How Can I Treat a Rash?

It can be pretty difficult to treat a rash if you don't know what has caused it; before you even consider treatment, look for any warning signs. If your rash is seeping or oozing anything, you'll want to call your doctor for advice and possibly a diagnostic visit to her office. Likewise, your rash may require a doctor's advice if it is accompanied by a fever, cough, runny nose, headache or vomiting. Don't treat a rash that covers more than 30 percent of your body, is inflamed, contains open sores, or has a brown crust to it; get medical attention first. Other than a diaper rash, any rash that affects a child under six years of age warrants medical advice.

If your rash doesn't require immediate medical attention, you can start by treating any itching. Treat a rash by using a mild, hypoallergenic soap and some cool water to wash it. Avoid scrubbing the area or rubbing it vigorously, as doing so is likely to aggravate your rash. As long as the skin doesn't have open sores and isn't bleeding, you can then go on to use a lotion that helps to stop the itching, such as calamine, to treat the rash.

If the itching is severe, you may also use an over-the-counter allergy medicine that contains antihistamines. If the skin is broken, you can apply an antibiotic cream, such as Neosporin, to prevent infection and aid healing, and then call your doctor to find out whether this treatment is sufficient for preventing infection. Some doctors also suggest using hydrocortisone to treat a rash. This can help to relieve itching, inflammation, redness and dryness. Hydrocortisone can also treat a rash that is crusty or scaly.

Once you've treated your rash and are feeling reasonably comfortable, it's a good idea to try to figure out what caused it. If you've recently been hiking in the woods or playing at the park, you may have a case of poison ivy or poison oak. If you've recently switched detergents, soaps, deodorants, or lotions, your skin may be sensitive to these new products.

When you're trying to figure out the cause of your rash, consider the possibility of food allergies. Chocolate, eggs, dairy products and peanuts are common culprits; citrus fruits and soy products can cause issues as well. If you think a food allergy may be at fault, eliminate it from your diet for three weeks. If your rash returns once you start eating that particular food item again, you may have a food allergy. However, you'll need to visit your doctor for allergy testing to be sure.