How to treat skin rashes?

Skin diseases can make an individual extremely uncomfortable. Sweat, perspiration and lack of hygiene can easily lead to the worst kind of skin diseases. One such loathsome skin problem is the appearance of skin rashes.
Skin rashes can be an embarrassing problem, and can sometimes even lower down the morale of an individual. Rashes are usually not dangerous, but these can wreak havoc in your lives. You may consider self-medication but it is never really a good idea unless and until you’re well-aware of its impact on your skin.

What causes skin rashes?
Rashes are caused by various reasons, and require different treatments for medication. Some common causes of rashes on your skin include:
Bacterial infection- Even if you practice proper hygiene and take proper care of yourself, you are likely to contract such bacterial infections. It is advisable to treat these with oral medication along with application of external creams and lotions. Get a regular check-up done by a dermatologist to minimize possibilities of getting bacterial infection.
Viral or allergic rashes- Certain rashes on your skin are an outcome of viral infections such as chicken pox, herpes, etc. At other times, these are caused by allergies from food, edible colors, soaps or perfumes. These rashes can be treated by proper medication prescribed by a physician.
Some remedies to treat these rashes have been discussed below:
1. Dealing with the itch- Follow some of the given ideas to relieve the itch:
a. Avoid drying or wetting your skin too much. It is better to leave the affected area cool and moist.
b. Stay out of sun, as heat caused by increased sun exposure can cause your rash to itch even more.
c. Avoid wearing nylon or synthetic fabrics that come in contact with your skin. Opt for cotton clothing instead, to avoid the itch.
d. Work on reducing your stress levels. You can consider performing various stress management exercises to keep a check on your growing stress levels.
e. You can consider applying calamine lotion to soothe your skin and reduce the itch.

2. Avoid scratching- It is always better to avoid scratching, as it only tends to aggravate inflammation on your skin. Scratching can even cause the rash to spread more. Resist the urge to scratch, and leave the rash exposed to air as much as possible.
3. Use water and soap sparingly- It is always better to limit the usage of soap, so that your rash can heal as soon as possible. If you need to use soap at all, consider using a mild antifungal soap to avoid the itch.
4. Moisturize- After drying up, the affected area tends to become more and more dry and flaky. It is better to hydrate your skin properly during this time, so that the problem does not recur.
5. Over the counter products- If you intend to use any over the counter product, consider using the one containing 2% miconazole. You can also consider dusting the rash with some anti-fungal powder before applying moisturizer.