Infections, heat, allergies, weakened immune system: all of these can be causes for skin rashes. Not only can a skin rash be uncomfortable or even painful, but they can be embarrassing, too, especially when they show up on the face, or other noticeable areas.

If you are experiencing the discomfort of a skin rash, or an allergic rash, then this article will help by describing some common rashes that occur, and give 5 simple things you can do to treat most common rashes.

Common Skin Rashes

Eczema

Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a chronic condition (meaning that it is ongoing) that occurs on the face, neck, torso, or limbs. It favors the back of the knees and inside of the elbows. This condition will usually come and go in cycles, intensifying during the winter months when the skin is not as exposed to the sun.

Avoid harsh, drying soaps and detergents. Use moisturizing creams such as Eucerin or medicated ointments if your doctor prescribes it. Sunlight can also help flare ups. Talk to your doctor before tanning in a salon.

Contact Dermatitis

This dermatitis is a common allergic rash. Appearing as a dry, scaly rash, Contact Dermatitis causes a burning itch or pain. This is an allergic reaction, usually to a cleaning chemical or other product.

A second type of allergic dermatitis can create an itchy red rash with bumps and blisters. This can be caused by any of the following:

• latex rubber
• Nickel
• costume jewelry
• Perfume
• Cosmetics
• nail polish

Photo by Gotham City Lost And Found

Heat Rash

Milaria, or Heat Rash, occurs on the face, neck, chest, back, and thighs. It is the result of sweat ducts becoming plucked and rupturing. It creates an irritating red rash that may sting. Common instances are due to hot, humid weather, overdressing, and tight fitting clothes.

Miliaria rubra appears as clusters of small, red bumps. Miliaria crystallina looks like clear bumps filled with fluid. This form of Heat Rash may not have any other symptoms or discomforts.

5 Simple Treatments

Whether genetic, allergic, or infection, most skin rashes are treatable. Here are 5 simples steps to take towards relief.

1) Talk to your doctor.

Your family physician may be able to recognize your skin condition and prescribe a medicinal cream. Or he may send you to a dermatologist for a more specialized diagnosis. Either way, it is always a good idea to seek professional advice. Skin irritations and rashes can be as unique as the skin they are on, and you may have other considerations that your doctor will account for. Also, if you are in need of a steroidal cream, you will need your doctors prescription.

2) Use a mild soap.

The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology recommends washing your face with mild soaps like Dove. Or use a cleanser like Cetaphil. Try not to scrub your face, or infected area. Instead, wash gently. Your goal is to cleanse the area without irritating it further.

3) Antibiotics.

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to fight of a bacterial infection. You will need a doctor’s prescription to obtain antibiotics, but they can be helpful in clearing up a rash on your face.

4) Avoid cosmetics.

Makeup and perfume can be a cause of your rash. Try going without it for a while and see if your condition clears up. If it does clear up, then you will want to consider changing brands. Try using a hypoallergenic makeup.

5) Corticosteroid Cream.

Corticosteroid creams can be bought over the counter, so you do not need a doctor’s prescription. The active ingredient is hydrocortisone, which is useful for minor skin rashes and irritants. Usually, these creams will provide temporary relief, but they may not be strong enough to fully cure the condition.

Skin rashes are uncomfortable, painful, and embarrassing. Unfortunately, they are difficult to diagnose due to the nature and variety of skin conditions. Seek medical advice, especially for severe cases. Hopefully, these treatments and preventions will help you reduce and maintain your skin rash conditions.

Many looking around for a dandruff cure may be skeptical about natural ways to get rid of dandruff and if these natural cures really work. While many a dandruff home remedy may offer instant results, be careful about what you’re putting on your scalp for a cure. Often, misleading advice causes disappointment and even damage to your health. Understanding what causes dandruff is the first step to successfully tackling the question of how to get rid of dandruff. After that, considering some popular home cures could lead you to the dandruff home treatment you’ve been looking for.

What is Dandruff?

