Any irritation on the skin indicates that the natural balance in the body is disturbed, and disturbances in the functioning of internal organs are possible. A small reddish rash on the abdomen may appear due to contact with chemicals (contained in household chemicals), the presence of fungal or infectious diseases. If a rash appears on the stomach of an adult, it is better to consult a qualified dermatologist for advice.
What does a rash on the stomach look like?
The appearance of the rash depends on the specific cause of its appearance. The rash spots can be large or small, merge with each other or be scattered. Elements of the rash differ in color and structure from the surrounding healthy tissue. The rash can be either deep red or barely noticeable pale pink.
A rash on the abdomen may appear as:
- transparent bubbles;
- swelling blisters with fluid;
- crusts;
- keratinized scales;
- spots with a raised rim;
- spots that rise above the surface of healthy skin;
- flat spots.
The intensity of itching, which is a constant companion to the rash, varies from almost complete absence to unbearable, and depends on the underlying disease. Moreover, areas of rashes tend to have a higher temperature than intact skin.
Methods for diagnosing the patient's condition
It is impossible to identify the exact cause of the violation without conducting a full examination. The patient needs to see a dermatologist and then undergo tests:
- general blood and urine examination;
- blood chemistry;
- scraping the skin in the affected area;
- allergy tests.
If, based on the test results, the doctor suspects diseases of the internal organs, he will prescribe an ultrasound, x-ray and other tests. In most cases, additional consultation with an allergist, infectious disease specialist, gastroenterologist and endocrinologist is required.
Possible causes of abdominal rash in adults
In an adult, the appearance of spots on the body most often indicates some kind of trouble in the body. Why does rash occur in adults, and is it necessary to do something about it?
Skin diseases
Below are examples of dermatological diseases that manifest as a rash on the abdomen.
It could be one of the types of lichen:
- red flat;
- pityriasis;
- pink;
- multi-colored.
It is possible that one of the causative agents of the rash may be herpes zoster.
The following skin problems may also cause the rash::
- Scabies is a severe contagious disease caused by the itch mite embedded in the skin. Severe itchy rashes appear not only on the stomach, but also around the navel, chest, ribs and back, causing peeling skin and severe itching, especially unbearable at night and in hot weather.
- Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that is difficult to treat. Psoriatic rashes with itching on the skin look like small pink papules covered with white scales. When the scales are scraped off, a bleeding surface is exposed.
- Contact dermatitis. Spots and blisters on the abdomen, around the waist or in the navel appear in men due to friction from a belt buckle or belt. In obese people who sweat profusely, weeping red spots without itching appear at the contact points of the moist folds of the skin. Favorite places for this type of rash: under the mammary glands or lower abdomen of women, on the sides if they are saggy, and in the armpits. The course of contact dermatitis is often complicated by the addition of a fungal or bacterial infection.
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Allergic dermatitis - how to treat it and what does it look like?
Viral diseases
- Herpetic infection . With herpes, the rash looks like a belt wide from the navel to the lower ribs.
- Chickenpox . If pimples with a vesicle on the top and a bright red color appear and itch all over your body, and the temperature rises to 39-40 degrees, then, without a doubt, this is chicken pox. Elements of different stages of development are present on the body at the same time, so the chickenpox rash looks motley. The dormant chickenpox virus, which lives in the body of people who have recovered from the disease, can later cause shingles - extremely painful blisters that cover the torso in the form of a belt.
- Measles . With measles, the rash first appears on the face, then on the chest, abdomen, back, left and right side, arms and legs. The elements look like red spots of different sizes.
- Rubella . The rash with rubella is almost the same as with measles, but differs from it in a lighter shade.
- Scarlet fever . The rash covers the abdomen around the navel and sides, itches and peels.
Allergy
The most common cause of a rash is allergies . The cause of such rashes is the high sensitivity of a particular human body to any substances (allergens).
Often a rash appears on the stomach due to an allergic reaction to a food product.
