Reddening of the skin or. red skin or reddish patches of skin are to be viewed as distinct from rashes, although they have similar appearance patterns. Reddening of the skin is generally a change in the color of the skin, which can have natural causes such as excitement or strain. However, reddening of the skin also occurs in the context of illnesses, such as borreliosis or hemorrhoids. The reddening of the skin on the head, face and hands is most likely to fall out, as these parts of the body are usually covered by clothing.
What is skin redness?
All changes in the normal complexion that are associated with reddening are basically referred to as skin redness.
It can be a small, punctiform reddening, but it can also be more extensive, including wheals, for example.
In addition to the reddening of the skin, other complaints can occur: Itching or pain of various kinds is common, and in some cases the reddened skin feels hot.
Occasionally, the reddening of the skin is also the sole symptom of an underlying disease.
causes
The reddening of the skin usually occurs as an infectious reaction to the penetration of pathogens. Sometimes the change in the skin marks the place where the infection took place - sometimes the affected area of the skin has nothing to do with the focus of inflammation.
The wound rose, for example, is one of the diseases that cause the affected area of the body to redden. These are bacteria that have penetrated and lie under the skin and from there ensure that it changes. In hives, on the other hand, red wheals form, which are not directly related to the causative disease.
Even minor injuries to the skin can cause reddening around the wound, but this is not caused by bacteria: it is an immune reaction of the body, it increases the body temperature there as a precaution to prevent bacteria, viruses or fungi from entering . Physical causes can be scratches or insect bites. In the event of a scratch, the reddening of the skin is due to a short-term irritation of the skin, which quickly disappears. An insect bite is a chemical reaction.
Reddening of the skin can of course have causes that do not involve illness as a consequence. Most of the time, this temporary redness is a sign of increased blood flow. The causes are excitement, exertion or temperature influences.
This can also lead to reddening of the skin very quickly, which is associated with sweating, hormonal changes or inner restlessness. Furthermore, reddening of the skin can also be cosmetic. For example, through massages, peelings and masks. All of these forms are to be regarded as harmless and not pathological.
Skin redness, which is to be regarded as rather pathological, e.g. in case of allergic reactions and other intolerances. This also includes reddened skin caused by sunburn and reddened skin caused by toxins (fungal poisoning) or medication. Damaged blood vessels, neurodermatitis, eczema and irritated skin (environmental influences) are also possible causes.
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➔ Medicines against redness and eczemaDiseases with this symptom
- Lyme disease
- hemorrhoids
- allergy
- sunburn
- Larva migrans cutanea
- Skin cancer
- Rash
- Sore rose
- Neurodermatitis
- Histamine intolerance
- Rosacea
- Typhus
- Hives
- Insect venom allergy
- thrush
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Phlebitis
- Age spots
Complications
Reddened skin is still taken seriously in babies and young children. Most adults, on the other hand, dismiss it as a non-specific symptom that can occasionally arise - without going any further to the cause. In most cases you are certainly right, the skin in adults occasionally reddens for completely harmless reasons and then calms down again on its own.
Reddening of the skin that persists, recurs, or even causes pain, on the other hand, suggests a more serious cause. If they are not taken seriously, there is a risk that a cause that requires treatment will not be recognized at all. It could be a mild allergy or a skin condition that can be counteracted - if detected.
Reddening of the skin can also be the beginning of an infection that is not recognized as such in good time and treated accordingly. This carries the risk that it can spread unhindered on the skin. The earlier a skin infection is treated, the easier and less complicated the healing process will be. Even reddened skin with a known cause such as an insect bite is often dismissed as a normal skin reaction.
Still, they suggest that the cause of the body is a bigger problem than expected. If reddening of the skin persists for a long time, causes pain, spreads, swells or the surrounding skin feels warm, it is better to plan too much than too little a visit to the doctor.
When should you go to the doctor?
Reddening of the skin can be attributed to a wide variety of causes. In most cases, skin reddening is unpleasant, but harmless and does not require medical treatment. Harmless reddening of the skin usually disappears by itself.
If, on the other hand, reddening of the skin occurs over a longer period of time, shows sharp boundaries and becomes hot, these must be clarified by a doctor. If additional symptoms such as fever, swelling, pronounced itching and fatigue appear, a doctor should always be consulted. This applies in particular to children and to skin redness that occurs as part of a childhood disease such as chickenpox, rubella, measles, scarlet fever or rubella. With scarlet fever and rubella, the skin is reddened over a large area, with measles and chickenpox it shows individual reddish pustules.
