There are numerous reasons an individual may have developed a rash or suffered a burn, and as such, it can often be difficult to diagnose the exact cause of a rash or determine the level of severity of a burn.
However, it is important to be able to accurately determine both the severity of the rash or burn, as well as the exact cause in order to determine the best method of treatment. Subsequently, medical assistance is often required to effectively and efficiently treat rashes and burns. Here at our urgent care facility, we have a quality staff and all the necessary resources to help diagnose the severity of your rash or burn and help you on your path toward a full recovery.
While prevention is the best way to deal with a rash or burn, it is not always possible to avoid, which is why understanding the severity of the rash or burn and seeking urgent care when it is needed is crucial.
If you or your child are suffering from a rash or a burn, be sure to come in for a visit and allow us to determine the exact cause, as well as the level of severity, give you a treatment plan to eliminate the rash or burn and help prevent another rash or burn from developing in the future.
Facts From The World Health Organization
- Infections that cause rashes may be fungal, bacterial, parasitic or viral.
- Rashes that last more than a few days should be evaluated by a medical professional.
- Over-the-counter products may help with certain skin rashes.
- Common rashes include eczema, poison ivy and athlete’s foot.
- An estimated 180,000 deaths occur each year as a result of a severe burn.
- Burns occur mainly either at home or in the workplace.
- Burns are preventable by instilling the right precautionary measures into homes and workplaces.
- Burns are the fifth most common cause of non-fatal childhood injuries.
Questions to Ask
- What is causing my skin rash? Is it caused by an allergy?
- Can I use over-the-counter products to treat my rash, or do I need to only use prescription solutions?
- What treatment options are available for my rash?
- Should I see a skin specialist about my rashes?
- What things should I avoid to ensure the rash does not come back after treatment?
- Is there any way to make my rash feel better during treatment?
- What degree of burn did I suffer? How serious is the burn?
- How did you determine the degree of burn? What diagnostic procedures did you use?
- How long will it take for my rash or burn to go away/heal?
- If my burn does not start to feel better, how long should I wait before returning for medical assistance?
- What can I do around the house to make sure I do not get burned in the future?
- Is there a way to relieve the pain for my burn? Is it okay to take pain relief medication?
Causes of Rashes and Burns
One of the most difficult parts about treating a rash or a burn is determining which of the many different types of rashes or burns it actually is. With rashes, there are various different types, including a general rash, heat rash, blisters and hives. It is important to be able to determine the type of rash, as the treatment differs accordingly.
There are also multiple different types, or degrees, of burns as well, which are first degree burns, second degree burns and third degree burns. A first degree burn is the least severe and only damages the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of skin. The second degree burn reaches the dermis, which is the second layer, and is more painful. A third degree burn is the deepest and often reaches the deeper tissues, which can cause nerve damage and other long-term issues.
There are numerous different causes of rashes, and the only way to truly pinpoint the exact cause is to examine your lifestyle and look for areas that may lead to a rash, which can include exposure to poison ivy or sumac, chemical exposure or a bacterial infection. In some instances, individuals, especially toddlers, can develop what is known as a heat rash if exposed for too long to hot weather.
It is accurately assumed by most that the main cause of a burn is fire or skin exposure to a hot object. While this is true and burns most often occur due to fire or heated objects touching the skin, burns can also occur due to chemical exposure, electricity or even exposure to the sun. In order to successfully prevent burns, it is important to take precautionary measures for all burn types.
Symptoms and Treatment Options for Rashes
The symptoms of a rash differ depending on the type of rash that has been developed. The most common symptoms that apply to most rash types include:
- Redness of the skin
- Constant itching
- Burning sensation
- Red bumps
- Raised area of the skin
While it is quite obvious when a rash develops, understanding what the symptoms mean can help find the root cause of the rash, which ultimately allows you the ability to treat the underlying cause and prevent further rashes from developing.
For a more general rash, there is likely to only be redness of the skin and constant itching or possibly a burning sensation. For heat rashes and hives, there is likely to be more red bumps and a raised area of the skin. If red bumps start to show themselves, be sure not to pick at them and try and keep the skin clean and dry until treatment can be administered.
