Have you ever had itchy red patches on your skin and wondered where they come from? Many people have and many people go without ever knowing what the cause is. Even individuals who have recurring rashes on their skin sometimes do not always go to the doctor to find out what the origin is. Not only does this mean being uncomfortable over and over again but it could also mean permanent damage to your skin either in the form of scarring or even nerve damage.
Nobody wants to deal which such drastic consequences yet many, many people go with skin conditions untreated. There is no doubt that in these hard times it is getting more and more difficult to go to see a doctor but the health of your skin could depend on it. At the very least if you have a skin condition you should try to treat it yourself with over the counter remedies.
Creams that contain hydrocortisone, medications that contain antihistamines, and certain ingredients you can add to your bathwater can all offer some degree of relief from whatever skin condition you may be suffering from. But first you should determine what causes itchy patches on skin and what the patches on your skin are specifically and to do that you will need to know the names and symptoms of the various skin conditions as well.
Itchy Patches on Skin – Psoriasis
Skin is red
Spots or bumps appear
Skin may crack
Skin may become scaly in appearance
There are a number of different types of psoriasis that could be affecting you if you are having these symptoms. Some of the types of psoriasis include scalp psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, plaque psoriasis, and inverse psoriasis. Each different form of psoriasis affects a different portion of the body and may be treated differently depending on where the rash is. Common treatments include hydrocortisone creams and antihistamines.
Itchy Patches on Skin – Eczema
Patches that appear to be grayish-brown or red in color
Raised bumps that may contain fluid
Scaled skin
Sometimes severe itching, particularly at night
Another name for the commonly suffered eczema is atopic dermatitis. Many people suffer from the condition but it is not always chronic. There is more than one form of the condition and when infants suffer from eczema it is usually in the form of cradle cap although the rash does not itch as bad when suffered from by an infant. Common treatments are a typical topical anti-itch cream and an allergy medicine such as Benadryl.
Itchy Patches on Skin – Chronic Hives
Red patches on skin
Red ring around patches in some cases
Typically appear on extremities of on the face
There is no clear cause of chronic hives but stress, and allergies are thought to be common agitators. Hives can last anywhere from a half an hour to nearly two days and then reappear immediately after. You can use the same treatment for hives that you do for other rashes and in addition it may help to take a cool bath with oatmeal or baking soda.
Nobody wants an embarrassing red rash but even more most people do not want to suffer from the itching caused by such a condition. If you have an idea of what the different skin conditions could be then you will be a step closer to being healed or at least relieved.