6 Common Rash Symptoms & What They Mean

Key takeaways:

• Rashes usually cause skin color changes and redness.
• If you have symptoms such as fever, headache, or GI symptoms, call your doctor.
• If you have a rash and trouble breathing or feel facial swelling, seek emergency medical care.

Almost everyone experiences the development of a rash at some point in their lifetime. Rashes are common, and they can be barely noticeable or sometimes very obvious. They can range in how they feel, from not at all bothersome to being quite uncomfortable.

Rashes are often accompanied by itchy skin or swelling. Sometimes other rash symptoms are present, and it’s important to know which symptoms are cause for concern and which aren’t.

Common skin rash symptoms

Rashes cause skin redness (or color change depending on skin tone) and are often itchy and uncomfortable. Sometimes, there is swelling present as well. Understanding your rash symptoms can help identify the type of rash you are dealing with.

1. Redness

Redness in a skin rash is due to skin irritation from an inflammation, infection, or an allergic reaction. If you have dark skin, your skin may appear purple or gray rather than red. The body releases chemicals known as histamines, which cause skin redness. This is a normal defense mechanism against infections or allergic reactions.

Certain skin conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema, can also cause a red rash. Eczema causes a red and itchy rash, which may go away in time and be replaced by dry and thickened skin. The rash caused by psoriasis may appear as smooth, raised patches or as thick, scaly areas of skin. The scales can be white or gray. If you think you may have one of these conditions, contact your doctor.

The cause of the redness will affect the treatment prescribed to you. If you suspect an allergic reaction to a food or substance (hives or urticarial rash), taking an antihistamine like diphenhydramine can be helpful.

Talk with your doctor before starting over-the-counter treatment. This is especially true for steroid creams. Using a steroid cream for too long (longer than a week) can damage the skin. It could even make your symptoms worse.

2. Itching

The itching that often accompanies a rash is from skin irritation. This irritation can be from an infection or allergic reaction.

The cause of the itching will influence the treatment, but in any case, it’s important to avoid scratching your itchy rash. Scratching damages the skin, which only makes the itching worse. It also releases chemicals that increase the itching sensation.

If you are struggling with itchiness from your rash, try using a cool compress to relieve your symptoms. Another helpful home remedy is to take an oatmeal bath. Antihistamines can help with itchy skin, too, if the rash is due to an allergic reaction (hives).

3. Swelling

Some rashes, like hives or psoriasis, may be accompanied by swelling or thickening of the skin. The swelling will usually disappear as the rash goes away, and the swelling is typically only present in the location of the rash.

Sometimes, especially when hives are present, the swelling may begin to appear on other parts of the body, commonly the lips, tongue, or face. If you are experiencing swelling in these areas or if you are having difficulty breathing, seek emergency medical care right away.

Less common skin rash symptoms

While most rashes are not cause for concern, sometimes they can be caused by more serious diseases. These diseases are frequently accompanied by other symptoms that indicate something is wrong.

4. Fever

Fever and rash frequently accompany or follow one another, especially in children. It is important to know which appeared first, the rash or the fever. With children, it can be difficult to be sure. Your child may develop a fever and other symptoms and then improve. Several days later, a rash develops. This is known as viral exanthem and is often harmless.

If you or your child are experiencing a rash and fever at the same time, call your doctor. Many infectious diseases cause fever and a rash. While some infectious diseases are not considered serious, others may require medication or even hospitalization.

5. GI symptoms

Usually, when abdominal pain occurs in the presence of a rash, a virus or bacteria is causing both symptoms. Most of the time, this is due to a viral infection. Viruses cause our immune system to react in different ways depending on the organ they are infecting. Viruses can infect more than one organ at a time, so you may feel abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea and develop a rash due to the same illness.

E. coli is a bacteria that lives in our intestines and normally doesn’t cause any problems. However, there are strains of this bacteria that are harmful to us. Infection with E. coli may cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. Most patients recover within a week or so.

In rare cases (usually in children), a patient develops hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS can cause a rash that looks like small red spots all over the body. This rash is usually accompanied by bloody diarrhea and fever. If you or your child are experiencing these symptoms, it’s important that you seek emergency medical care.

6. Headache or neck pain

Headache is a common symptom of many viral infections. However, if you are experiencing headache, neck pain, fever, and a skin rash, seek emergency medical care. This can indicate a life-threatening illness known as bacterial meningitis.

While frightening, it is important to know that this is a very rare cause of fever, rash, and headache/neck pain. It does happen, however, and you should be aware of the signs and symptoms of bacterial meningitis. The rash associated with bacterial meningitis looks like scattered purple/red dots or purple/red bruises. These do not disappear when you push on the skin.

It is also important to know that a rash doesn’t always accompany the other symptoms of bacterial meningitis. If you or anybody you know is experiencing fever, headache, neck stiffness, seek emergency care right away.

When should you see a doctor if you experience rash symptoms

Certain situations may require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor if you experience any of the following conditions.

You should see a doctor if:

• Your rash has lasted two days or more.
• Your rash is covering most of your body.
• Your rash is blistering or features open sores.
• The rash is spreading rapidly.
• The symptoms are preventing you from completing normal daily activities.

You should go to the emergency room if:

• You have a rash and a fever (temperature > 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
• You have a headache, nausea, or vomiting.
• The rash involves your eyes, lips, mouth, or genitals.
• You are having trouble breathing.
• You notice swelling of your face, tongue, or lips.

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

Questions to ask your doctor about rash symptoms

• Is my rash contagious?
• Can I do anything about the itching?
• What are other signs or symptoms I should look out for?

Managing rash symptoms

Rashes are usually itchy and can be quite frustrating. The causes are mostly benign and not a reason for concern. Symptoms such as itching and redness can be managed with at-home remedies and/or over-the-counter medication.

Your doctor may want to prescribe other medications depending on what is causing your rash. In rare cases, a rash may be cause for alarm. Always check with your doctor if you’re unsure or if you believe your rash requires medical attention.

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. Lane Thaut, DO.

Sources

Nemeth, Valerie, and Justin Evans. “Eczema.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 8 Aug. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538209/.

“Psoriasis: Overview.” Www.aad.org, www.aad.org/public/diseases/psoriasis/what/overview.

“Diphenhydramine: MedlinePlus Drug Information.” MedlinePlus. Medlineplus.gov, 2018, medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682539.html.

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

Kanani, Amin, Stephen D. Betschel, and Richard Warrington. "Urticaria and angioedema." Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 14 (2018): 1-13. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13223-018-0288-z.

Zhao, Zhong-Qiu, et al. "Descending control of itch transmission by the serotonergic system via 5-HT1A-facilitated GRP-GRPR signaling." Neuron 84.4 (2014): 821-834. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896627314009015.

Mueller, Matthew, and Christopher R. Tainter. “Escherichia Coli Infection.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 13 July 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564298/.

‌Bhandari, Jenish, et al. “Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.” Nih.gov, StatPearls Publishing, 19 Oct. 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556038/. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Society, Primary Care Dermatology. “Viral Exanthems.” Primary Care Dermatology Society, www.pcds.org.uk/clinical-guidance/viral-exanthems.

Tsai, Jean et al. “Skin rash in meningitis and meningoencephalitis.” Neurology vol. 80,19 (2013): 1808-11. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182918cda. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3719428/.