Rash Symptoms and Treatment
Skin rashes usually aren’t serious, so you can recover at home. Cortisone cream, calamine lotion and antihistamines can relieve your symptoms while your skin heals. However, sometimes, people experience significant symptoms that won’t go away without medical intervention. If you notice any of these symptoms, visit Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care for an evaluation and treatment.
When Is a Heat Rash an Emergency?
Your body produces sweat as part of its natural cooling system. Sweating prevents you from overheating, but sometimes, your pores can get clogged, trapping the sweat. If this happens, you can develop a heat rash. You’ll notice symptoms like red bumps, blisters, burning, stinging and itching. The condition typically clears up on its own within a few days.
However, you should go to the ER if the condition:
- Hasn’t gotten better after a few days
- Oozes puss
- Has bright red marks
- Is accompanied by a fever or breathing problems
- Is painful
When Is a Poison Ivy Rash an Emergency?
Most people are allergic to poison ivy. If you fall into that category, you’ll develop a poison ivy rash if you come into contact with the plant. Redness, swelling, itchiness, and blisters are all symptoms of this condition. While the symptoms are quite uncomfortable, you can get relief with antihistamines, calamine lotion and cortisone cream.
However, you need to visit the emergency room if you:
- Haven’t improved after three weeks.
- Have a severe rash.
- Have a rash over a large part of your body.
- Experience continuous swelling.
- Have a fever of 100.1 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
When Is a Stress Rash an Emergency?
Your body releases adrenaline whenever you’re stressed. While the adrenaline boost can make you more alert and able to handle the situation, it can also cause hives. It can be alarming when you see these mosquito-bite-sized hives appear, but they normally only last for an hour. If the rash lasts throughout the day, it’s a good idea to get it checked out. Also, if the rash is on a sensitive area of your body, visit the ER to avoid complications.
While at-home treatments are often the go-to method for handling skin rashes, it’s important to monitor your symptoms. If your rash oozes puss, hurts, is accompanied by a fever, or another significant symptom, visit Riverview Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care. Then, your doctor can provide the treatment you need, such as steroids, to combat the condition.
