Although they look similar, there are actually different types of skin rashes, and each has various causes. It can be caused by the body’s allergic response, or probably by an irritant that caused the skin to have an immune reaction. Itchy skin rash types can also be caused by a fungal infection or an autoimmune condition.
These rashes can get worse if symptoms are not promptly treated. Scratching the itch leaves skin openings for bacteria to enter, and they cause infection when they do. The thing is, treatment depends on the type of rash.
Knowing the cause and type of the rash is very important to determine the best treatment option. In this article, we will talk about the different types of rashes and all-natural products that you can use to relieve skin rash symptoms.
Table of contents
Different types of skin rashes
It is confusing when we think about the different skin conditions that cause rashes. In fact, psoriasis and eczema are so similar, they usually misdiagnosed, according to this study.
Eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, fungal rash, and allergic rash share similar symptoms. But what are the distinguishing factors of these different types of skin rashes? We’ll go into detail about their types and symptoms, but first let’s talk about their key distinguishing factors.
Eczema
When you see eczema, you’ll notice that its patches do not have well-defined borders. You’ll see them on parts of your body that bend, or on skin folds like the elbows, neck, hands, palms and soles, neck, legs, arms, groin area, and scalp. Table 1 shows the types of eczema and their differences in terms of triggers, symptoms, and location.
| Eczema Type | Trigger/s and Causes | Symptoms | Location |
| Atopic dermatitis | Skin barrier is damaged and the flare-up is triggered by irritating substances; can be inherited | Itching, rashes, dryness, and pain | Areas of the body where you bend, like inside the elbows, behind the knees, and in front of the neck. Usually appears on both sides of the body. |
| Contact dermatitis | An irritant or allergen comes into contact with the skin | Itchy, crusty or scaly skin, rashes, or blisters | Area where the irritant or allergen came into contact with the skin |
| Dyshidrotic eczema | Stress, sweaty hands and feet, contact with metals like nickel, warm, humid weather, treatments that weaken the immune system, and seasonal allergies; can be inherited | Intensely itchy or painful blisters on the feet and hands, redness, cracked skin, and sweating of the skin around the blisters | Palms and soles |
| Neurodermatitis | Dry skin, nerve injury, stress, type of clothing, bug bites; can be inherited | Itchy, red, rashes that become more itchy when scratched; skin can be thickened and dry when it’s not the first time you’ve had it. | Arms, legs, back of the neck, scalp, or groin area |
| Nummular eczema | Dry skin, irritants, or allergens; could be caused by genetic predisposition | Circular, coin-like patches of red, thickened skin and itchy rashes that are sometimes oozing. | Hands, arms, or legs |
| Seborrheic dermatitis | Stress, hormonal changes, illness, strong chemicals, cold and dry weather, medications; can be inherited | Itching or burning dry flaky skin, rashes, greasy and scaly scalp and/or nasal folds,; scales are usually yellowish and greasy in appearance | Scalp, nose, upper back |
| Stasis dermatitis | Poor blood flow in lower legs; the conditions that cause it may be inherited, like congenital weakness of the veins | Darkened and thickened skin, redness, scaling, itching, dryness, might feel heavy after standing or sitting for a long time; wounds (open sores) that can have discharge; severe cases will make skin look like cobblestones | Near the ankles |
See related: What are the different types of skin rashes?
Psoriasis
Psoriasis, on the other hand, look similar to eczema, but it the patches are thicker, more inflamed, and covered with silvery scales. Aside from itchiness, you’ll also feel burning or soreness when you have psoriasis. See the types of psoriasis and their differences on Table 2.
| Psoriasis Type | Trigger/s and Causes | Symptoms | Location |
| Plaque psoriasis | Skin injury, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption; can be inherited | Raised, inflamed, and scaly patches of skin that can be itchy and/or painful; nail psoriasis (where the nails look discolored and pitted); arthritis (swollen/stiff/painful joints) | Scalp, ears, elbows, hands, trunk, navel, knees, feet |
| Inverse psoriasis | Skin injuries, stress, infections, or medications; can be inherited | Shiny, red, swollen skin with rashes | Skin folds (eyelids, neck, armpits, gential area) |
| Guttate psoriasis | Can develop after infection by streptococcal bacteria; may be triggered by medication, respiratory infections, tonsillitis, stress, and injury; can be inherited | Raised, small pink or purple plaques; can be scaly | Typically on the arms, torso, and legs; sometimes can spread to the face, ears, and scalp |
| Erythrodermic psoriasis | Certain medications, severe infection or illness, sunburn, allergic reaction, stress; can be inherited | Burn-like redness, scales that shed in large sections | Covers more than 75% of the body |
| Pustular psoriasis | Certain medications, irritants, pregnancy, steroids, infections, stress, and UV light overdose; can be inherited | Bumps or blisters filled with pus and red to purple areas | Typically on the hands or feet, but can be a widespread flare-up |
| Palmoplantar psoriasis | Friction, irritants, trauma, and smoking; can be inherited | Thickened, raised, and discolored skin causing plaques or pustules. The affected area might crack and bleed and be painful; nail psoriasis (where the nails look discolored and pitted) | Palms and soles |
Rosacea
Rosacea tends to make the skin very red, specifically the face. You’ll see bumps and redness on the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. There are also noticeable blood vessels on the face if you have rosacea.
