Sunburn and rashes caused by chaffing may not be great for your skin, but during summer, you’re also exposed to other irritants, that could affect your skin or even pose a really big threat to your overall health.
From heat rash to tick bites that cause Lyme disease, find out how to treat summer skin rashes in order to stay healthy and help your skin looking perfect during the warmer months of the year.
Heat Rash
Without proper exfoliation, you can get multiple types of heat rashes, caused by sweat ducts that are being blocked. Symptoms include clusters of small red bumps under the skin or clear bumps that are filled with fluid. Cooling off is the first thing you should do. You can also apply a menthol or camphor anti-itch cream or 1% hydrocortisone cream. If symptoms continue after a week, see a doctor.
PMLE
Photosensitivity can often cause a polymorphous light eruption, usually on your neck, chests and arms during summer. Sometimes it’s caused directly by UV radiation, but it can also be a side-effect of certain medication. Your skin will turn red and scaly, and you may experience a strong itching sensation. If you’re wondering how to treat summer skin rashes caused by PMLE, simply cool your skin and use an anti-itch or hydrocortisone cream.
Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Rash
If you experience an allergic reaction to poison ivy, oak or sumac, the symptoms are identical: redness, swelling, intense itching and even blisters. Over the counter 1% hydrocortisone cream or anti-itch creams and lotions (calamine in particular) help, but you can also use special products to prevent the rash, when you go for a hike and risk exposure. Blisters can show up after 7-10 days and symptoms can last up to a few weeks.
Ragweed Rash
Unlike poison ivy, where the rash is caused by direct contact, ragweed pollen can lead to itching, along with small blisters or bumps even when you’re far away from the plant. The question of how to treat summer skin rashes caused by ragweed is simply. Control itching symptoms with over the counter creams or oral antihistamines. The rash can appear two days after exposure and it takes up to three weeks to disappear.
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Wild Parsnip Rash
For wild parsnip, the combination of exposure to the plant’s sap and sunlight is the main cause of rashes. Symptoms include redness and blistering, followed by the skin turning brown, and the color can last for months. Cooling off the area with a wet cloth is the best way to treat it. Consult a doctor if the blisters don’t go away after a couple of weeks.
Chigger Bites Rash
Mites found in tall grass, chiggers attach to your skin and cause small lesions, red and itchy, along with bumps on the surface of the skin. While they usually go away in a week or two, the answer to how to treat summer skin cause by chigger bites is simple: hydrocortisone cream or other over the counter anti-itch lotions and cream to reduce the symptoms.
Swimmer’s Itch
Caused by parasites that live on snails or waterfowl, swimmer’s itch is a rash that you may experience after you go swimming in freshwater ponds or lakes. Symptoms include red and itchy bumps on the skin. When you’re wondering how to treat summer skin rashes caused by these small parasites, simply use an over the counter anti-itching cream or lotion. If the condition lasts more than a week, consult a doctor.
Tinea Versicolor
In a warm and wet environment, yeasts that normally live on the skin can develop small patches of discolored skin, usually on the trunk, but also on your arms and legs. Unlike most rashes, they only cause mild itching, and can be treated with over-the-counter anti-fungal creams or lotions. The discoloration is more noticeable after exposure to sunlight and it can last for up to a few weeks.
Lyme Disease
When you’re wondering how to treat summer skin rashes caused by a tick byte, you should consult a doctor immediately. Initial symptoms include a small red bump on the skin that develops into a bull’s eye shape. Symptoms that confirm the rash is caused by Lyme disease include fever, fatigue, aching joins and fatigue.
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