Skin Inflammation: Causes, Assessment and Care

Inflammation is the body's response to injury, irritation, allergy, infection or disease. On the face or body it may appear as redness, darker, purple or grey colour change, itch, burning, stinging, dryness, cracking, scaling, warmth, tenderness, swelling, bumps, weeping or blisters. Appearance varies with skin tone and the cause.

Contact dermatitis is a common explanation. Irritant contact dermatitis occurs when a substance or repeated physical exposure damages the outer skin barrier. Triggers can include soaps, detergents, solvents, frequent water contact, friction, heat, sweating and some skincare ingredients or procedures. It can happen after one strong exposure or repeated milder exposures.

Allergic contact dermatitis is a delayed immune reaction to a substance touching the skin. Fragrances, preservatives, hair dyes, metals, adhesives and rubber chemicals are examples. A product can become a trigger even after it was tolerated before. The rash is often concentrated where contact occurred but can spread beyond that site.

Other causes include atopic eczema, rosacea, acne, hives, seborrhoeic dermatitis, photosensitivity, infection and reactions after a cosmetic product or procedure. A rash around the eyes or mouth, one-sided painful swelling, persistent scaling, pus, crusting, recurrent episodes or symptoms after a medicine or procedure need appropriate assessment rather than a generic inflammation treatment.

If symptoms began after a new optional cosmetic or skincare product, stop it and avoid adding multiple replacements. Wash gently with lukewarm water, avoid rubbing and protect the area from further exposure. A pharmacist can advise on simple emollients and soap substitutes. If a product stings or worsens symptoms, stop using it and seek advice.

Do not use a medicated cream simply because it helped another rash. Treatment varies by diagnosis and body site. Some anti-inflammatory medicines require a different strength or duration on the face, neck or eyelids, and infection can worsen if the wrong treatment delays assessment. This guide does not recommend or advertise a medicine.

Persistent, recurrent or severe symptoms, an uncertain cause, facial or eyelid dermatitis that does not settle, or a suspected allergy may require a GP or dermatology review. Formal patch testing may help identify allergic contact dermatitis; it does not test for every type of allergy and should be interpreted by a trained service.

Seek urgent GP or NHS 111 advice if symptoms worsen rapidly, the skin becomes increasingly painful, hot or swollen, there is discharge, you feel generally unwell, or you feel hot, cold or shivery. Call 999 for sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue, breathing or swallowing difficulty, faintness, or suspected anaphylaxis.

Cosmetic procedures should wait when skin is actively inflamed, broken, infected or the diagnosis is uncertain. Suitability depends on the cause, severity, area, skin type, medicines, previous reactions and the proposed procedure. An assessment may lead to pharmacy, GP, urgent-care or dermatology advice and no cosmetic treatment.

The current Dr Sknn catalogue has twelve Skin Inflammation consultation rows: four each for Doctor, Nurse and Qualified Practitioner across the Men Focused, Face, Body and Skin families. All are configured for Wilmslow and Didsbury; Leigh is closed. These rows do not establish a diagnosis, direct Skin Inflammation treatment, particular procedure, exact treatment price or current appointment supply.