaction to an allergen, medicine, or infection. They can also appear in some people who are very nervous.
Self Care
Use an antihistamine and cool compresses for itching. If the hives don’t go away on their own (often as early as 20 minutes after starting) or are accompanied by other symptoms, such as swelling around the lips or trouble breathing, see your doctor or go to the emergency room right away.
Diagnosis
This could be a sign of SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS, a condition in which the sebaceous glands overproduce oil and can be associated with DANDRUFF.
Self Care
Try using hydrocortisone cream or selenium sulfide shampoo (apply to damp skin, wait five minutes and then wash it off) on the affected areas. See your doctor if the symptoms continue or spread.
Diagnosis
This could be CRADLE CAP, a form of seborrhea in infants.
Self Care
Try gently scrubbing the scales to remove them with a mild brush or washcloth. Hydrocortisone cream or selenium sulfide shampoo (apply to damp skin, wait five minutes and then wash it off) may also help. See your doctor if the rash doesn’t go away or if the hair doesn’t grow in that area.
Diagnosis
This could be IRRITANT CONTACT DERMATITIS. It’s caused by a reaction to detergents, perfumes, certain metals (e.g. copper), and other substances.
Self Care
Avoid whatever you think caused the symptoms and treat the area with hydrocortisone cream or other soothing lotions.
Diagnosis
This could be ALLERGIC CONTACT DERMATITIS, caused by POISON IVY, POISON OAK, or POISON SUMAC. The oil from these plants causes an ALLERGIC REACTION.
Self Care
Wash the area with soap and water to remove any oil that remains on the skin. The rash will go away after about a week. To relieve itching, apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to the rash. See your doctor if the rash covers a large area of your body (e.g., multiple limbs or is near your eyes, mouth, or nose), does not go away, or if new symptoms, such as fever, appear.
Diagnosis
This could be HIDRADENITIS SUPPURATIVA, inflammation of the sweat glands.
Self Care
See your doctor. Avoid using antiperspirants and deodorants.
Diagnosis
This could be ALLERGIC PURPURA, a serious allergic reaction to a medicine, such as an antibiotic, that can cause bleeding under the skin.
Self Care
See your doctor right away.
Diagnosis
This may be PITYRIASIS ROSEA. The causes aren’t known.
Self Care
Check with your doctor. Calamine lotion and antihistamines may relieve itching and redness. The rash will probably go away in a few weeks. PITYRIASIS ROSEA doesn’t usually require any treatment other than for itching.
Diagnosis
This may be DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS, a rash associated with a sensitivity to gluten, a mixture of two proteins found in cereal grains, such as barley and wheat.
Self Care
See your doctor. Antibiotics can help control symptoms. Avoid foods that contain gluten.
Diagnosis
This could be ERYTHEMA NODOSUM, possibly caused by an infection or reaction to a medicine.
Self Care
This condition usually isn’t serious, but see your doctor to check for other diseases or causes of your symptoms.
Diagnosis
This could be PSORIASIS, a condition caused by the overproduction of skin cells.
Self Care
See your doctor. Keep the skin moisturized. Your doctor may prescribe ointments, oral medications, and/or sunlight therapy, also called phototherapy, to treat the symptoms.
Diagnosis
This could be ERYTHEMA MULTIFORME, a common rash caused by strep throat, viral infections, and reactions to medicines.
Self Care
See your doctor.
Diagnosis
This could be MEASLES, a virus that often affects children or people that were not vaccinated.
Self Care
See your doctor right away. Make sure your child gets the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) immunization to help prevent this disease. Be sure to keep the affected person away from pregnant women, as measles can lead to birth defects.
Diagnosis
This could be CHICKENPOX, a virus called varicella-zoster that most often affects children.
Self Care
See your doctor. Treat symptoms with acetaminophen, cold medicines, and anti-itching creams, cool compresses, and baths. A vaccine is available to prevent this disease.
Diagnosis
This could be SHINGLES, a varicella-zoster (same virus that caused chickenpox) viral infection of the nerves.
Self Care
See your doctor. Analgesics, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and cool compresses may help. Some anti-viral medications can also help.
Diagnosis
This is a viral infection called FIFTH DISEASE.
Self Care
In adults, use cold medicines to treat symptoms. Do not give cough/cold medications to children under five years. See your doctor if the rash is widespread or if you are pregnant.
Diagnosis
These could be WARTS. PLANTAR WARTS appear on the feet. WARTS also commonly appear on the hands. GENITAL WARTS appear in the genital area and are a type of sexually-transmitted infection.
