A sudden rash on the stomach or other parts of the body is called an exanthema. In the case of an itchy, inflammatory skin rash, doctors also speak of eczema or dermatitis , which can be acute or chronic.

The rash on the stomach can look different: It can appear as red spots, wheals , blisters , purulent pustules or scales . It can be painful or itchy, but sometimes occurs without any other symptoms. A distinction is made between contagious and non-contagious skin diseases .

causes

A rash on the abdomen can have many different causes. In addition to viral infectious diseases such as chickenpox or measles , it can also be a bacterial infection.

Fungi or parasites can also cause a skin rash, such as mites in the severely itchy scabies. Other causes are allergies or side effects of drugs. Antibiotics , non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , cortisone or some high blood pressure, gout, cancer and diabetes medications in particular can trigger a rash .

Various skin diseases such as psoriasis , neurodermatitis or hives can also lead to a rash on the stomach. In rarer cases, the trigger can also be a systemic internal disease. Personal systems are responsible for how sensitive the skin reacts to certain stimuli.

diseases with this symptom

Diagnosis & History

A doctor’s visit is necessary for an accurate diagnosis. A doctor’s visit is advisable, especially if you have a severe skin rash, extreme itching , pain or swelling .

This is also the case if the rash spreads from the abdomen to other parts of the body or there are additional symptoms such as fever. First of all, the family doctor can be consulted, who will refer the patient to a specialist or dermatologist if necessary . The doctor can often make an initial assessment based on the location and appearance of the rash. He asks important details about accompanying symptoms and the spread of the rash.

Additional laboratory tests such as an allergy test , a blood test , a tissue sample, or a skin swab from the affected area can provide more information for the diagnosis. As the disease progresses, the rash may change depending on the cause. Pustules may develop or the rash may spread to other parts of the body. However, in some cases, the rash will go away on its own after a few days.

↳ Further information: Home remedies for skin rashes

complications

There can be a variety of reasons why a rash develops on the abdomen. The rash looks quite variable, sometimes the patient gets red spots, sometimes purulent pustules or blisters. Sometimes a rash on the abdomen is itchy and it can also be very painful. Perhaps these are harmless childhood diseases , measles also cause red spots.

Sometimes, however, fungi or parasites are responsible for the rash, and the severely itchy scabies is often diagnosed. However, causes can also be allergies or side effects of various drugs that cause skin rashes. Cancer, diabetes or gout medications often trigger these rashes. Diseases such as psoriasis or neurodermatitis can also be responsible for the abdominal rash. In the rarest of cases, however, there is an internal disease behind it, it always depends on how strongly the skin reacts.

A doctor’s visit is imperative, only he can determine the cause exactly. Even if other symptoms appear, a rash on the stomach cannot be treated on its own. But the family doctor can often tell by the appearance of the rash what the reason for the rash on the abdomen is and how it can not spread further. Only if the rash is really bad and if there are other side effects to complain about, he will write a referral to the dermatologist. The specialist doctor can determine the exact cause based on the blood test and a tissue sample. Most of the time, however, a rash on the abdomen is rather harmless and often goes away on its own.

When should you go to the doctor?

A rash on the stomach can be caused by various diseases. Only a doctor (e.g. dermatologist , general practitioner ) can determine whether the cause is an infectious disease, an allergy or neurodermatitis. Toxic contact dermatitis is often caused by toxic substances that come into contact with the skin. Unprotected skin areas such as the face, hands and arms are usually affected, but less so the abdomen.

A rash on the abdomen can appear in a variety of forms, ranging from small, red pustules to widespread sores. He can be noticed by wheals or scaling. An allergic contact eczema is often the cause, for example due to chemical substances in clothing. Atopic eczema, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease caused by genetic predisposition. On the abdomen, it is often shown by an itchy rash with pustules.

