So you have a new rash?
Tuesday, February 13th, 2007What do you do now…….?
Do you wait to see if the rash goes away? Do you blow it off? Do you panic and think that this could be the beginning of some flesh-eating bacterial infection? Do you wonder if it’s related to something that you ate or came into contact with?
When I get a rash, it’s usually something that irritated my skin and since I’ve had years of being in my skin and knowing what skin nicks need antibacterial ointment and which ones will disappear and go away within hours, I don’t panic when I first notice a rash.
But on Saturday when my son, Rufus, developed his first major rash which looked like hives, I started to panic. Did I give him some new food that he’s allergic to? Did he get stung by a bee while we were on our stroll around the block? If this was major allergic reaction would he start to have problems breathing? Should I call his pediatrician now or later? Should I just go to the emergency department and have it checked out?
I could have driven myself crazy with all the “what ifs” until my husband had to tell me to STOP!!!! Stop assuming the worse. Was Rufus having any problems breathing?…NO. Did he have such uncontrollable itching that he’d break the top layer of skin and cause bleeding?….NO. Did he have a high fever?…..NO. Was he losing consciousness or getting so lethargic that he was difficult to arouse?….NO. Was the rash spreading quickly, right before my eyes?….NO. Was there any pus or liquid draining from any of his skin lesions?…..NO.
NO, this rash is not a life threatening rash. NO, we don’t need to pack up the baby bag and head to the emergency department. Rufus’ mother had to stop focusing on the “what ifs” and start focusing on what I did know. I had to stop thinking like a protective mother and start thinking like the Health and Wellness Queen.
Here’s what I know:
1. The skin is the largest organ in the body.
2. Our skin’s major job is to protect our other organs—to be the largest and strongest barrier to germs and the outside environment.
3. Rashes can indicate a localized reaction to an irritant (such as poison ivy or harsh chemicals) or indicate a systemic reaction (such as a heat rash when we have fever or related to an underlying infection or disease–like eczema or psoriasis).
4. Hives, which are raised welts, can be caused by various conditions like an allergic reaction to certain medications or foods, can be related to a parasitic infection or it could be related to an autoimmune diseases, where your body’s immune system has an allergic reaction to a certain protein that you body produces.
Here’s what I needed to do and follow the “SO YOU HAVE A NEW RASH” Checklist:
1. Outline the area of the rash so I can monitor if it’s getting better or worse over time.
2. Stop the itch…with an antihistamine.
3. Watch out for any warning signs or red flags—swelling of the lips, tongue or mouth, trouble breathing, difficulty drinking or eating because of swelling of the throat—> these red flags along with hives indicate anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.
4. If the rash got any worse, then see the doctor.
Well, even I, the Health and Wellness Queen had to run through this series of steps….my “So You Have a New Rash” checklist to see if I needed to call the doctor immediately or if I could wait to see if things cleared up.
It’s hard to watch your child suffer with any ache or pain…or rash…and not know how to make it go away or make it better. But by using my “So you have a new rash” checklist I was able to make the right decision….give Rufus the antihistamine he needed and within two days…the rash went away and he’s back to his normal self.
Although, I’ll probably never know what actually caused the rash…all that really matters is that the rash is gone…and I’m no longer in a panic after following my checklist.
So remember…when you notice a rash, don’t panic and follow my “So You Have A New Rash” checklist.
To your wellness,
The Health and Wellness Queen