Fungal rash
There are several causes of fungal rash, and they present on the skin differently. Ringworm cases like body ringworm and jock itch show as patches of skin with a redder border and paler center. Athlete’s foot, meanwhile, shows as rashes or blister on the foot, especially between the toes.
Tinea versicolor shows as lighter or darker patches of skin compared to the surrounding skin. Candida infections are red, spreading, and occur on moist areas of the body.
| Fungal Rash Type | Causes | Symptoms | Location |
| Body ringworm (tinea corporis) | Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton fungal species | Circular or round, red, scaly rash that is redder on the borders and paler on the center | Trunk, arms, legs, and/or buttocks |
| Jock itch (tinea cruris) | Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton fungal species | Itchy, red rash patch that grows outward; the affected skin is scaling especially on the borders, which are redder than the center of the patch | Groin area, may spread to inner thigh |
| Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) | Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccosum | Red, itchy, painful rash; can be red scaly plaques, blisters, or maceration between the toes | Feet, especially on the toes and between digits |
| Pityriasis versicolor (tinea versicolor) | Malassezia species of fungi | Patches or lighter or darer skin lesions than the surrounding skin; might gave itching and inflammation around them; can merge into larger lesions | Trunk area (chest, back, and neck) and arms |
| Skin candidiasis (cutaneous candidiasis) | Candida species of fungi | Redness, itching, swelling, shiny, and flaky lesions that may have fluid on the edge of redness; pus-filled lesions in groin infection | Usually on the armpits, groins, and skin folds |
See related: Have Healthy Skin Today Using All-Natural Skin Care Products
Allergic rash
Allergic rash may be atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema) or hives (urticaria). Atopic dermatitis causes itchy, scaly rashes on the elbows, knees, and face. Meanwhile, urticaria causes red, raised areas of the skin which are itchy, varying in size, and occurs anywhere in the body.
| Allergic Rash Type | Trigger/s and Causes | Symptoms | Location |
| Atopic dermatitis | Skin barrier is damaged and the flare-up is triggered by irritating substances; can be inherited | Itching, rashes, dryness, and pain | Areas of the body where you bend, like inside the elbows, behind the knees, and in front of the neck. Usually appears on both sides of the body. |
| Contact dermatitis | An irritant or allergen comes into contact with the skin | Itchy, crusty or scaly skin, rashes, or blisters | Area where the irritant or allergen came into contact with the skin |
| Hives (Urticaria) | Contact to or ingestion of an allergen, exposure to heat or cold, infection, certain medications; insect stings or bites, blood transfusions | Itchy raised bumps that can be skin-colored or red; the center of a red lesion turns white when pressed | Can be on one part of the body or scattered |
Summary of the different types of skin rashes
| Types of Rash | Trigger/s and Causes | Symptoms | Location |
| Eczema | Allergens, irritants, stress, sweating, infections, humidity, heat, and hormones | Itchy red patches of rashes that do not have well-defined borders | In the folds of the skin like the inside the elbows, neck, hands, palms and soles, neck, legs, arms, and groin area |
| Psoriasis | Skin injuries, stress, and infections | Thicker, redder, and more inflamed patches of itchy rashes covered with silvery scales | On outer surfaces like the elbows or scalp |
| Rosacea | Anything that can widen the blood vessels like sunlight, heat and spicy food | Intense skin redness and noticeable blood vessels on the face with acne-like bumps that may be pus-filled | Face (forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin) |
| Fungal Rash | Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccosum Malassezia species of fungi Candida species of fungi | Ringworm infections show as round patches of red scaly rashes redder on the borders and paler on the center; athlete’s foot present as rashes, blisters, or macerations on the feet; tinea versicolor are patches of skin lighter or darker than the surrounding area; candida infections tend to grow red, itchy rashes on moist areas and can spread to other areas of the body | Trunk, arms, legs, and/or buttocks; Groin area, may spread to inner thigh; Feet, especially on the toes and between digits; Trunk area (chest, back, and neck) and arms; Moist areas like armpits, groins, and skin folds |
| Allergic rash | Irritating substances; allergens; exposure to heat or cold, infection, certain medications; insect stings or bites, blood transfusions | Itchy, red bumps on the skin (rashes or blisters), may be scaly; hives turn white when pressed | Varies; can be on areas that came into contact with the irritant/allergen, areas of the body where you bend, or anywhere in the body |
These key distinguishing characteristics give you the basic understanding of the different types of skin rashes. Table 5 above shows the differences we discussed. If you want to learn more about these skin conditions, read our blog articles about eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, fungal rash, and allergic rash.
