Don't Be Rash: The Dos and Don'ts of Treating Strange Skin Spots

Rashes can come at any time throughout the year, but they especially spike in the fall. Many factors contribute to the uptick in rashes during the fall season, but the primary causes are increased inflammation due to airborne allergens, dry and compromised skin, and stress and hormonal changes.

Dermatitis is a general term for skin irritation ("derma" is Greek for skin and "itis" means irritation). Dermatitis can be chronic or one-and-done. Common types of dermatitis are atopic dermatitis (which is eczema), seborrheic dermatitis (flaky red patches on oily areas of the skin and dandruff), contact dermatitis (allergic reaction like poison ivy), and finally, perioral dermatitis (generally occurs near the nose and mouth area, can be scaly and red or small red bumps). While these four can get cross-diagnosed, and they can each be a bugger to treat, they have similar dos and don'ts.

The Dos

Keep your routine gentle. Use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser and a simple moisturizer.

Avoid heavy products. Rich creams, oils, or thick balms can exacerbate the condition.

Check your toothpaste. Fluoride and whitening toothpastes may trigger flares of perioral dermatitis; try switching to a simple formula.

Soothe, don't scrub. It's best to wait until after the rash has healed for manual exfoliation, such as using scrubs.

The Don'ts

Actives. Alpha hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, and retinoids are great for your skin cell turnover, but they can flare all types of dermatitis. 

Makeup. Sometimes less really is more. Avoid applying makeup to the rash areas as much as possible and keep your makeup brushes and applicators clean. 

Steroid cream overuse. If your rash is itchy or scaly, you can try an over-the-counter steroid cream, such as hydrocortisone. However, if the rash doesn't improve, discontinue use because your rash could be perioral dermatitis, which worsens with steroid use.

Avoiding the doctor. Do not avoid the doctor! Any sign of pus, oozing, fever, or excessive pain should prompt a call to the doctor. Staff infection or impetigo can sometimes be confused with acne or dermatitis. 

After you've pared back your skincare and been mindful of removing any lifestyle obstacles that could be contributing to the rash, if your rash hasn't improved, it's time to see a dermatologist for medical intervention. There are a few key prescription treatments that doctors may prescribe. The different forms of dermatitis generally respond to either a topical steroid, an antibiotic, or an antifungal. For more severe rashes, your doctor may also prescribe an oral steroid or antibiotic. Be sure to ask for detailed and thorough instructions on how best to use your new topical prescription(s) effectively and what improvement to expect in the first few weeks.