It is a common experience to get an unexplained rash. Sometimes such rashes go away before you have even had the chance to make an appointment to see a doctor. Rashes greatly vary as to how long they persist, their cause, and how severe the symptoms will be. And while most rashes pose little risk to our overall health, there are types of rashes which indicate a serious underlying medical condition. If left unchecked and untreated, these rashes can prove to have fatal consequences. If you develop an unexplained rash, the best thing to do is to get it checked out by a doctor or dermatologist.
The following illnesses cause rashes that require immediate attention from a medical professional.
1. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL):
Our Doctor Berman wrote about how one type of persistent rash may actually be a form of cancer. Instead of a mole or growth, this cancer of the skin presents as a nonspecific rash which appears around the lower trunk and buttocks. Sometimes it is misdiagnosed as eczema as the affected area can be dry and scaly. It can also be mistaken for a fungus infection or psoriasis. Sometimes this type of rash may itch but not in all cases. In some cases the rash will persist through years of misdiagnosis.
In time, some people develop tumors which look like red raised lumps. These lumps may become ulcerated. At the tumor stage, the cancer may also have affected the lymph nodes. It is estimated that in about 10% of cases, CTCL can progress to the lymph nodes and internal organs.
Sézary syndrome (SS) is the leukemic variant of CTCL and is sometimes called “the red man syndrome" because of the bright red appearance of the skin. In this case T-cell lymphoma affects the skin of the entire body. The skin is red, painful, thickened and swollen. The skin may itch and the top layer of skin may peel away. At this stage abnormal T-cells are also found in the blood and cancerous cells can invade vital organs such as the lungs, heart, and liver.
The good news about cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is that it is rare and seldom progresses to more advanced stages. CTCL is considered to be a low-grade lymphoma which means it usually develops very slowly over years. Yet it is not something you should ignore as there is a chance it can progress into something more serious.
If you want to see what the skin looks like if you have CTCL, The New Zealand Dermatological Society has images of the various types and stages of lymphomas.
For more information about Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma please visit the Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation web site.
2. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever:
This tick borne illness can be frightening because many people ignore the symptoms until it develops into a life threatening disease. The symptoms are varied but usually begin with fever, nausea, vomiting, severe headache, muscle pain, and lack of appetite. A spotted (petechial) rash may develop 2-6 days later but for some people, the rash does not appear at all. It is estimated that as many as 10% to 15% of patients may never develop a rash.
