Posts Tagged ‘hive’

Folliculitis

Anyone can develop Folliculitis wherever hair follicles are present on the body. The lesions in Folliculitis most often affect the chest, back, and legs. Other common locations include the face, neck, thighs and buttocks. Although not impossible, it is rare to have it widespread all over the body. It does not affect the eyes, mouth, palms, or soles, where there are no hair follicles. Folliculitis is estimated to affect more 10%-20% of people at some point in their lives.

Folliculitis is a common skin condition that appears as numerous small red or pink little bumps at hair follicles. It can cause a “chicken skin” appearance on the skin. Folliculitis can affect any part of the skin, including the chest, back, arms, legs, buttocks, and cheeks.

Folliculitis usually looks like red pimples with a hair in the center of each one. The pimples may have pus in them, and they often itch or burn.  Folliculitis often appears as very small, slightly smooth bumps are scattered in a body area like the back. Some of the bumps may be slightly red or have an accompanying light-red halo indicating inflammation. Sometimes, scratching off the top reveals a small trapped or coiled hair within.

Razor-burn Folliculitis is very common on women’s legs and is caused by shaving. It may also be seen on the faces and necks of men.  Some people are simply more prone to developing Folliculitis because of their overall health, possible altered immune status, exposure history, and other predisposing skin conditions like eczema or severely dry skin. You are more likely to get Folliculitis if you use a hot tub, whirlpool, or swimming pool that is not properly treated with chlorine. Wearing tight clothes, using antibiotics or steroid cream for long periods and if you use or work with substances that can irritate or block the follicles you are more prone to develop this condition. Also if you have an infected cut, scrape, or surgical incision the bacteria or fungi can spread to nearby hair follicles. Having a disease such as diabetes or HIV that lowers your ability to fight infection could also put you at risk.

Overall, Folliculitis is often not a pretty sight but is medically harmless. Many cases of Folliculitis may resolve on its own without any treatment. Folliculitis frequently affects otherwise healthy people. Treatment may typically include one or a combination of antibacterial washes, antibiotic creams or lotions, and antibiotic pills.

Heat Rash Skin Condition

Heat rash is also called miliaria. Heat rash is most common in babies and young infants when they become overheated.  This happens either because it is too warm outside or they are simply overdressed.  It could also be because they have a fever.  Miliaria profunda occurs in people who have experienced repeated episodes of prickly heat.

Prickly heat, which is also known as miliaria rubra, is the most common type of heat rash. In this form of heat rash, the sweat duct becomes red and inflamed and manifest as small bumps with a red halo around them. They can be found grouped together inside the folds of his or her skin, such as the neck, armpits, and groin.

Miliaria crystallina is another type of heat rash. In this particular rash the skin doesn’t get inflamed, leading to the standard appearance of small clear vesicles. These are without any redness or other symptoms.

If a rash blanches when pressure is put on it, this is an erythematous rash and is not usually an urgent problem. Erythematous skin rashes may be caused by any number of things such as a viral skin rash, eczema, diaper (nappy) rash, thrush, heat rash, slapped cheek disease and seborrheic dermatitis, which includes cradle cap. Other examples are Hand foot and mouth disease, which starts with red spots that blister and erythema toxicum is a rash most often seen in newborn babies.

If the rash does not blanch when pressed, it is called a petechial rash.  Seek medical attention urgently especially if the rash is appearing before your eyes or your child has a fever.  Not every petechial rash is serious but it could be a severe condition like meningococcal infection, so if your baby or toddler has a petechial rash, it s a good idea to get it checked out immediately.

A newborn’s skin is prone to rashes of all sorts, but luckily most of these rashes are harmless and go away on their own. Although heat rash is one of those that usually goes away on its own in a few days, some children do require treatment, which can include:

·         removing the child from the rash causing environment, such as dressing in less clothing, moving inside to a cooler, air conditioned environment, etc.