Improving your symptoms with CANhaveTODAY skin care products
Itch, redness, swelling, burning, soreness, and thickening of the skin are uncomfortable and unsightly symptoms of the different types of skin rashes. But with CANhaveTODAY’s skin care products, you can relieve these symptoms, nourish, and protect the skin all at once!
We can help calm your rashes with the powers of different essential oils and their unique blends in our products. Waters Mist, Soothing Juggernaut, and Healing Legends are packed with essential oils that have scientifically-proven properties and activities.
Waters Mist for skin irritation, blisters, and bacterial infection
Waters Mist is potent in relieving irritation symptoms such as itchiness and dryness of skin. This salve contains the highest amount of tea tree oil among all CANhaveTODAY salves, with lemongrass and cinnamon essential oils, it is a powerhouse against inflammation.
Research studies by Boukhatem et al. (2014), Atta & Alkofahi (1998), and Chin & Cordell (2013) show evidences of their anti-inflammatory activities, which can also help heal blisters. This study and this study show that lemongrass and tea tree essential oils are also great moisturizers, making it great for dry skin.
Finally, these essential oils are excellent antibacterial agents, as proven by scientific studies (Baratta et al., 1998; Behbahani et al., 2020; Orchard & van Vuuren, 2017). See how Waters Mist can help your skin on Table 6.
See related: Waters Mist, A Natural Bug Repellent for Skin
Soothing Juggernaut: all-rounder for irritation, severe dryness, & inflammation
Soothing Juggernaut, on the other hand, can help with irritation symptoms, cracked red skin, and blisters. Its main ingredients are frankincense, arnica, and cypress essential oils, all of which have strong anti-inflammatory properties.
Frankincense is notable in terms of skin permeability. This study shows that it boosts skin permeation of the other essential oils, making them take effect quicker. It is also a strong pain reliever, according to this study. In addition, it has excellent moisturizing properties, this study shows.
Likewise, arnica and cypress essential oils possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties, according to this study and this study. Arnica is also a strong pain reliever, this study proves. Learn more about the properties of Soothing Juggernaut that can help your skin on Table 6.
See related: 100% Natural Muscle Pain Relief Cream
Healing Legends for skin healing and health
Healing Legends contains frankincense, myrrh, and bergamot essential oils, which are excellent in fighting inflammation, as several scientific studies prove (Al-Yasiry & Kiczorowska, 2016; Shalaby & Hammouda, 2014; Karaca et al., 2007). This makes them effective for reducing blisters and redness of the rashes.
This salve also has very strong moisturizing activities, combining the potent bergamot and the synergistic effects of myrrh and frankincense (Alesci et al., 2022; Anderson et al., 2000). You can trust this product to give you the soothing moisture your skin needs. Know more about the beneficial properties of Healing Legends to your skin on Table 6.
