Skin redness or discoloration (a change in skin tone) is a common symptom with many potential causes. Sunburn, exposure to an irritant, and medication use are just a few. Most cases of skin redness or discoloration are easy to diagnose and treat.
Sometimes called erythema or flushing, red skin can sometimes be a sign of a health condition like lupus or scarlet fever. It can also be a symptom an infection or a chronic disorder that could benefit from treatment, such as psoriasis.
Sunburn
Even if it’s overcast, you can still get a sunburn. Along with red or discolored skin, you may have:
- A surface-level burn on your skin
- Pain, tenderness, and swelling
- Dry, peeling skin
- Deeper burns and blisters with longer sun exposure
You can help treat mild sunburns with home remedies such as applying aloe vera gel and taking frequent cool baths. If you have severe blisters on a large area of your skin, see your healthcare provider. You should also seek medical care if you feel dizzy or disoriented after a sunburn.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis
Irritant contact dermatitis is a type of skin reaction that occurs after you’ve come in contact with a substance that bothers your skin. This is different from an allergic reaction and is often triggered by irritants such as acids, alkaline materials, solvents, and other chemicals.
Common offenders include:
- Soaps
- Shampoos
- Detergents
- Fabric softeners
- Cement
- Long-term exposure to wet diapers
- Hair dyes
- Pesticides
- Weed killers
Symptoms may include:
- A red or discolored rash
- Discolored or red, itchy bumps
- Skin blistering
- Itching or burning
To help ease symptoms, avoid the substance that caused irritation, and use moisturizers to protect the skin and allow it to heal. Seek medical care for any rash that won't go away or that keeps coming back after at-home treatment.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
You can also have a skin response after you come in contact with something you are allergic to.
If you regularly handle chemicals or metals, you may develop an allergy over time. This condition is called allergic contact dermatitis.
Jewelry workers, for example, may become allergic to nickel. Chemicals in the dyes that hairstylists use can also cause allergic reactions. Skin discoloration or redness can be part of your body's immune response.
See a dermatologist if you have skin redness and these symptoms:
- A rash that appears suddenly
- A rash that spreads over your whole body
- A fever
- Blisters, especially around your eyes, mouth, or genitals
- Signs of infection, including oozing, swelling, crusting, pain, warmth, or red or discolored streaks
Medications
Herbal supplements, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and prescription drugs can all cause allergic reactions and other unwanted side effects, including red skin.
Drugs that can trigger red rashes or hives include:
- Antibiotics like penicillin
- Pain relievers including aspirin, Aleve (naproxen sodium), and Advil or Motrin IB (ibuprofen)
- Medications for epilepsy or autoimmune conditions
- Chemotherapy drugs
Specific skin-related side effects of some medications may include:
- Acne
- Red, scaly skin
- Dark red or purple rash
- Blisters or hives
- Pimple-like rash
- Purple areas
Allergic reactions to drugs can range from minor to severe and life-threatening.They typically occur within an hour after taking a drug. Some symptoms—such as a rash—may not appear until hours, days, or weeks later. Signs of a drug allergy to look out for include:
- Discolored rash
- Hives
- Fever
- Skin itching
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Swelling
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Runny nose
- Anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening reaction
Seek medical attention immediately if you or your loved one have symptoms of anaphylaxis, including:
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or confusion
- Nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Rapid heartbeat
- Loss of consciousness (passing out or fainting)
Drug reactions can be serious. They can sometimes cause death. Any time you have a rash after you've taken a medication, call your healthcare provider right away.
Eczema
Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis. It causes dry, sensitive skin with itchy darkened, hyperpigmented, or red patches that fade and flare up from time to time.
Eczema can occur at any age. It's common in babies and children, but they can outgrow it in time.
Symptoms may include:
- Dry, scaly patches on the skin
- Itchiness
- Flushed skin
- More redness or darkening, swelling, and itching after scratching or rubbing
- Skin thickening
- Reddish (or brownish-gray) scaly patches on the skin
- Small, fluid-filled bumps
Eczema looks different depending on a person's skin tone. Eczema typically appears red on lighter skin tones, and grey, dark brown, or purple on darker skin tones.
