Experiencing A Red Skin Rash?

Overview of a Red Skin Rash

A red skin rash “down there” raises a lot of questions. First and foremost, many people wonder what’s causing these mysterious symptoms. Often times, a red skin rash around the genitals is caused by a sexually transmitted disease, such as herpes. However, many other conditions can cause similar symptoms.

A red skin rash is a fairly generic symptom and can take many different forms. Sometimes the rash is painful or itchy. Other times it is accompanied with bumps and lesions. Some rashes are contagious and require specific treatment, while others are harmless and will heal on their own.

Possible Causes of a Red Skin Rash

A red skin rash can be caused by a number of different illnesses and conditions including the following:

• Sexually transmitted diseases, specifically herpes or syphilis
• Crabs or public lice
• Scabies, a parasite spread by close contact
• Heat rash
• Jock itch
• Allergic reaction to certain fabrics, soaps, chemicals, or food. Plants such as poison ivy may also cause an itchy, red skin rash.
• Reaction to certain drugs

Diagnosing a Red Skin Rash

STD testing can help diagnose this problem. Since a red skin rash can be mistaken for multiple ailments, syphilis and herpes testing is the only accurate method to diagnose these STDs. Same day STD and herpes testing is available at a FDA-approved labs nationwide, and results are available within a few short days.

If you are not sexually active, a doctor can help diagnose your symptoms.

Treating a Red Skin Rash

When caused by herpes, a red skin rash is treated with antiviral medication such as Valtrex. This reduces the frequency and severity of a herpes outbreak. If STD testing reveals the cause to be syphilis, the disease can be cured with antibiotics.

When caused by external factors such as heat, lotions, or medication, discontinue using any product or behaviors that may be contributing to the red skin rash. If caused by another condition or illness, a doctor can prescribe proper treatment following diagnosis.