Affected adults should also consult a doctor if they are suspected of being infected with a childhood disease, as childhood diseases in adults are often more severe and protracted. Changes in the appearance of the skin in the genital area (groin, penis, vagina) should also be clarified by a doctor in order to rule out contagious skin diseases (e.g. skin fungus). Reddened skin that occurs after a tick bite should also be examined by a doctor so that a possible Borrelia infection can be treated at an early stage.
Doctors & therapists in your area
Treatment & Therapy
The treatment of skin redness should be treated depending on the cause. For example, in the case of food intolerance, the skin-reddening foods should be avoided.
Most skin redness does not require treatment because it is harmless. These include, for example, wounds that heal well, light scratches or insect bites. The latter, especially mosquito bites, can be treated with special ointments or natural lavender oil to relieve the itching.
However, some forms of reddening have an underlying condition that needs treatment. These include, for example, the wound rose. Reddening of the skin can also occur with various autoimmune diseases. Depending on the cause of the change, either the skin is treated directly, for example with decongestant or anti-inflammatory cream, in addition, disease-specific medication or therapy methods are used to prevent the formation of new skin redness.
Home remedies ↵ for skin redness Basically, any inflammatory or painful reddening of the skin should be treated by a doctor, as the pain suggests that it is a more serious inflammation or an allergic reaction.
Outlook & forecast
Reddened skin caused by infectious diseases such as scarlet fever and diphtheria usually heals without a trace after the underlying disease has subsided. The same basically applies to childhood diseases such as rubella, measles or chickenpox. Here, however, care must be taken that the severely itchy blisters and pustules are not scratched, otherwise scars can form.
In the case of neurodermatitis and other eczema, the symptoms are treated rather than the causes. With the help of anti-inflammatory drugs, acute attacks can be relieved quickly. However, atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease. So patients have to come to terms with the fact that the symptoms recur regularly.
In the case of food intolerances and contact allergies, the irritants are determined with the help of an allergy test. As soon as the triggers of the overreaction are identified and avoided, the allergic reddening of the skin also disappears very quickly. In the case of hay fever, which is triggered by a pollen allergy, the symptoms can either be treated with antihistamines, antiallergic drugs and cortisone or the underlying causes can be cured by desensitization.
On the other hand, the skin disease rosacea, which is accompanied by severe reddening, is considered incurable. With this diagnosis, patients have to be prepared for a lifelong confrontation with the disease. However, symptoms can be relieved with anti-inflammatory creams and low-dose antibiotics.
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➔ Medicines against redness and eczemaprevention
There is no need to prevent harmless reddening of the skin, for example due to minimal injuries. It is a normal reaction of the body and protects it from worse infections. In the case of wounds, all that is important is a protective tetanus vaccination; repellent sprays can be used on the skin against insect bites.
In the event of allergic reactions, direct contact with the dangerous substance should be avoided if possible. Then there is no reddening of the skin. Larger wounds should always be carefully cleaned and disinfected to prevent reddening inflammation.
People with a weak immune system can also be particularly susceptible to diseases that lead to infectious reddening of the skin. You should be extra careful not to injure the skin.
Home remedies & herbs
- Make an infusion with 100 grams of fennel herbs. With this addition to the bath, skin redness is reduced and a relaxing effect is achieved.
You can do that yourself
Home remedies for skin redness are only effective if they are not due to a skin disease. If the skin reddened as a result of intense sun exposure, the sun should be avoided immediately. The skin needs to calm down, needs cooling and time to recover. Cooling gels, which are also used against insect bites, can provide relief. Soothing compresses with cotton balls soaked in black tea will also help. Chamomile may cause even more irritation.
Almond oil and olive oil contain numerous vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids that have a calming and regenerating effect on irritated skin. The ingredients also have an anti-inflammatory effect. A tried and tested home remedy are cucumber slices that are simply placed on top. The cooling effect leads to immediate relief of the symptoms. The situation is similar with quark packs, which are applied diluted with water and rinsed off with warm water after drying.
Sometimes skin reddening occurs due to an unbalanced mineral balance. In some cases, magnesium can help. For skin that is prone to enlarged veins, creams that promote cell regeneration help. Reddened skin can also be an allergic reaction to food, chemicals or other incompatible substances in the environment. Research into the causes must be carried out here. If they are the result of burns, a doctor should be consulted as a precaution. As a first aid measure, cooling with a damp cloth is important. Under no circumstances should fatty creams be used.
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