In most cases, mild to moderate rashes can be treated at home as long as the cause can be identified. The best way to treat a rash is to find out the underlying cause — which in many cases, is due to an allergy, heat exposure or poison ivy exposure — and treat it. If you catch a rash due to poison ivy in the early stages, you can thoroughly wash the affected area in an effort to prevent the rash from getting worse. However, after a rash develops, it is best to leave it alone until proper medical treatment can be administered.
At our urgent care facility, we have the staff and resources to quickly and accurately diagnose all different types of rashes and help you on your way to a full recovery. While prevention is the best method of dealing with rashes, they sometimes occur regardless, and it is important to know what to do if a rash develops.
Symptoms and Treatment Options for Burns
Much like rashes, the symptoms of a burn depend largely on the type of burn that occurs. However, the most common symptoms are:
- Pain
- Red skin
- Peeling skin
- Itching
- Swelling
While most burns are painful, it is important to remember that the pain level is in no way indicative to how serious the burn is. In fact, there is often no pain felt at all due to the nerve damage or adrenaline rush involved in the most serious or largest burns. Since the level of severity is such a wide range, there are different treatment procedures depending on how serious the burn is. For less serious burns, such as first degree burns and the majority of second degree burns, holding the affected area under cold water for 10 minutes, applying aloe vera lotion to the affected area and then covering the wound with a bandage is the best form of treatment. Make sure to keep the bandage dry and change it frequently, inspecting the burn for any changes.
For more severe burns, such as third degree burns and some of the more severe second degree burns, it is best to seek medical assistance at either an urgent care facility or an emergency room (see below). After a serious burn occurs, however, there are certain safety measures that should be taken to keep the affected area from becoming infected or inflicting more pain than necessary, such as elevating the burn area and removing any material that may be on or around the affected area.
Here at our urgent care facility, we can treat most burns, regardless of the level of severity, and help you on your road to recovery after the initial symptoms are treated for and the pain is brought down to a tolerable level.
When to Seek Urgent Care for a Rash or Burn
For most minor rashes or burns, the symptoms can be kept at a tolerable level and a full recovery can be had by utilizing simple home remedies and doctor-recommended over-the-counter products. However, it is important to seek urgent care for a rash or burn if any of the following are true:
- There are signs that developing an infection is a possibility.
- The burn is deep or causes a severe level of pain.
- The cause of the rash is unknown or exists on a young child.
First and foremost, the number-one reason it is crucial to treat a rash or burn promptly is to prevent an infection from developing as a result of the rash or burn. Our skin is the first line of defense from harmful bacteria and viruses. Therefore, when the skin is harmed or in danger, we are at a greater risk of developing an infection. If a burn opens up the skin in such a way where it requires medical assistance to properly bandage or a rash results from a bacterial infection, be sure to visit our urgent care facility so we can properly prevent future infections from developing.
Additionally, any burn that reaches the deeper layers of the skin or leads to an intolerable level of pain should be treated by a medical professional. As long as the burn is not life threatening, we can treat it here at our urgent care facility. However, a burn that is life threatening can be more properly treated at an emergency room inside a hospital.
Lastly, be sure to come in for a visit any time the cause of a rash cannot be explained. If a rash starts to develop on a toddler or young child, it is also highly encouraged to let us treat it here at our urgent care facility to ensure that it does not spread.
Consult With Us
In order to ensure you or your child’s rash and burn receives the proper care for you to make a full, speedy recovery, be sure to come into our urgent care facility for an accurate diagnosis and quality treatment.
While minor rashes or burns can be treated at home with little to no medical assistance, rashes or burns that show concerning symptoms or last for an extended amount of time need to be examined and treated by a medical professional to avoid the skin irritation from worsening.
At our urgent care facility, we are well equipped with a top-notch staff and all the resources necessary to help you understand the root cause of the rash or degree of burn, which ultimately allows us to help you treat the rash or burn. With the proper treatment, you can ensure your rash or burn does not hinder your ability to live your life.
If you have developed a rash or suffered a burn and do not know what to do next, come and visit us (no appointment needed) or give us a call and let us help you on your path to recovery.
