Leg RashesLeg rashes can indicate a serious problem and should be identified before treatment is prescribed, even though most are perfectly benign. When itching and burning breaks out on your legs, this may be one of the hardest parts of the body to avoid scratching. One of the worst things about leg rashes, making them difficult to treat, is that they’re so very easy to scratch. However, it is imperative you don’t, no matter what the cause. The cause of such rashes can be very minor, as in the case of a botanically induced dermatitis (as in the case of poison ivy) to very serious complications, such as in the case of diabetes. Simple rashes
Rashes on your legs that spring up suddenly are very often either a consequence of an allergic reaction to physical contact with your legs. This often happens when people go out hiking with shorts on. However, it may be something as improbable as suddenly developing an allergy to the elastic used in some of your socks. Finding the cause can be difficult.
Staphylococcus aureus (also known as staph) bacteria can invade any open wound in the leg and cause an infection, for example folliculitis. Psoriasis, eczema and other somewhat common types of varicose dermatitis can appear on the legs. They are typically treated as on any other part of the body. Serious rashes Ringworm is a fungal infection. Ringworm enters the body through even small wounds, though the spores are far larger than bacteria. You will notice several small circles that appear and They will continue to grow without intervention – your doctor can prescribe medication, though a large infection may take awhile to disappear completely. Because of the increased presence of sugar in the blood of most diabetics, rashes on the extremities and leg sores are a common concern. If you are not diabetic and a leg rash you have persists or erupts into sores, you should probably seek medical attention to have the condition further diagnosed. Much more rare is pretibial myxedema – a type of hypothyroidism that is often a complication of Grave’s disease. In this case, a thickening and otherwise alarming change in the skin of the shins. The condition tends to affect older people and is thought to be a form of autoimmune dysfunction. Obviously, you’ll need to consult a physician about this, too. However, most leg rashes are relatively benign and can be treated at home with some over the counter medication or a home remedy such as an oatmeal compress. Either should be able to relieve the itching associated with most such rashes. |