·         mild strength topical steroids, although these usually aren’t needed

·         calamine lotion

·         compresses with cool water

·         antibiotics for secondary infections

Baby Heat Rash

As suggested by the name, baby heat rash is triggered in some babies when they become overheated, either because they are overdressed or because it is just too hot outside. As they become hot and sweat, their sweat ducts become blocked and rupture.

Prickly heat, which is also known as miliaria rubra, is the most common type of heat rash. In this form of heat rash, the sweat duct becomes red and inflamed.  They look like small bumps with a red halo around them. These may cause a ‘prickling’ or stinging sensation. This type of heat rash may also cause mild itching. Usually found in areas under a child’s clothing, these bumps can be found grouped together inside the folds of the child’s skin, such as the neck, armpits, and groin. Infants who wear a hat may also get a heat rash on their forehead and scalp.

Just like prickly heat, Miliaria crystallina is a type of heat rash that occurs when the sweat ducts become blocked and rupture. These sweat ducts are closer to the skin surface though and don’t get inflamed, leading to the classic appearance of small clear vesicles on the child’s skin, without any redness or other symptoms, typically on their neck, head, or upper chest. Try to prevent any scratching of the affected areas as this could lead to a secondary infection.

Most methods of preventing heat rash start with the goal of not allowing your child to get overheated and include things like dressing your child in weather appropriate, loose fitting clothing, so that he doesn’t get overheated. Another key factor is avoiding excessive heat and humidity when possible. Occlusive ointments, including moisturizers, or oil based products on a child’s skin, which can also block the sweat ducts should also be avoided.

Although heat rash usually goes away on its own in a few days, some children do require treatment, which can be as simple as removing the child from the environment that triggers the rash.  These include alternatives such as dressing in less clothing.  Moving the child inside to a cooler, air conditioned environment also goes a long way to easing their discomfort.  Mild strength topical steroids, although these usually aren’t needed can be used for treatment if necessary. Calamine lotion is another remedy often used on itchy baby heat rashes.  Another option to try is compresses with cool water.  In the event a secondary infection does occur, antibiotics will probably be needed to treat it.

Baby Rashes

Certain medications, viral illnesses and allergic reactions can cause an acne-like rash in babies. Many other conditions common in infants, such as eczema, erythema toxicum, and heat rash, can resemble baby acne.  Baby acne develops during the weeks after birth. This is thought to be most likely due to hormones that passed from mother to infant during the last stage of pregnancy.  Baby acne can be aggravated by milk, formula, or spit-up coming in contact with the skin. Other irritants include rough fabrics or fabrics laundered in strong detergent. If your baby has acne, don’t use soap, lotion or creams on the face because these can also be irritations.

Newborns are prone to baby rashes.  Most baby rashes cause no harm and go away in time on their own. Some examples of baby rashes that are commonly found in newborns are as follows:

•           Pink pimples (“neonatal acne”) are often caused by exposure in the womb to maternal hormones. No treatment is needed, just time. They can last for weeks or even months on baby’s skin.

•           Erythema toxicum is another common newborn rash that looks like mosquito bites or hives. Its cause is unknown, and it resolves without treatment after a few days or weeks.

•           Dry, peeling skin is often due to a baby being born a little late. The underlying skin is perfectly normal, soft, and moist.

•           Little white bumps on the nose and face (“milia”) are caused by blocked oil glands. When baby’s oil glands enlarge and open up in a few days or weeks, the white bumps disappear.

•          Salmon patches (called a “stork bite” at the back of the neck or an “angel’s kiss” between the eyes) are simple nests of blood vessels that fade on their own after a few weeks or months. Occasionally stork bites never go away.

•           Jaundice is a yellow coloration to your baby’s skin and eyes. It is caused by an excess of bilirubin which is a breakdown product of red blood cells.

•           Mongolian spots are very common in any part of the body of dark-skinned babies. They are flat, gray-blue in color and they look a lot like a bruise. They can be small or large. The spots are caused by some pigment that didn’t make it to the top layer when baby’s skin was being formed. They are harmless and usually fade away by school age.