It has been established that food allergens are:
- whole cow's milk;
- honey;
- oranges and tangerines;
- chocolate and other sweets;
- chicken eggs and meat;
- nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, peanuts);
- sesame and sunflower seeds;
- seafood;
- baked goods made from wheat flour.
As well as red vegetables and fruits:
- tomatoes;
- carrot;
- red salad pepper;
- cranberry;
- red grapes.
An allergic reaction in the form of a rash can occur on any part of a person's skin in response to contact with an allergen . First, an area of redness appears, which quickly swells. Bubbles containing clear liquid then form in this area.
In place of the burst bubbles, weeping areas appear; the person suffers from severe itching and irritation. The main problem is that scratched wounds can serve as open gates for infection.
Examples of allergic dermatoses:
- Urticaria - observed as an allergy to certain foods, cold and medications. Blisters appear on the skin, the same as with a nettle burn. A red rash can appear on the stomach, buttocks, arms and legs. Itchy, swollen spots quickly increase in size, merge with each other and form a pattern on the body that resembles a geographical map. Hives appear almost instantly after contact with the allergen, and disappear just as quickly, leaving no traces behind.
- Allergic dermatitis. A rash on the abdomen usually occurs from contact with allergenic fabric (clothing, bedding), body care products (creams, gels) and certain plants, or from the bites of certain insects (bees, hornets). It goes away after eliminating the allergenic factor.
- Toxidermy . It is expressed in acute inflammation of the skin, the appearance of rashes. As a rule, a small inflammatory rash appears after taking certain medications.
- Eczema is a chronic, intractable disease. At the beginning of the disease, the patient sees that a red spot has appeared on the skin. Soon it turns into a blister. Gradually, others appear near the first spot. Itchy blisters break open and form weeping ulcers that do not heal for a long time. The rash does not stop even after stopping contact with the allergen.
Related article:
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Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
Sometimes a rash on the stomach appears due to disorders of the digestive system, as well as due to infection with worms.
The stomach digests food, the intestines absorb nutrients into the blood. The enzymes needed to break down food are produced by the pancreas. The liver neutralizes harmful substances.
Therefore, any disruption of the functioning of at least one of these important organs can lead to other disorders in the body - for example, psoriasis or dermatitis.
So, if a person has a rash on his body, his back or stomach itches, the reasons may lie in such diseases of the digestive system:
- irritable bowel;
- gastroenterocolitis;
- pancreatitis;
- helminthiasis;
- avitaminosis;
- cirrhosis of the liver.
Sexual infections
The causative agents of this type of disease are viruses and fungi. What sexual infections cause a rash on the stomach?
- AIDS in the early stages . The virus, which destroys the immune system, enters the blood of a healthy person through microtraumas on the mucous membranes.
- Syphilis . The appearance of a bright rash on the stomach that does not itch and disappears without a trace after 2 months means the presence of this disease.
- Candidiasis (thrush) develops when yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida become active. Redness, blisters, and then weeping erosions choose their location in the lower abdomen, inguinal folds, and genitals.
- The introduction of the human papillomavirus causes the growth of genital warts, papillomas and warts. Most often, these formations grow in the anogenital area, but they can also appear in the navel and lower abdomen.
Treatment
Before starting treatment measures, it is necessary to find out the cause of the development of allergies in order to immediately exclude contact with possible allergens.
Most often, an allergic rash in the abdominal area is provoked by a reaction from wearing a belt, washing powders and conditioners, and synthetic clothing. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to take water procedures, cleansing the outer layer of the skin, avoiding irritated areas. A small child can be wiped with a damp cloth
Next, you need to take one of the antihistamines (Suprastin, Claritin, Zodak) orally. This will help prevent swelling and neutralize itchy skin.
In addition to internal remedies, there are antihistamines for external use in the form of cream, gels and ointments. They are based on natural ingredients and are most suitable for treating a child.
During itching, young children injure the skin, provoking the development of an infectious process, so therapeutic measures are carried out only under strict medical supervision, taking into account the age of the child, the severity of symptoms and the required time of active counteraction.
