Rash on hands and ankles

Having a rash is never a pleasant experience, but it seems to be even worse when it is on parts of the body where the skin is tight over the bone, such as hands, fingers and ankles. Scratching, of course, makes the itch much more intense and it can even damage the skin, possibly leading to an infection. Therefore, it is useful to know what are the possible causes of rash on hands and ankles and what cure works the best.

Causes of rash on hands and ankles

There are many possible causes of rash on hands and ankles but the most common one is contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis means the skin reacts to one of the many substances from outdoor plants, like poison ivy, poison oak, but also from cosmetics, cleaning products, detergents, latex, rubber and various chemicals.

Poison ivy or poison oak rash is particularly common on the skin of the ankles, if the plant is touched the rash spreads to hands as well. In addition, some of the substances have the ability to spread if the rash is scratched, which explains why the rash is located on ankles and hands.

Ankle rash can also be heat rash, especially if wearing socks made of synthetic materials. It can also be psoriasis, a chronic skin disease resulting from the immune system.

The rash on hands and ankles can also be caused by dermatitis. There are many kinds of dermatitis but the most common one is atopic dermatitis or eczema. Dermatitis can affect any part of the body and it causes the skin to become itchy, red, painful and sometimes scaly or dry.

Treatment for rash on hands and ankles

Corticosteroids are the usual treatment for just about any type of rash, including the one on hands and ankles. It comes in form of ointment, cream, lotion or oral medication, used only in severe cases. Corticosteroids are very helpful as they reduce the redness and alleviate the itching. Sometimes it helps to take a cold shower or a cold bath, or simply to apply some ice packs. Aloe vera gels are very effective for contact dermatitis on hands and ankles and there are other natural remedies that can help too.

Skin rash on hands and ankles is rarely serious and goes away rather quickly. However, if the rash does not subside within several days, it may be a sign of something more serious and in that case it is best to see a doctor.