If you think you may have eczema, see a healthcare professional or dermatologist. Allergy testing can show you what triggers to avoid. Your healthcare provider can recommend treatment for eczema, which may include prescription medications to calm your immune system and reduce inflammation.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis—better known as dandruff or, in infants, cradle cap—is a common skin condition that affects the top of the head. It can also affect other parts of the body that have sebaceous (oil-producing) glands, such as the face, upper back, and chest.
Anyone can have dandruff, but it’s more common in infants and adults ages 40 to 60. It can clear up and flare up from time to time. Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious. It has nothing to do with how clean you are.
This condition can cause:
- Discolored or red, oily, or swollen skin
- White or yellowish scales that form a thick crust
- Flakes on the skin that easily fall off
- Fluid-filled blisters
- Other changes in skin color
Often, a dandruff shampoo with selenium sulfide can help resolve this condition. (If treating a child, speak to their pediatrician first.) See a dermatologist if it doesn't help or if you have symptoms of infection, such as:
- Pain
- Skin discoloration
- Pus
- Crust
- Severe itch
Rosacea
A red or discolored rash on your face may indicate rosacea.This inflammatory skin condition can flare up when you're feeling stressed or after spending time in the sun.
Potential symptoms include:
- Easily flushing or blushing, especially if you feel stressed or too warm, eat spicy foods, or drink alcohol
- Occasional, chronic, or permanent redness on your forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin
- Visible blood vessels on your face
- Discoloration or redness that spreads to your scalp, ears, neck, upper chest, or back
- Oily skin with breakouts that resemble acne
- Sensitive skin that may burn or sting when you use certain products or when you've been in the sun
- Swelling or bumpy skin on the forehead, cheeks, or around the eyes
- Thickening skin on nose, cheeks, or forehead
- Swollen eyelids
- Irritated, watery, dry, or bloodshot eyes
See a dermatologist when you first notice symptoms. Early treatment can keep symptoms from becoming severe.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that causes your body to produce skin cells too rapidly. This rapid growth makes red patches flare up now and then.
Symptoms of psoriasis may include:
- Dry, crusty, discolored or red blotches on skin, often on the scalp, elbows, or knees
- Silvery scales
- Fluid-filled lesions
- Itchy skin
- Dents or pitting on nail bed
It's important to see a dermatologist if you think you have psoriasis. Once you have the right diagnosis, you can find treatments that resolve or reduce your symptoms. Treatment may need to be adjusted over time.
Autoimmune Conditions
Autoimmune conditions cause the body to attack itself. These conditions often cause symptoms that affect the whole body, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, and joint pain. Some common conditions also affect the skin, including:
- Lupus: A chronic disease that can cause red sores or a butterfly-shaped rash on the face
- Dermatomyositis: A rare inflammatory disease that triggers a red rash on the face, eyelids, chest, back, and hands
If you have an autoimmune condition, you will probably need medications to treat the full range of your symptoms. In addition to seeing a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in these issues, you may want to include a dermatologist on your treatment team to help you with your skin symptoms.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is an infection in a hair follicle on your skin. When the hair follicle is infected, the skin around it can redden or darken. It may also swell slightly. Sometimes it looks like white-tipped pimples.
Folliculitis happens when bacteria or fungus get inside your hair follicle. Using a hot tub that isn't clean can cause the problem. So can shaving, plucking hairs, or applying coal tar to your skin.
You should see a dermatologist if folliculitis keeps coming back. You may need antibiotics to clear the infection. And getting early treatment can prevent scarring.
Other Bacterial Infections
Cellulitis is a common, potentially life-threatening bacterial skin infection. It causes a discolored or red, swollen, and tender rash. It happens when a break in your skin allows bacteria to enter your body.
Cellulitis often affects the lower legs, but it can also occur in other places, such as your face or arms.