Dandruff is the blanket term used for dry, flaking skin from the scalp. These flakes can range in size and texture from small, white dry flakes of skin to large, greasy, and yellow chunks. Those suffering from chronic dandruff compared to an occasional flaking of skin may also encounter itching, burning, and redness of the skin in and around the scalp. Most of the time, dandruff poses no health risks whatsoever.  There is a difference between normal dandruff and the flaking of skin that could cause health issues.  If you experience stinging pain of the scalp and yellow, chunky dandruff that does not respond to over the counter treatments, you may have seborrheic dermatitis. If you suspect you have this disease, contact your doctor for treatment.

Photo by Muffet

The Number One Cause of Dandruff

The number one cause of dandruff is a pesky fungus called Pityrosporum ovale, which is often seen in excess on the scalps of those suffering from dandruff. This fungus normally lives on the scalp of all adults, but sometimes, numbers grow out of control causing irritation to the scalp. Thus, the scalp sheds its skin more frequently, causing dandruff as the fungus feeds on oils produced by hair follicles.

Other Known Causes of Flaking Skin

The causes of dandruff are well understood for the most part, with different factors such as gender, age, skin type, and scalp care habits contributing to the little white flakes of dead skin. Some of the more common factors for bothersome dandruff include:

• Hormonal Changes
• Infrequent Shampooing
• Certain Diseases (such as Parkinson’s Disease)
• Skin Type
• High Levels of Stress or Weakened Immune System
• Effects of the Dry, Cold Winter Season

While all of these factors may be contributing to your dandruff, try to isolate exactly which ones are specific problems for you. If you do not shampoo on a regular basis, try starting a daily shampoo routine. Many times, a day to day cleansing of the scalp helps break up dead skin that causes dandruff, washing these flakes away in the shower. Try using a dandruff shampoo such as Head and Shoulders, which will not only clear away dandruff but can also provide needed oils to the scalp.

Home Remedy Cures

Home remedies are generally based on the principal that either a fungus or dryness of scalp is producing the excess shedding of skin cells. While no one knows how to get rid of dandruff permanently, there are some solutions in the mean time, including:

• Tea Tree Oil: This antifungal should be applied to the scalp via shampoo or hair oil after a bath
• Vinegar Wash: Wash with a light cider vinegar wash during a bath to kill the fungus’ growth
• Scalp Moisturizers: For dry scalps during the winter
• Shampooing Regularly: To wash away build ups of dead skin

Home Remedies for Your Hair

When combating a flaky, itchy scalp, try a dandruff home remedy aimed at the problems that cause the health issue you suffer from. From fighting fungus to keeping the scalp moisturized and clean, try a couple of easy home remedies that you can do yourself. If at any point, though, you have questions always take the time to call your doctor who can provide specific advice tailored to your body and health.

A canker sore is a small yet very troublesome whitish spot found inside the mouth. They resemble small, shallow wounds that cause sudden, intense pain when touched. Anyone who has ever had canker sores know how painful they can be when they come in contact with food and drink, particularly acidic ones such as lemon or orange juice. Canker sores are quite common but only about 2% of the population experience recurring bouts. Medication is often used as canker sore treatment but many individuals frequently turn to a tried and tested canker sore home remedy for relief. Here are a few you can try:

Rinse with a Homemade Mouthwash

To 2 oz. of water, add 2 oz. of hydrogen peroxide and use this as a rinse. Hydrogen peroxide has bacteria-killing properties and is very effective in disinfecting the mouth and preventing infection. Swish the liquid around the mouth for 60 seconds or so before spitting out. Repeat the process 3 to 4 times a day. If you do not have hydrogen peroxide, mix 1 tsp. baking soda and 1 tsp. salt with 4 oz. of water and use this instead.

Photo by sgrace

Apply Alum Powder

Alum resembles a white, crystalline rock. It has a wide range of uses from styptic pencils to fire extinguishers to toothpaste to hair removal. It is also frequently used as a deodorant but is equally effective as a canker sore home remedy. The alum can be grounded into fine powder and then applied directly to the sore. Note that this solution will cause intense pain for a minute or so but if you can tolerate it, it can be rewarding. Apply the powder twice a day, allow to remain on the sore for a minute and then rinse.

