What You Can Do About a Rash on Your Face (2024)

A sudden face rash can be related to many different conditions, including allergies and infections; your age and genes may also be a factor when a rash pops up.

"Rash" is a general term that describes an area of irritated skin. The irritation often causes changes to the color, texture, and feel of your skin—producing redness, itching, bumps, scaliness, warmth/burning, and/or pain. Rashes can appear suddenly or develop over several days.

Redness and irritation on your face can not only be uncomfortable but also embarrassing. This article discusses the causes of facial rashes, symptoms, and treatments you can do at home.

Causes of Face Rash

Many factors can trigger a facial rash. Here's a look at some of the most common causes.

Infectious Causes

Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can all cause skin infections. Oftentimes, these pathogens enter the skin through a cut, insect bite, or another wound. The resulting infection can cause red bumps and other rash symptoms on your face.

Bacterial skin infections: These are caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus (strep) or Staphylococcus (staph) and often begin as small, red bumps that slowly increase in size. Many bacterial infections are mild and easily treated with topical or oral antibiotics. Bacterial skin infections include:

• Cellulitis
• Impetigo
• Boils
• Hansen's disease (leprosy)

Viral skin infections: These infections are caused by viruses such as the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and they range from mild to severe. Viral infections that cause skin rashes include:

• Shingles
• Chickenpox
• Molluscum contagiosum
• Warts
• Measles
• Fifth disease
  

Fungal infections: One of the most common types of fungal infections, known as a yeast infection, is caused by an overgrowth of naturally occurring fungi called Candida, in particular Candida albicans. A yeast infection most often occurs in moist areas of the body, like the vagina or mouth, but it can also show up on the face, including the forehead, nose, and corners of the mouth.

Allergic Causes

An allergic reaction is a sensitivity to something you’ve eaten, inhaled, or touched. The substance that you’re allergic to is called an allergen. Your body interprets the allergen as foreign or harmful, and your immune system mounts an attack against it.

Allergy symptoms can appear on many parts of the body, including the face. Examples of allergic reactions that can cause a rash on your face include:

• Seasonal allergies
• Allergies to animals
• Contact dermatitis
• Food allergies
• Allergies to medications
  

Autoimmune, Chronic, and Inflammatory Causes

These skin conditions and autoimmune diseases can cause the appearance of a rash on your face:

• Rosacea: This common chronic skin condition usually only affects the face, although occasionally, the neck, chest, or other areas may be involved. Characterized by redness, pimple-like bumps, and tiny visible blood vessels, rosacea usually first appears between the ages of 30 and 60. It is more common in fair-skinned people and menopausal people.
• Seborrheic dermatitis: This is an inflammation of the upper layers of skin, characterized by red, itchy, scaly skin.Seborrheic dermatitis can be ahereditary condition. It is often aggravated by hormonal changes andcold weather conditions.
• Psoriasis: This autoimmune disorder causes your immune system to attack your skin cells, resulting in lesions, inflammation, and scaly patches on the skin.
• Lupus: Lupus is another autoimmune disorder that triggers inflammation. A common symptom of lupus is a butterfly-shaped rash across the nose and cheeks. You may also experience lesions on your skin after sun exposure.
• Dermatomyositis: This rare disease is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. It causes a reddish, symmetrical rash around the eyes as well as muscle weakness and inflammation.

Life-Threatening Causes

There are potentially life-threatening conditions that can trigger a facial rash, including:

• Pemphigus: This rare autoimmune disease causes painful blistering. It usually affects the mouth but can also show up on the face, scalp, chest, and back. Left untreated, pemphigus can progress and cause life-threatening complications such as sepsis.
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN): These are severe skin reactions characterized by painful blistering and ulceration of the skin and mucous membranes. TEN is a severe form of SJS. It can cause large portions of skin to peel off and can also damage the eyes. The most common cause of SJS/TEN is an adverse allergic drug reaction.
• Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS): This serious skin infection develops in response to toxins produced by a staph infection. Most common in children, SSSS causes large areas of skin all over the body, including the face, to turn red, blister, and peel away.

Symptoms

The exact symptoms you'll experience when you have a facial rash will depend on the underlying cause of your rash. It's common for someone with a facial rash to notice:

• Redness
• Scaly skin
• Itching
• Dryness
• Pain
• Bumps

Complications

While a rash is often not considered a cause for alarm and will usually clear up quickly, it's important to watch out for additional symptoms that could indicate a more serious problem. Contact your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following:

• Fever
• A rash that spreads quickly and/or covers most of your body
• Blisters around your eyes or mouth
• Signs the rash is infected, such as green or yellow fluid, crusting, red streaks, warmth, and pain

How to Get Rid of a Face Rash

There are multiple ways you can take care of a face rash at home, including home remedies and OTC medications.

Home Remedies

Home treatments and strategies that can help get rid of a facial rash include:

• Stop using any new cosmetics or face creams.
• When cleaning your face, use warm (not hot) water and gently pat dry
• Calaminelotion and oatmeal face masks may help relieve the itching and discomfort associated with chickenpox, poison ivy, or poison oak.
  
• Applying aloe vera gel may help your skin heal more quickly.
• Avoid scratching, which can make it worse and could lead to infection.
  

OTC Medications

The most common OTC medications for facial rashes include:

• Oral antihistamines, which can help reduce swelling, redness, and itchiness
• Corticosteroids, available as creams and sprays, can help reduceinflammation

When to See a Healthcare Provider

You should contact your healthcare provider about your facial rash if:

• The rash is painful, shows signs of infection, or has lasted more than two weeks.
• You have a fever, joint pain, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms
• You notice the rash is spreading quickly and/or covers most of your body
  

Go to the emergency room if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
• Blisters in your eyes, mouth, or genital area

Summary

Rashes are abnormal changes in skin color or texture. They can appear anywhere on your body, including your face, and can be red, itchy, bumpy, scaly, warm, and/or painful.

A wide variety of conditions can trigger a facial rash, including infections, allergies, and autoimmune diseases. You can treat your symptoms at home with OTC oral antihistamines and/or corticosteroids, but if you aren't sure what's causing your rash, see a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis.

Seek medical attention if your rash is spreading quickly or appears to be infected or if you have a fever or blisters in your eyes, mouth, or genital area. See a healthcare provider such as a dermatologist who can pinpoint the underlying cause and come up with a treatment plan.