Underarm Rash Treatment

Underarm rashes are a very common problem faced by many. A rash can be an extremely embarrassing, uncomfortable and irritating ailment to face. Many times such underarm rashes can cause pain, odor or itching. A underarm rash can have a wide variety of causes. These causes can include allergies, heat, sweat, tight clothes, disease, poison or fungus. It is important to determine the cause of the underarm skin rash before resorting to medication or home remedies for underarm rash. Curing this condition can be done at home if you are confident as to its cause, but it should be checked out by a doctor, if symptoms persist or worsen over time.

Treatments for Underarm Rash

Allergic Reaction
One of the most common underarm rash causes is usually an allergy to any product that the individual has used on the underarm skin, like deodorant, soap, or fragrant oils. In some cases, clothes tend to rub on the skin and that could be another reason for the rash. Sometimes even detergents that have stayed on the clothes long after they have been rinsed, can aggravate the skin and cause an itchy underarm rash. Doctors or medical experts usually prescribe treatment for underarm rash by halting the use of personal care products that may contain allergens which trigger off the rash. Besides that try using a hydrocortisone based cream, also found over-the-counter, which also helps alleviate irritated skin.

Heat Rash
Another underarm rash cause can be heat. A heat rash produces clusters of small, painless, red bumps created as a byproduct of hot, wet conditions. Underarm rash treatments for such rash includes keeping the area dry and cool. Dusting with talcum powder is another heat rash cure. Also, medicated treatment for underarm heat rash involves the repeated application of topical corticosteroids.

Folliculitis
In some cases infection of the hair follicles or folliculitis can be another underarm rash cause. Daily friction in the underarm area or shaving with unclean shaving instruments can cause bruises in the armpits around the hair follicles and make the region open to infection. The underarm rash under such conditions would resemble tiny pimples. The armpit rash treatment in such a case is that one must avoid shaving the area until the skin condition has healed and in most cases doctors prescribe antibiotic ointment to do away with the infection.

Fungal Infection
Fungal infections are also a possible underarm cause and may cause patchy, flaky and inflamed skin. Since the underarm is often moist, damp and has little exposure to sunlight, it possesses the ideal conditions for a fungal infection. These conditions can cause yeast and other fungi to thrive, leading to a red and itchy underarm rash. You'll want to clean and dry the area thoroughly and apply an antifungal clotrimazole-based cream, such as Lotrimin, to the area a few times a day. If this doesn't do the trick, you may need to see your doctor for a stronger antifungal cream.

Ichthyosis Treatment
This is one of the rare underarm rash causes. Ichthyosis is a skin condition most often occurring under the arms where the skin becomes dry and forms scales before flaking off, sometimes leading to itchy underarm rash. It is generally related to hypothyroidism, AIDS and certain types of cancer. The treatment for underarm rash for this kind of rash includes salicylic acid and propylene glycol to restore the skin, but it will continue to pop up unless the underlying cause can be treated.

Do not attempt to diagnose the rash through self-diagnosis, it is always better to get a complete and thorough medical examination from a qualified doctor and get the right underarm rash treatments. At all times it is important to maintain proper hygiene and keep the underarm clean and dry. Avoid the use of cosmetics, perfumes, harsh soaps or deodorants until such a time that the treatment has ended and the skin condition has healed. Wear loose clothes, which allow maximum ventilation and drying, made from natural material such as cotton or silk rather than synthetic fibers. Always pat dry the armpits, especially after a shower or bath and use medicated powders to dry out the moistness.