Mix Your Own Ointment

In a small, clean bowl, mix 1 tbsp. of Milk of Magnesia  with 1 tbsp. of Benadryl (Benylin will do). Dip a clean cotton bud in this mixture and apply onto the sore. Milk of Magnesia contains an ingredient that acts as a coating for open sores while Benadryl helps reduce inflammation. Apply only enough to coat the sore and do not swallow.

If you want to know how to get rid of canker sores in one day, you might want to go for stronger formulations. It does help if you catch the canker sore early and most kinds of canker sore remedies will work to keep the sores in check. But if a sore is already open, consider using copper sulfate. This is a remedy that has been used for many years but is known to help resolve the problem of canker sores quickly. In some people, this remedy can work in as fast as 24 to 48 hours. It also helps to continue using mouth rinses in between and keeping the mouth clean to prevent the growth of bacteria.

Avoid hot and spicy foods and those that contain acid. If you are using toothpaste that contains SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate), switch to an all-natural or organic brand since SLS is known to trigger canker sores in some individuals. You might also want to take foods or supplements that contain acidophilus to help your body fight the infection naturally and speed up the healing process.

Hickeys are embarrassing and unsightly, and can take weeks to heal, or even fade enough to cover.  When getting ready for work, school or a night out on the town with one many people try to hide them.  Not knowing how to get rid of hickeys fast often results in wearing out of season scarves and turtlenecks. (Which can be just as obvious as the purple discoloration.)  There are several methods to fix a hickey, but keep in mind, a hickey is basically a bruise. Bruising is caused by broken capillaries bleeding under the skin, so helping prevent the blood from clotting and settling, or speeding up the process of the blood being reabsorbed back into the vessels is the only way to treat one.

The Most Common Way To Get Rid of a Hickey

The most common trick to get rid of hickeys is ice or cold spoons. If the hickey is caught quickly enough, put a couple of spoons in the freezer. Put ice on your hickey while waiting for the spoons to freeze, and after about 10 minutes, remove one.  Use the rounded side of the spoon to lightly massage the damaged area and the surrounding skin until it is warm, then repeat with another spoon.  Be sure not to massage too hard, too much pressure will make the bruising worse instead of better. The ice will prevent the capillaries from bleeding further, and the massage will help move the blood around so that it does not clot and leave a bruise. A small red mark may remain, but that is much less noticeable.

Photo by Sarah Ross photography

An Alternate Way to Treat Hickeys

Much like other injuries, a combination of heat and ice may be more effective than cold alone.  Use one spoon, then take a tea bag–green tea is less likely to stain your skin than black tea–soaked in hot water, and use it as a hot compress.  Once it has cooled to body temperature, switch back to a cold spoon. Repeat the process until the hickey is gone.

What About Topical Treatments?

When looking in to how to get rid of a hickey, several topical treatments may come up. Toothpaste, arnica gel or cream, and vitamin K are all good for helping the healing.  Apply toothpaste and wash off with a warm wash cloth after the tingling stops, or simply apply arnica or vitamin k.  Mint promotes circulation, which helps break up the clotted blood under the skin. Arnica and vitamin K are also shown to speed the healing of bruising.  Be careful when applying any of the above, excessive use may cause further skin irritation, drawing more attention to your hickey, rather than less.

How to Get Rid of a Hickey in Minutes

Want to know how to get rid of a hickey in minutes? First, take an Excedrin migraine. The acetaminophen, caffeine, and aspirin work together to dilate capillaries and thin blood, reducing clotting and increasing blood flow. Then get started with your spoons, hot compresses, and any creams you choose to massage into the area. The combination of all of these tricks is your best bet for getting rid if the hickey lightning fast. Within minutes, you’ll be looking fresh and free of any evidence of an..uh..”exciting” night.