Cellulitis can cause severe complications if left untreated. Seek medical care right away if you or your loved one have:
- Discolored, swollen rash that spreads rapidly
- Tender, red, or discolored skin that's warm to the touch
- Pitted or blistering skin
- Fever and chills
If you notice these symptoms, seek medical care right away. The infection can spread and even cause death if left untreated.
Scarlet fever is another bacterial infection that can cause skin redness. It's caused by Group A Strep bacteria, best known for being associated with strep throat. Not everyone who gets strep throat develops scarlet fever, however. Treatment for scarlet fever includes antibiotics such as amoxicillin or penicillin.
If you have scarlet fever, a bright red or discolored rash appears a day or two after the sore throat. It may start in one spot and spread across your body. People with scarlet fever might also have fever and headaches.
Viral Infections
Many viruses cause red skin rashes:
- Chickenpox (varicella-zoster) causes very itchy fluid-filled bumps over your body.
- Shingles (herpes zoster) causes a very painful, red or discolored rash that may tingle, itch, or burn. It may have a stripe-like pattern on the torso or elsewhere on the body and include fluid-filled blisters.
- Measles causes a flat, blotchy rash over your whole body.
- Rubella causes a rough or bumpy rash over the whole body.
- Epstein-Barr virus causes a reddish-to-purple rash on the body and sometimes in the mouth.
- Hand, foot, and mouth disease can cause flat or fluid-filled spots on the soles of feet, palms, mouth, and elsewhere on your body.
- Fifth disease (or slapped cheek disease) leaves red patches across the face and a rash on the body.
- Sixth disease or roseola causes a rash on the torso, arms, and legs, along with breathing symptoms.
- West Nile, Zika, and Dengue fever spread by mosquito bites, cause rashes that can be on the face, torso, arms, or legs. With Dengue, the rash may look like white spots surrounded by red blotches.
Some of these viruses are very contagious. Some can be prevented with a vaccine. If you think you may have a viral infection, talk to a healthcare professional. It's especially important if you also have a fever.
Diagnosing Skin Redness
In many cases, your healthcare provider can pinpoint what's causing the discoloration or redness. Be prepared to talk about when the redness started and how it's changed over time.
Your healthcare provider will need to ask about:
- Your medical history
- Symptoms you are experiencing and when they occur
- Medications you’re taking
- Your family history
- Any recent exposure to irritants or allergens
They may be able to diagnose the problem after speaking with you. However, you may need allergy tests, blood tests, or a skin biopsy (a tissue sample is removed and examined under a microscope) to be sure.
Be sure to ask your healthcare provider if your skin condition is contagious. If it is, you'll need to know how to avoid spreading it to others.
Treatment for Skin Redness
Depending on the cause, self-care may be the best way to deal with discolored or red skin.
Try these strategies to calm redness and protect your skin:
- Remove irritating productsfrom your skincare and makeup regimen.
- Use gentle cleansers and moisturizers with soothing ingredients like chamomile, aloe, or cucumber. They may reduce inflammation and rebuild your skin’s protective barrier.
- Avoid over-exfoliating your skin by taking a break from peels and scrubs.
- Apply sunscreen to avoid sunburn and skin damage.
To ease mild discomfort and itching, try:
- Using an over-the-counter anti-itch cream with menthol, calamine, aloe vera, or oatmeal
- Applying a product with 1% hydrocortisone creamfor issues like bug bites or poison ivy
- Taking antihistamines like Allegra or Zyrtec for mild allergic reactions or hives
- Using a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, especially if your symptoms are keeping you awake at night
- Applying a cold compress for quick relief
- Wearing light, breathable clothes to reduce friction and overheating
If the issue doesn't get better, contact a healthcare provider to rule out other causes. You may have an infection or another health condition, in which case you may need antibiotics, antihistamines, medications that calm your immune system, prescription ointments or creams, light therapy, and more.
Summary
Skin redness or discoloration is a symptom of many conditions. It can mean that you've come in contact with something irritating, you have an infection or allergy, you're having a drug reaction, or you have an underlying illness.
To find out exactly what's causing redness, see a healthcare professional. It's important to find the cause, especially if you're also having symptoms like blisters, fever, swelling, or itching.