Infectious childhood diseases such as chickenpox, rubella, scarlet fever and measles are noticeable as a rash all over the body. Especially when adults are affected, a visit to the doctor is necessary. There are many conceivable triggers for allergies. The medical examination must clarify whether hives, medication or food intolerance are present. Chemical burns and poisoning can also lead to rashes on the stomach. Severe chemical burns are a case for the emergency doctor . Skin rashes in connection with sudden malaise and vomiting should lead the affected person to the hospital as quickly as possible.

Treatment & Therapy

The treatment of the rash on the stomach depends on the previously diagnosed cause. Ointments or tinctures that are applied locally to the affected areas are often used.

Certain active ingredients such as urea or tar can help. Ointments with antihistamines or cortisone are also used. There are also special bath products that contain different substances to treat skin rashes. In the case of bacterial infections, the use of antibiotics can be useful. In the case of viral infections, the doctor usually only administers anti-inflammatory drugs. Sometimes the use of antiviral drugs , which prevent further multiplication of the virus, may be necessary.

An antifungal agent helps against fungi. In the case of psoriasis, medication that suppresses the immune system can help in certain cases. Light therapy with UV radiation sometimes helps with psoriasis and neurodermatitis . If the trigger of the rash is an allergy, the triggers of the allergy must be avoided. Changing the detergent can help if you are allergic to certain ingredients, or avoiding buttons on trousers that contain nickel.

If the rash was caused by medication, talk to your doctor about stopping it. Cooling the affected areas is often helpful in case of itching. For pain, the administration of painkillers helps . If the rash is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, the doctor treats them with fever-reducing medication, for example.

Outlook & Forecast

A rash on the abdomen can be treated relatively well in most cases. If the rash on the abdomen occurs due to an allergic reaction or an intolerance, it usually disappears after a few hours or a few days. It lasts until the body has completely broken down the ingredient. In this case there are no further complications.

A rash on the abdomen can also be noticed by pustules. This is inflammation . It is treated by the doctor with the help of antibiotics and also leaves no further problems. If the rash on the abdomen is itchy, the patient must not scratch it under any circumstances. Wounds and scars can occur here.

If the rash on the abdomen occurs due to pubertal acne , treatment is only possible to a limited extent. Creams and medications can be used to control the rash on the abdomen. However, their effectiveness is different for everyone, so success cannot be guaranteed here. In most cases, the rash on the abdomen heals after a short time and leaves no scars.

prevention

Good hygiene to protect against bacterial infection is important to prevent abdominal rash. In addition, contact with acutely ill people should be avoided.

Vaccinations can protect against childhood diseases such as measles and chickenpox. In the case of known allergies, the allergy-triggering substances, such as certain care products or detergents, must be replaced with other products. There are also a few general points that help to maintain healthy skin and can thus protect against a skin rash: Body care products should have a neutral pH value so as not to destroy the skin’s natural protective acid mantle.

Rich creams should be used for dry skin . Allergy triggers such as perfumes and preservatives should be avoided. Loose, breathable clothing lets air into the body and allows the skin to breathe.

You can do that yourself

What a patient can do to treat a rash on the abdomen themselves depends on the causes of the disease. If it is an allergic reaction, an antiallergic drug for local treatment of itching can quickly provide relief. Such preparations, which usually contain the active ingredient Dimetinden, are available in pharmacies without a prescription. In the case of allergies, it is also helpful to change your personal hygiene .

Many conventional cosmetics contain fragrances, essential oils or animal fats, which are often the first trigger for an allergy or irritate the inflamed skin. Aggressive soaps , shower gels or other cleaning agents can also irritate the skin. Those affected should only use pH-neutral washing lotions and body care products that are labeled as hypoallergenic. Swimming pools and the pools in wellness facilities should be avoided because of the high concentration of chlorine in the water.

If a microbial or viral infection is present, it must be treated by a doctor. The patient himself can do one thing above all: do not scratch! If the itching is so severe that attacks of scratching cannot be avoided, care must be taken to ensure that hands and fingernails are scrupulously clean . Artificial nails must be removed and the natural nails kept as short as possible. In addition, attention should be paid to light, breathable underwear and outerwear.