Viral infections are due to the entry of a virus in the skin. Examples of viral rashes are herpes, shingles and chicken pox. When someone has a skin problem due to a virus this may also present other related symptoms such as stomach upsets, respiratory problems and a fever.
A skin rash may an outbreak of red bumps or patches on the skin. Symptoms can include, itching, a burning sensation or sometimes a very rough surface as in some forms of eczema. There are several cause of skin rashes. Some are due to an allergy or irritant on skin. This is referred to as contact dermatitis or atopic dermatitis. Other causes are fungal, bacterial and viral infections. A bacterial skin infection can be impetigo or strep rash.
Some viral skin infections such as herpes or shingles can attack just one part of the body but other viral rashes can be more generalized across the body. Patients with these rashes may show additional problems such as coughing, nausea or sneezing. Itching is usually the main problem and reason for discomfort. With shingles or other herpes viruses such as fever blisters, there can be pain in the area and sensitivity on the nerves.
Another viral skin infection is Molluscum Contagiosum, also known as mc. Molluscum can be spread through direct contact with an infected person through touch and sharing clothing or towels. Though the incubation period is 6 weeks but symptoms may take as long as 6 months to appear.
Like the other viral skin rashes, molluscum can also disappear without any medication. It is advisable to clean the affected area with alcohol swab. Some physicians will cut through the lesion and remove contents. For those with the herpes virus, the virus remains in the body but there are anti-viral medications to suppress the eruptions. Cold sores on the lip can be spread through kissing and sharing personal hygiene items. It goes through the stages of an initial tingle, red bump and finally reaches the scab stage.
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