What to Know About Skin Redness

Conditions that cause skin redness

Many different conditions can cause skin redness. Here are some possible causes.

Diaper rash

• located on areas that have contact with a diaper
• skin looks red, wet, and irritated
• warm to the touch

Learn more about diaper rash.

Allergic eczema

• may resemble a burn
• often found on hands and forearms
• skin is itchy, red, scaly, or raw
• blisters that weep, ooze, or become crusty

Learn more about allergic eczema.

Rosacea

• goes through cycles of fading and relapse
• may be triggered by spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, sunlight, stress, and the intestinal bacteria Helicobacter pylori
• can cause facial flushing, raised, red bumps, facial redness, skin dryness, and skin sensitivity

Learn more about rosacea.

Burns

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

• First-degree burns: Minor swelling and dry, red, tender skin that turns white when pressure is applied.
• Second-degree burns: Very painful, clear, weeping blisters and skin that appears red or has variable, patchy coloration.
• Third-degree burns: White or dark in color with a leathery appearance and low or no sensitivity to touch.

Learn more about different types of burns.

Chemical burn

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

• occurs when your skin, mucous membranes, or eyes come into contact with a chemical irritant, such as a strong acid or a base
• first aid treatments for chemical burns include removing the chemical that caused the burn (including clothing or jewelry that has touched the chemical) and rinsing the skin under lukewarm, slow, running water

Learn more about chemical burns.

Drug allergy

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

• mild, itchy, red rash may occur days to weeks after taking a drug
• can cause severe symptoms like hives, racing heart, swelling, itching, and difficulty breathing
• may cause other symptoms including fever, stomach upset, and tiny purple or red dots on the skin

Learn more about drug allergies.

Cellulitis

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

• caused by bacteria or fungi entering through a crack or cut in the skin
• painful, swollen skin with or without oozing that spreads quickly
• hot and tender to the touch
• fever, chills, and streaking from the rash might be a sign of serious infection requiring medical attention

Learn more about cellulitis.

Scarlet fever

• occurs at the same time as or right after a strep throat infection
• causes a rash of tiny bumps all over the body
• bright red tongue

Learn more about scarlet fever.

Angioedema (giant hives)

• a form of severe swelling beneath the skin’s surface
• may be accompanied by hives and itching
• caused by an allergic reaction to an allergen like food or medication
• additional symptoms may include stomach cramping and discolored patches or rash on the hands, arms, and feet

Learn more about angioedema.

Thrombophlebitis

• inflammation of a superficial vein caused by a blood clot, typically in the legs
• can cause tenderness, warmth, and visible engorgement along the vein

Learn more about thrombophlebitis.

Bone infection (osteomyelitis)

• occurs when bacteria or fungi invade a bone
• may be caused by a migration of bacteria or fungi infecting surrounding tissues or the bloodstream, or by penetrating injury or surgery that exposes the bone
• can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and warmth in the infected body part as well as fever and chills

Learn more about bone infections.

Osteosarcoma

• form of bone cancer that typically develops in the shinbone (tibia) near the knee, the thighbone (femur) near the knee, or the upper arm bone (humerus) near the shoulder
• most common type of bone cancer in children
• may cause bone pain, fractures, swelling, redness, and limping

Learn more about osteosarcoma.

Sunburn

• superficial burn on the outermost layer of skin
• can cause pain, swelling, dryness, peeling, and color changes
• more severe, blistering burns may occur after extended periods of sun exposure

Learn more about sunburn.

Skin infection

• caused by a wide variety of infectious agents, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites.
• may cause color changes, tenderness, itching, and a rash
• see a doctor if you have fever, chills, pus-filled blisters, skin breakdown, severe pain, or a skin infection that does not improve or gets progressively worse

Learn more about skin infections.

Bites and stings

This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required.

• causes color changes, swelling, itching, and soreness
• pain in the affected area or in the muscles
• heat around the bite or sting

Learn more about bites and stings.

Heat rash

• occurs due to a combination of heat, sweat, and friction
• develops on body parts that rub together, such as between the inner thighs or under the arms
• causes small clear or white bumps filled with fluid to appear or itchy, hot bumps

Learn more about heat rash.

Psoriasis

• causes scaly, silvery, sharply defined skin patches
• commonly located on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back
• may be itchy or asymptomatic

Learn more about psoriasis.

Ringworm

• circular-shaped scaly rashes with raised border
• skin in the middle of the ring appears clear and healthy, and the edges of the ring may spread outward
• may feel itchy and uncomfortable

Learn more about ringworm.

Shingles

• very painful rash that may burn, tingle, or itch, even if there are no blisters present
• clusters of fluid-filled blisters that break easily and weep fluid
• emerges in a linear stripe pattern that appears most commonly on the torso but may occur on other parts of the body, including the face
• may be accompanied by low fever, chills, headache, or fatigue

Learn more about shingles.

When should I get medical help for skin redness?

You should get immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms associated with skin redness:

• a burn that’s twice the size of your palm
• difficulty breathing
• extreme pain
• loss of consciousness
• redness near or on your eyes that is affecting your vision

You should also get medical attention if you have an animal bite, even if you’ve had a tetanus shot.

How is skin redness diagnosed?

If you see a doctor about your rash, they’ll perform a physical exam. If your symptoms come and go, they’ll ask you to describe them.

They may also ask you questions like:

• What activities were you engaging in before you noticed the skin redness?
• Are you taking any new medications or using any new skin care or cleaning products?
• Do you have a family history of any skin conditions?
• Have you experienced this skin redness before?
• Were you around others who may have a similar rash?

After that, they may order additional testing like a biopsy of the affected area or allergy testing to determine if your skin reacts to certain irritants.

Ask your doctor if your skin condition may be contagious and what steps you can take to prevent its spread. This can ensure that you do not pass on the skin redness to someone else.

How’s skin redness treated?

Treatments for skin redness depend on what’s causing it. Examples can include avoiding the irritant or allergen that caused your skin redness in the first place.

Other treatments for skin redness include:

• cleansing the affected area with soap and water
• taking medications like antihistamines to minimize irritation
• applying topical skin care treatments like calamine lotion to reduce skin redness

Keeping the affected area clean and dry can usually help reduce skin redness. If an infection is the cause of your skin redness, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to reduce the infection’s symptoms.

The bottom line

There are many causes of red skin ranging from mild to severe. While causes like sunburn can be managed at home, more severe symptoms may require a diagnosis and medical treatment.

If you’re not sure what’s causing your skin redness, it’s a good idea to contact a doctor.