| Waters Mist | Soothing Juggernaut | Healing Legends (with Frankincense) | |||||||
| Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) | Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) | Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) | Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) | Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) | Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) | Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) | Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) | ||
| Antibacterial | Mild to Strong [1,2] | Strong [25] | Strong [42] | Moderate [64] | Moderate to Strong [77] | Mild to Strong [90] | Mild to Strong [102] | Strong [129,130] | |
| – Acne | Mild to Moderate [3] | Strong [26] | Strong [42] | Moderate [65] | Moderate [42] | Moderate [90] | Mild to Strong [102] | Strong [131] | |
| – Cellulitis | Mild to Strong [1,2,4] | – | Strong [42] | – | Moderate to Strong [42] | – | – | Strong [129,132,130] | |
| – Itch | Mild to Strong [1,2,3] | – | Strong [42] | Moderate [64] | – | Strong [91] | Strong [103] | Strong [129] | |
| – Skin infections | Mild to Strong [1,2,3] | Mild to Strong [27] | Strong [42] | Moderate | Strong [78] | Strong [90] | Mild to Strong [104] | Strong [132, 130, 133] | |
| Anti-inflammatory | Strong [5] | Strong [28] | Moderate to Strong [43] | Strong [65] | Strong [79] | Strong [92] | Strong [105] | Strong [134, 135] | |
| – Acne | Mild to Moderate [3] | Strong [26] | Strong [42] | Strong [65] | Moderate to Strong [42] | Moderate [90] | Strong [106] | ||
| – Swelling | Strong [5] | Strong [28] | Strong [118] | Strong [65] | Strong [79] | Strong [92] | Strong [105] | Strong [134] | |
| Antifungal | Strong [5,6] | Mild to Strong [29] | Moderate to Strong [44] | Moderate to Strong [42] | Moderate [80] | Moderate to Strong [93] | Moderate to Strong [107] | Mild to Strong [136, 137, 138, 139] | |
| – Athlete’s foot (Foot itch) | Strong [7,8] | Strong [29] | Moderate to Strong [45] | Moderate to Strong [42] | Strong [81,82] | Moderate to Strong [94] | Strong [108] | Strong [140] | |
| – Itch | Strong [9,10] | – | Moderate to Strong [42] | Moderate to Strong [42] | Moderate [81] | Moderate [90] | – | Strong [140] | |
| Antimicrobial | Mild to Strong [1,2] | Strong [30,25,31] | Strong [42] | Moderate to Strong [64, 42] | Strong [83,84] | Mild to Strong [90,93] | Mild to Strong [102,107] | Strong [140, 141, 142] | |
| Antioxidant (fights skin damage and aging) | Strong [11,2] | Strong [32,33,25] | Moderate to Strong [46] | Mild to Strong [66] | Strong [80] | Mild to Strong [90] | Mild to Strong [109] | Strong [142] | |
| Antiparasitic | Strong [12,13] | Mild to Moderate [34] | Strong [47] | Mild to Strong [67,68] | Strong [80] | Mild to Strong [95] | Moderate [143] | ||
| Antispasmodic (relieves muscle spasms) | Strong [14] | Mild to Moderate [35] | – | Moderate to Strong [69,70] | Strong – Muscle spasms – Menstrual cramps – Restless leg syndrome | Strong [96] – Intestinal spasms | Strong [110] – Intestinal spasms | – | |
| Insecticidal (Kills insects) | Strong [15] | Strong [36] | Strong [48] | Strong [71] | Strong [80] | Moderate to Strong [97] | – | Strong [144, 145] | |
| Moisturizing (for dry and/or cracked skin) | Moderate to Strong [16] | – | Moderate to Strong [49] | Strong [72] | Moderate to Strong [85] | Strong (Very Strong with Frankincense) [98] | Strong [111] | Strong [146, 147] | |
| Reduces bruising | Moderate to Strong [17] | Strong | Strong [50] | Strong [73] | Strong | Moderate | Moderate to Strong | Strong [148] | |
| Very Strong | |||||||||
| Reduces cellulite | Strong [18] | – | – | – | Moderate to Strong [42] | – | – | – | |
| Reduces hyperpigmentation | Moderate to Strong [19] | Mild to Moderate [37] | Strong [51] | Strong [74,65] | Moderate [86] | Moderate [63] | Strong [112] | Mild to Strong [149] | |
| Very Strong | |||||||||
| Reduces or relieves pain | Strong [20] | Strong [28,38] | – | Strong [75] | Moderate to Strong [87] – Joint pain – Arthritic pain – Muscle pain | Moderate [99] | Strong [113] | – | |
| Repels Insects | Strong [21,22,23] | Moderate to Strong [39,40] | Strong [48] | Strong [76] | Strong [88] | Strong [100] | Mild to Moderate [114,115] | Strong [144, 145] | |
| Treats cramps | – | – | – | – | Strong [89] | – | – | – | |
| Wound Healing | Strong [24] | Strong [41] | Moderate to Strong [52] | Strong [65] | Strong [42] | Strong [101] | Moderate to Strong [116,117] | Strong [150] | |
FAQ
There is a variety of factors that can cause rash and itchy skin, including dry skin, skin inflammation (dermatitis), eczema, allergies, irritants, infections, and other skin conditions.
The duration of a skin rash can differ depending on its cause. Some rashes may disappear after hours of within a few days, while others might persist for weeks or even longer.
Several home remedies may help alleviate skin rashes and soothe the skin, like cold compress, oatmeal bath, aloe vera, and essential oils. However, it’s always best to consult a doctor before trying any of these home remedies.
Related resources