Self Care
For most WARTS, you can try over-the-counter treatments. If they don’t work, see your doctor about freezing them off. If the warts appear in the genital area, see your doctor. These warts shouldn’t be treated without your doctor’s care.
Diagnosis
This may be RINGWORM, a fungal infection that’s most common in children. It is not caused by a worm, the circular nature of the rash leads to its name.
Self Care
Treat with an over-the-counter antifungal cream and/or see your doctor. Avoid close physical contact with others, as it is extremely contagious.
Diagnosis
This may be SYPHILIS, a sexually transmitted infection.
Self Care
See your doctor right away.
Diagnosis
This could be a fungal infection called JOCK ITCH in men, YEAST INFECTION in women, or DIAPER RASH in infants.
Self Care
Try an over-the-counter antifungal cream. If the rash doesn’t go away, see your doctor. Women with irritation inside the vagina should first see their doctor before using over-the-counter yeast infection medicines.
Diagnosis
This may be TINEA VERSICOLOR, a discoloration caused by a fungus. This is common in people that spend a lot of time outside with warm/damp skin (e.g., surfers).
Self Care
TINEA VERSICOLOR can be treated with selenium sulfide shampoo or an antifungal cream.
Diagnosis
This could be IMPETIGO, a rash caused by a bacterial infection, such as STREPTOCOCCUS or STAPHYLOCOCCUS.
Self Care
See your doctor. Treatment usually involves an antibiotic cream or ointment and an oral antibiotic. The condition is very contagious, so wash your hands well to avoid infecting anyone else.
Diagnosis
This is a sign of SCABIES, an infestation of insects known as mites.
Self Care
Prescription medicine may be needed, along with washing clothing and bed coverings in hot water and detergent.
Diagnosis
This could be ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER, a disease spread by deer ticks.
Self Care
See your doctor right away.
Diagnosis
This could be a symptom of LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS, a severe, arthritis-like disease.
Self Care
See your doctor right away.
Diagnosis
This could be JAUNDICE. It’s common in newborns, but can be a sign of HEPATITIS, a disease of the liver.
Self Care
See your doctor right away.
Diagnosis
This is probably a BRUISE or ECCHYMOSIS.
Self Care
No treatment is usually necessary. Ice may slow the bleeding and decrease swelling under the skin and pain in the area.
Diagnosis
This could be ACTINIC KERATOSES, a skin condition that can especially affect people with light skin who have been overexposed to the sun. These are PRECANCEROUS lesions.
Self Care
See your doctor. ACTINIC KERATOSES may lead to skin cancer.
Diagnosis
This may be a KELOID, an overgrown scar or HYPERTROPHIC SCAR.
Self Care
These are benign (non-cancerous) and may fade in time. See your doctor if you want the KELOID removed, but surgery may cause more scar tissue to form. Keloids may be prevented by using a pressure dressing and can sometimes be treated with steroid injections.
Diagnosis
This may be a LIPOMA, a growth made up of fat cells.
Self Care
These aren’t cancerous, but have them checked by your doctor. You can have a LIPOMA removed if it bothers you or becomes irritated.
Diagnosis
This may be MILIA, or baby acne.
Self Care
This condition usually clears up after the first few weeks of life and doesn’t require treatment.
Diagnosis
This may be MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM, bumps caused by a virus.
Self Care
See your doctor. These bumps are contagious and most common in children and teens. Early treatment helps prevent the spread. They may take many months to completely resolve even with treatment.
Diagnosis
This may be a SEBACEOUS CYST, or blocked oil gland.
Self Care
These cysts aren’t cancerous, but have them checked by your doctor to make sure of the diagnosis. Large cysts or ones that become irritated and/or inflamed can be removed with surgery.
Diagnosis
This may be a SKIN TAG or ACHROCHORDON.
Self Care
These are harmless, but if one gets irritated, you can have it removed. They can also be frozen by your doctor.
Diagnosis
This may be an XANTHELASMA, a fatty deposit.
Self Care
If it bothers you, see your doctor about having it removed.
Diagnosis
This could be a MELANOMA, a type of skin cancer.
Self Care
See your doctor right away.
Diagnosis
This could be BASAL CELL CARCINOMA, the most common type of skin cancer.
Self Care
Have this checked by your doctor. This type of cancer is easily treated if caught early.
Diagnosis
This could be SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA, a type of skin cancer.
Self Care
See your doctor right away. Delaying treatment can worsen outcomes.
Diagnosis
This could be KAPOSI’S SARCOMA, a serious type of skin cancer most common in people who have HIV/AIDS or other immune deficiencies.
Self Care
See your doctor right away.
Self Care
For more information, please talk to your doctor. If you think the problem is serious, call your doctor right away.