Of great importance when treating an adult patient and a child is adherence to a diet, excluding allergenic foods. It is most important to fulfill this condition during a woman’s pregnancy. With mild symptoms, treatment is limited to stopping contact with allergens, and during severe development, systemic therapy is required.
In addition to drug treatment, traditional medicine is actively used in the form of medicinal herbs used in compresses and lotions. Good effectiveness is observed when treating with chamomile, string, and celandine. You can bathe a small child in these solutions if they have rashes on their stomach.
Rash on the stomach in children
A small rash on the abdomen of a baby who is fed only breast milk is caused by the mother eating allergenic foods (oranges, chocolate, caviar, etc.). There are frequent cases of food allergies with the start of complementary feeding: a baby may develop hives with characteristic swelling spots on the stomach, back and buttocks.
A small rash in the form of pink dots in a child under two years of age is miliaria , its appearance means that the baby is wrapped too warmly and he is sweating.
In older children, the causes of a rash on the stomach are not fundamentally different from those in adults: these are infectious or skin diseases listed above.
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Causes not related to diseases
One of the causes of a rash in the navel is insufficient hygiene
The most common cause of a rash is poor personal hygiene. If the navel itches from the inside, this indicates insufficient care. It needs to be cleaned regularly; if this is not done, a rash may appear around the hole. It will be small, without pus and unbearable itching.
Dirt accumulates in larger volumes inside the navel than on the surface of the skin. After thoroughly cleaning the cavity and treating the rash with chlorhexidine, a person will get rid of unpleasant sensations in 2-3 days.
Sometimes girls with piercings develop a rash around the indicated area. This is also associated with an increased accumulation of bacteria in the puncture area and below, in the opening of the umbilical cord.
Nervous disorders as a cause
For some people, itchy sensations develop during periods of severe stress and emotional tension. Women are especially susceptible to the condition. Stress can change the hormonal balance, which often causes itching.
Prickly heat
The most common cause of rash in newborn babies. Miliaria occurs when thermoregulation is unbalanced. This condition is often found in children, but is not dangerous and does not cause discomfort and goes away quickly. The main symptom is small transparent pimples located next to the folds.
Contact dermatitis
This disorder is associated with wearing synthetic clothing, as well as excessive pressure (belt, belt). Pathology manifests itself as small spots and bubbles.
People who are overweight develop folds on their abdomen. Contact dermatitis can develop as large red patches around the belly button. The danger of contact dermatitis is the risk of infection and the addition of a fungal infection.
Itching and rash during pregnancy
During the period of bearing a child, a woman faces enormous changes in her body. In the 2nd trimester, the belly begins to greatly increase in size and the skin stretches. Local immunity temporarily deteriorates, which can lead to the formation of a rash. Sometimes women have an itchy navel without the appearance of red spots and pimples. This is a natural condition that does not require correction.
If a rash, unbearable itching, signs of inflammation, or suppuration appear, you should consult a doctor. This may be due to infection.
Abdominal injuries
Skin injury occurs when applying a tattoo or piercing. The skin is exposed to aggressive action and, if treated poorly, is susceptible to infection. Other injuries are also possible, for example, severe damage to the skin with sharp objects.
How to treat
First of all, it is necessary to establish and eliminate the cause of the malaise.
For example, if a rash is a manifestation of an allergy, then the allergen (inappropriate food product, cosmetic product, medicine, etc.) needs to be identified and eliminated. To relieve itching, antihistamines and sedatives are prescribed. Infectious diseases that cause the rash are treated as prescribed by a doctor with antibiotics, immunomodulatory, antipyretic and antiviral drugs. A rash that appears due to any skin disease will disappear after the underlying disease is cured.
Sexual infections are treated under the supervision of a specialist in accordance with his recommendations.
Causes
Skin rashes in the form of blisters with liquid appear in adults as a reaction to the influence of negative factors from within the body or from the external environment. The cause may be rubbing with clothing, kitchen utensils, or garden tools; thermal and chemical burns. But the most serious group is disorders of the functioning of organs and systems of an immune, metabolic, and nervous nature. Internal imbalance becomes the background for diseases of various etiologies.
