Rash on Stomach: Causes, Treatment & Relief

Key takeaways:

• Rashes are frequently not serious, however, it is important to know when to seek medical attention for a serious problem.
• If you have additional symptoms such as fever, headache, joint pain, or your rash has lasted for more than 7 days, you should seek medical attention.
• Treatment for rashes can range from simple skincare to specialized medications that need management by a dermatologist.

Almost everyone experiences a rash at some point in their life, and often these do not cause other symptoms and disappear quickly. However, some rashes continue to cause problems or occur with other symptoms. Naturally, this can cause worry and anxiety for patients.

Rashes on the stomach can be caused by common illnesses that lead to rash on any part of the body. Some conditions lead to stomach rash specifically.

Common causes of stomach rashes

There are many causes of stomach rash, and here we list some of the most common.

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is a skin response to chemical or physical substances. It is frequently itchy and the skin can be anywhere from a little dry to red and covered in blisters. Risk factors for contact dermatitis include professions with repeated exposure to chemicals (healthcare, beauty work, chemical industry), older age, and female sex.

This condition usually resolves when exposure to the responsible chemical stops. On the stomach, this condition can be due to clothing with elastic waistbands or rubber that comes into contact with the skin.

Intertriginous rash

An intertriginous rash, or intertrigo, is a rash that occurs between folds of the skin. In some patients with skin folds around their stomachs, these areas can become irritated due to friction and moisture.

The rash is often red, itchy, and painful. Usually, the treatment involves keeping the skin clean and dry. Sometimes these areas can get infected and may require additional medication.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis affects up to 8% of people worldwide. While psoriasis can display itself in many ways, it most commonly causes scaly skin on top of red plaques (a plaque is a solid and raised area of skin).

The skin is often itchy and has a silver color on top of the red plaque. This condition can be hard to treat and may require specialist care. It can also cause other symptoms like joint pain.

Drug reaction

As many as 7% of patients experience some form of reaction to a drug, with the skin being the most commonly involved organ.

While any drug can cause this kind of reaction, certain groups of drugs are more likely to do so. These include antibiotics, chemotherapy agents for cancer, and certain pain medications.

Rashes can appear immediately or after days to weeks of medication exposure. The symptoms and appearance of these rashes can differ greatly. If you have started a medication and are experiencing a new rash, please call your doctor.

Infection

Many infections can cause a rash to appear on the stomach. You should seek medical attention if you have a rash and other signs of infection like fever, chills, or fluid drainage from your rash.

Read our guide on types of rashes for more. If you have a rash on or near you belly button, read our guide on belly button rashes.

Common symptoms of stomach rashes

Often a rash is accompanied by itching. This is normal, but you should closely monitor for new or worsening symptoms.

Itching

Itching frequently accompanies skin rashes and treatment depends on the underlying cause. As much as possible try to avoid scratching your rash. This can damage the skin more and make the itching worse.

Blisters

Blisters that come with a rash mean you should seek further medical attention, especially if the blisters are around your mouth, eyes, or genitals.

Pain

Pain from a rash may be due to skin damage from the rash itself or from scratching the rash. This is usually mild and manageable with over-the-counter medication. Please seek medical attention if the pain is severe.

Dry skin

Skin dryness can either cause your rash or be a symptom of your rash. Treatment will depend on the diagnosis and should be prescribed by your doctor.

Read our full guide on rash symptoms for more.

Diagnosis of stomach rashes

Most rashes are diagnosed in the office after being examined by your physician.

Occasionally they may perform further testing such as blood work or a patch test. A patch test is when your doctor places small amounts of different substances on your back and then covers the areas with a patch. This helps your doctor determine which substance may be causing your symptoms.

When to seek medical attention for a stomach rash

Usually, rashes aren’t serious and don’t mean anything more serious is wrong, but it’s important to know when you should seek further care.

You should see a doctor if:

• Your rash lasts longer than 7 days.
• Your itching or pain does not respond to over-the-counter medication or cream.

You should go to the emergency room if:

• You have severe pain that is not responding to treatment at home.
• You have a fever, headache, stiff neck, or vomiting.
• If you have a rash and difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Questions to ask your doctor about a rash on your stomach

• What is the cause of this rash?
• How long do you expect it to last?
• What other symptoms should I look out for?
• When should I see you again if this doesn’t improve?

Read our full guide on when to worry about a rash for more.

Treatment options for stomach rashes

Treatment of rashes can range from simple at-home remedies to complex medications that require a specialist to prescribe.

Try not to scratch

Scratching an itching rash is a natural thing to do to get some relief. But the skin can be damaged which worsens the itching sensation and causes bleeding. This then can lead to more pain and delay your healing.

Cool compresses

Place a moist, cool washcloth on the affected skin to help relieve itching. When done, pat the skin dry with a towel instead of rubbing it.

Creams

Before applying over-the-counter creams, make sure you speak with your doctor first. It may be best to avoid certain kinds of creams. This will depend on the cause of your rash.

Frequently asked questions: rashes on stomach

Patients often have questions about their rashes. Here we discuss some of the most common.

How long can a rash on your stomach last?

Rashes can last from 48 hours to several weeks or months, depending on the cause. It is important to speak with your doctor if your rash lasts longer than 7 days.

What happens if you have a rash on your stomach after surgery?

If a rash is present on your stomach after surgery, please speak with your surgeon. It may be anything from a reaction to your surgical bandage to a sign of a serious wound infection.

Read our full guide on rashes after surgery for more.

Managing a rash on the stomach

Rashes are frequently a source of annoyance and anxiety for patients but are often not cause for concern. Speak to your doctor if your rash lasts longer than a week or if there are additional symptoms.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Jennifer Nadel, MD.

Sources

Litchman, Graham, et al. “Contact Dermatitis.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459230/.

Kottner, Jan, et al. "Prevalence of intertrigo and associated factors: A secondary data analysis of four annual multicentre prevalence studies in the Netherlands." International journal of nursing studies 104 (2020): 103437.

Badri, Talel, et al. “Plaque Psoriasis.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430879/.

Brockow, Knut, et al. "EAACI position paper on how to classify cutaneous manifestations of drug hypersensitivity." Allergy 74.1 (2019): 14-27.

“Rash Evaluation: MedlinePlus Medical Test.” Medlineplus.gov, medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/rash-evaluation/.

“Patch Testing Can Find What’s Causing Your Rash.” Www.aad.org, www.aad.org/public/diseases/eczema/types/contact-dermatitis/patch-testing-rash.

“Home Remedies: What Can Relieve Itchy Eczema?” Www.aad.org,www.aad.org/public/diseases/eczema/childhood/itch-relief/home-remedies.