Has an irritating rash developed on your skin over the past several months? Despite using over-the-counter healing lotion from the drugstore, the itchy and uncomfortable rash may show know signs of improving at all. If the lotion you have used is not working and you need relief because the rash is itchy and burns, you should see your doctor.

Why See a Doctor for a Rash?

A rash may not seem like a big deal to everyone, but it can cause enough discomfort to make you feel desperate for a way to get it to go away for good. When the at-home remedies and over-the-counter products are not doing enough to improve your skin's condition, seeing a doctor is the next step to take to find a solution that truly works. When you visit your primary care doctor, you can talk about the rash you have, providing details on how long you have had it and what you have already used to try to treat it. The doctor will need to look at the rash before offering suggestions for treatment.

What Will the Doctor Suggest?

The suggestions you receive from the doctor will all depend on what your rash looks like and how inflamed it is during your visit to the office. You have likely developed contact dermatitis, a condition that causes inflammation when the skin has encountered something that has irritated it. It could be something simple that is irritating your skin, such as a type of lotion you are using, a fabric softener that you have used when washing your clothes, or a soap that you are using when washing your hands in the bathroom.

The doctor would likely suggest trying to identify potential triggers. If you have used something new in recent months when your skin started to become irritated, the new product could be the cause of the irritation. Aside from trying to identify any possible triggers, the doctor may prescribe a topical steroid for you to apply to the rash daily until it starts clearing up. Being persistent by keeping your skin moisturized is a great way to get your skin to heal.

A simple rash could turn into more of a problem for you when self-treatment options do not work, and you continue to deal with uncomfortable irritation of the skin. If you have had the rash for several weeks or months and are not getting relief, see your doctor to receive professional advice on what you can do to get rid of the rash.