What Are the Different Types of Dry Skin Rashes?

Skin rashes, also known as dermatitis, usually appear as red, itchy bumps or scaly skin patches, and they can be caused by bacteria, fungi, contact with chemicals or allergies, or the rash develops as the result of a hereditary condition. There are many different types of dry skin rashes, which include eczema, ringworm, and lichen planus. Granuloma annulare and psoriasis are two other types of rashes. Dry skin rashes can usually be healed with over-the-counter or prescription medications. People should consult a medical professional, who can diagnose the type of rash the patient has and recommend a treatment plan.

Eczema is a rash that is characterized by scaly, red itchy bumps that can cover small or large portions of the person’s skin. The rash most often appears on the backs of knees, on the hands, or on the inside of the person’s elbows. Eczema is usually worse during the dry, cold winter months, and sometimes crusty or pus-filled blisters will form on the skin. Cortisone creams, antihistamines, and ultraviolet light therapy are common treatments for these dry skin rashes.

Ringworm is a fungus that affects the surface of the skin, usually the scalp, groin, or feet. This type of dry skin rash is contagious, and a person can contract the disease from animals. Ringworm can present itself as a ring-like red patch of skin, but it also forms scaly or flaky inflamed dry skin patches. Antifungal creams or capsules are taken to rid the skin of the fungus.

Linchen planus is a rash characterized by shiny, purple or red bumps that usually form on the inside of the wrists, inside of the mouth, or on the ankles. This type of rash can cause hair loss if it forms on the scalp. The bumps may develop on top of one another, causing a more severe rash to develop.

Granuloma annulare is a type of dry skin rash that is the result of a chronic condition that creates red bumps or a circular-like rash. The bumps are itchy and cosmetically unappealing. It will usually go away within a few weeks, and it more commonly affects women, young adults, and children.

Another type of dry skin rashes are psoriasis rosea rashes. This type of rash is hereditary, and it creates large scaly patches of skin that can form anywhere on the body, although it is most commonly seen on elbows, the back, and knees. The skin can be flaky and white where the scaly patches have formed, and the person usually develops a rash after a trigger event, such as a stressful event or an infection.