FAQs
Q. Why is it so crucial to seek treatment for rashes and burns? What role does the skin play in preventing an infection?
A. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and it serves to protect our bodies from infection and injury. Our skin also works to regulate our body temperature and contains nerves that sense heat, pain, pressure and touch. When our skin becomes damaged by either a skin condition or a burn, it can leave us increasingly vulnerable to infection, as the line of defense is damaged, especially with deeper second degree burns and third degree burns. Due to this, it is important to seek medical assistance for moderate to severe burns and rashes.
Q. What are the different degrees of burns? What do they mean?
A. There are three different burn types: a first degree burn, second degree burn and a third degree burn. A first degree burn refers to a burn that only damages the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of our skin. A second degree burn typically causes damage to the dermis, which is the layer directly underneath the epidermis. A third degree burn refers to a more serious burn type that burns through both the epidermis and the dermis, and then may even cause damage to our nerves and tissue.
Q. How can I treat my child’s sunburn?
A. Although many think of burn by exposure to a hot object or substance, sunburn is also a form of burn that should be treated with urgency if it causes more severe symptoms, such as a fever. The best way to treat sunburn is to try and keep the body cool. The way to keep the body cool is to apply a cold compress (a cold, damp washcloth usually works) and a cooling substance (aloe vera, for example) to the affected area. Additionally, anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen can help reduce the swelling caused by sunburn.
Q. Are there certain activities or professions that are at a higher risk of developing a rash than others?
A. There are certain professions and activity that pose a greater risk to developing contact dermatitis. Any profession that requires you to be in close proximity to harmful chemicals, plants or substances you are allergic to pose a greater risk of developing a rash. Additionally, medical professionals such as doctors, nurses and caregivers should be extra cautious around patients who have a rash, as they are contagious. On the same note, anyone who works directly with people may be at an increased risk of developing a rash and should consider taking extra caution.
Q. My rash really itches. Is it okay to scratch it?
A. The short answer is no. It is never a good idea to scratch an itch caused by a rash, as it can spread the rash and cause more pain for a longer period of time. Instead, it is best to try and take measures to minimize the itch, such as applying topical anti-itch solutions and keeping the affected area from drying out. Additionally, be sure to avoid hot water by taking colder showers than normal.
Q. My child developed a rash that will not go away. What could have caused the rash in my child?
A. Children often get rashes more than adults. A large part of this can be attributed to the fact that they are generally far more adventurous and curious about unknown substances. Subsequently, do your best to keep your child away from areas that may contain poison. Most importantly, try educating them about poison ivy, so they can make the right choice when confronted with the hazardous substance while out playing. Lastly, be sure you know how to tell the difference between a general rash and a rash that is caused by more serious conditions, such as chickenpox. When in doubt, be sure to come in for a visit and allow us to help your child recover.
Definitions
Degrees of burns There are three different types of burns: first degree, second degree and third degree. A first degree burn only burns the top layer of skin, whereas a third degree burn can go much deeper and even reach nerves and tissue.
Contact dermatitis This term is used to describe a rash that develops as a result of contact with a particular substance. The substance can either be the main cause of the rash or trigger an allergic reaction.
Eczema An itchy skin condition that often causes inflammation. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, most commonly affects toddlers, and it typically appears as a rash on the arm(s).
Poison ivy One of the main causes of contact dermatitis. Poison ivy, which is found in nature, is a plant that generally causes a severe itch and can even be painful in more severe cases.
Skin condition A term used to describe various types of rashes, burns and other issues affecting the skin. A skin condition can be diagnosed here at our urgent care facility.
Dermis/epidermis The top and second layer of skin, which is generally damaged by most rashes and burns. Our dermis and epidermis serve as the body’s first line of defense from infection.
Vesicle A sac found on skin that is either filled with fluid or air. A vesicle occurs on top of a rash. Most commonly, vesicles exist as a result of a heat rash.
Partial-thickness burn A partial thickness burn is also known as a second degree burn, and it is more serious than a superficial burn, as it causes damage to layers of skin deeper than the first.
Superficial burn A superficial burn is a common term used to describe a first degree burn. A superficial burn is usually not serious and only damages the top layer of skin.
Full-thickness burn A full thickness burn, or third degree burn, is one of the most serious burn types and can cause nerve damage if the burn reaches deep enough into the skin.