Contact dermatitis
Skin irritation occurs due to contact with certain substances, for example:
- household chemicals, especially alkaline;
- hygiene and cosmetic products;
- medications;
- metals;
- synthetics;
- plants;
- animals, insects.
Even uncomfortable air or water temperatures can cause blisters on sensitive skin. Redness, swelling, itching, burning of the epidermis are the first signs of an impending rash. Small transparent bubbles grow into large bullae. They quickly burst and dry out. If contact with the irritant is interrupted quickly, everything will be limited to slight redness, which will soon resolve. In severe cases, weeping, poorly healing areas of erosion are formed.
Allergic dermatitis
A malfunction of the immune system leads to the fact that the body perceives foods, drinks, and medications that are generally harmless as dangerous to health. As a result, a reaction of rejection occurs - inflammation of the skin, profuse dry and watery rashes like urticaria on the face, hands, folds, and legs.
Toxicoderma
The cause of toxic-allergic inflammation of the skin is considered to be medicinal, food, and chemical irritants that a person has eaten, inhaled, or received through an injection.
Individual intolerance in the form of a reactive rash and eczema can manifest itself to any group of medications, 120 types of food allergens, and metals in production (nickel, cobalt, chromium). Symptoms of toxicoderma disappear in the absence of the action of the irritant and quickly return when the slightest dose enters the body. Scatterings of small blisters often turn out to be a manifestation of herpes infections - chickenpox, shingles. Herpes virions are usually transmitted by airborne droplets.
Chickenpox, which is easily experienced by children, causes a lot of suffering in adulthood . The pink spots that appear at the first stage are covered with itchy and painful vesicles. The blisters burst, revealing wet ulcers. Before the wounds have time to become covered with crusts, more and more lesions appear. Chickenpox brings high fever, chills, loss of appetite and sleep. Scratching can introduce purulent bacteria into the wounds.
Herpes zoster is especially difficult. Thick blistering rashes in bands are located along the line of nerve fibers affected by herpes virions. Severe neuralgic pain haunts the patient not only in the acute phase of pathogenesis, but also many months later.
Fungal infection
Various fungi constantly parasitize human skin. Their pathogenic activity is restrained by the immune system. Depletion of protective resources and skin injuries create favorable conditions for the activation of mycotic diseases. The trichophyton fungus causes small blisters between the toes of very sweaty feet, which quickly grow into bullae.
Flaky epidermorphyton provokes large blisters on the palms, groin, and armpits. Less commonly, the middle or ring fingers are affected. The bubbles quickly flatten in the center, leaving a convex, peeling border around the perimeter. Dermatophyte molds can spread to areas containing keratin: the hairy area, the stratum corneum of the epidermis, and nails. A clear example of rashes can be seen in the photo below.
Mycoses respond more quickly to treatment, since the lesions are superficial, and medications act directly on the fungus.
Diseases of the nervous and endocrine system
Depression and stress, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes mellitus disrupt the passage of electrical impulses, metabolism and hormonal control of all processes in the body. All this negatively affects the condition of the protective skin barrier. The epidermis changes its physical and chemical structure, resulting in various types of water blisters.
Folk wisdom against a rash on the stomach
Some medicinal plants have wound healing and skin soothing properties. Based on calendula, celandine, chamomile, string, and sage, you can independently prepare lotions and ointments to reduce itching. Regular baking soda and salt, preferably sea salt, help in the fight against itching and inflammation. Here are some proven traditional methods for treating rashes:
- Ointment made from calendula flowers and sea buckthorn oil. You can use internal fat or baby cream as a basis for this product. Used against eczema and urticaria.
- Add the infusion of the string to the bath. You should take baths in succession every other day for a month.
- Mix fresh celandine juice with vegetable oil and lubricate the rashes.
- 2-3 tablespoons of sea salt added to the bath will soothe inflamed skin and disinfect it.
- Baking soda lotions will reduce itching and irritation.
To avoid skin addiction, any folk remedy used must be changed every 2 weeks.