Rash all over the body in adults: what to know

Adults can develop widespread redness, bumps, scaling, or hives after a new medicine, skin product, detergent, plant exposure, heat, or illness. Conditions such as [Atopic Dermatitis](/conditions/atopic-dermatitis/), [Contact Dermatitis](/conditions/contact-dermatitis/), [Psoriasis](/conditions/psoriasis/), and [Drug Rash](/conditions/drug-eruption/) have different patterns and treatments. Itching that is worse at night, or similar itching in household members, gives a clinician a different clue than painful blisters or peeling skin. The rash itself cannot establish the diagnosis.

Take photographs before applying products and write down when the eruption started. Note every new medicine, supplement, food, cosmetic, detergent, travel exposure, and recent illness. Wash with lukewarm water, use a plain moisturiser, wear loose breathable clothing, and keep nails short to reduce skin injury from scratching. Avoid fragranced products. Do not self-treat with several medicated creams or stop an essential prescription without professional advice. If an infectious rash is possible, do not share towels, bedding, or clothing until assessed.

Call emergency services for trouble breathing, swelling of the lips or tongue, faintness, confusion, or rapidly spreading hives. Seek urgent care for skin pain out of proportion to the visible rash, blisters, peeling, purple spots, mouth or eye involvement, high fever, or a rapidly worsening eruption. Book a medical review for a persistent, recurrent, or sleep-disrupting rash, or whenever a new medicine may be involved.

Could this be related to a medicine, exposure, infection, or an inflammatory condition? Which products should I pause? Do household contacts need assessment? What changes mean I should go to emergency care rather than wait?