Forehead Rash
The Most Common Reasons For A Forehead Rash
If you have had problems with a forehead rash, you are not alone. It is a very common condition and it can happen for a variety of reasons. Most of these reasons are not dangerous or life threatening. But if the forehead rash worsens or stays for a long period of time, you may want to see a dermatologist to assess the problem.
Men seem to suffer from this condition more than women. This may be because men have a tendency to lose their hair and experience baldness more often than females do. This leaves the head area exposed to sunlight and sun damage. This is probably the most common reason for having a forehead rash. Too much direct sunlight can damage the forehead area and leave permanent discoloration and scarring. This is called actinic keratoses and this type of forehead rash can look bumpy, rough and discolored. Anyone who is suffering from this condition has to keep the forehead area protected from the sun because it can easily turn into skin cancer if the problem isn't addressed.
Acne vulgaris is another problem that can be seen on the forehead. During adolescence, hormones can have a negative effect on the skin. The oil production increases and the hair follicles can become blocked, trapping bacteria within the skin. Certain medications can also cause these types of acne lesions. There is no cure for acne vulgaris but there are medications that can be applied to the area to reduce the symptoms.
If a person is suffering from acne vulgaris and they attempt to squeeze or pop any whiteheads, it can make matters worse. This is called acne excoriee. Usually young women suffer with this because the acne is bothersome and they want to try to remove it. But scratching or picking at any acne is not a good idea. It opens the face up for bacterial infections and it can actually spread the acne to other area of the face. Doing this can actually make the forehead rash more pronounced.
Wearing hats frequently can cause folliculitis. This happens when the hair follicles are affected by shaving, irritation and the constant rubbing of material, like a hat. If a person has acne already in the area affected by folliculitis, the problem can worsen. The hair follicles can become blocked and small bumps form on the forehead. Bacteria also becomes trapped in the hair follicle and this condition resembles a bad case of acne.
Miliaria rubra or heat rash can cause acne like bumps on the forehead. This happens when a person becomes overheated for long periods of time. The symptoms of heat rash includes itchy, irritated skin and the sweat glands can become blocked off from inflammation. The urge to itch a heat rash may become overwhelming and doing this only worsens the condition. When this happens the rash can be very painful. Heat rash can be easily cured but reducing heat to the area and using an anti itch medication.
Rosacea is a skin condition known as adult acne. The forehead can become bumpy and irritated but the entire face can also turn a bright red color. It appears as though the person suffering from rosacea is blushing but smaller inflamed bumps can also occur all over the face and nose. This condition can also make the blood vessels appear on the face, adding to the problem. There is no permanent cure for rosacea but there are medications that can lessen the severity.
A forehead rash can be an unflattering condition. But in most cases they can be addressed quickly and even cured by seeing a dermatologist.