A skin rash that appears suddenly and spreads quickly, without other symptoms may be harmless unless other symptoms arise or the rash persists, in which case you should seek a dermatologist. The team of dermatologists at the Atlanta Center for Dermatological Diseases in Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, and Cummings, GA, can examine your skin rash and prescribe a treatment for it.

Types of Skin Rash

• Contact dermatitis: Common causes of contact dermatitis include oils from plants such as poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac. As well as causing a rash by direct contact the oil (urushiol) can be transferred from pets or gardening equipment. The rash is an allergic reaction to the oil and is not contagious. It can take several weeks to resolve. You should visit a dermatologist if your eyelids swell or if you develop an infection from scratching. You can prevent contact dermatitis by avoiding contact with the plants, wear gloves, and long pants when gardening.
• Ringworm: This is a fungal infection that can appear anywhere on your body. The rash forms a red, scaly ring. Ringworm is treated with antifungal cream or powder. You should seek medical advice if the rash doesn’t clear up within two weeks.
• Shingles: Shingles causes a painful rash that can appear anywhere on your body. Usually, shingles only affect one side of your body. If you suspect you may have shingles, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. The only way to reduce your risk of shingles is to have a vaccination.
• Scabies: This is a contagious disorder caused by mites burrowing into the skin. It causes red spots and severe itching that worsens at night. If you suspect you have scabies you should seek medical advice as you will need a special lotion or cream to kill the mites.

If you are looking for a Sandy Springs dermatologist, you can call the doctors at the Atlanta Center for Dermatological Diseases at the Sandy Springs GA office at (404) 252-4333, the Alpharetta GA office at (770) 664-5225, the Cumming GA office at (770) 844-1902, or the Roswell GA office at (770) 751-1133.