Erythema Migrans

An allergic reaction to one of many factors can cause some skin rashes, blemishes and growths. A virus or exposure to environmental elements can also be a cause. If you notice any change in the color or consistency of your skin it is important to check with your doctor to get a proper diagnosis.

A rash that is associated with the early stages of lyme disease is erythema migrans. Within a month of being infected with lyme disease this condition will appear. The rash typically starts out small and red around the site of the tick bite before expanding. Individuals may develop more than one rash area in some cases. It may look like a bull’s-eye sometimes. The rash will not be developed by all patients with lyme disease. In approximately eighty percent of the individuals with lyme disease the rash will occur.

Who Can Get Them?

Erythema migrans can occur in anyone who has been bitten by a tick and those who develop lyme disease. All races and sexes are affected the same. Both adults and children can get the disorder.

What Can Cause Them?

It is a direct result of the developing lyme disease. When an individual is bitten by a tick carrying the disease an individual will contract lyme disease.

How Does Erythema Migrans Happen?

It is associated with lyme disease. Anytime from one day to a month after being infected it will start as a circular rash. The rash will appear slightly raised as it begins to grow. The center of the rash can appear clear which makes it resemble a bulls-eye. It is not painful for an individual but it may be warm to the touch.

Where Do Erythema Migrans Appear?

They can happen anywhere on the body. The thighs, groin, buttocks, trunk, armpits, waist and knees are common areas.

What Are The Symptoms?

Within a month of being bitten by the tick that carries lyme disease a red rash will develop. The rash typically starts out small and then grows. It can grow to as much as one foot across. It is not itchy or painful, but the rash may be warm to the touch. After three to four weeks the rash usually fades. Individuals may also experience a fever, headaches, body aches and a sense of fatigue. Many feel like they have common flu symptoms.

How Can It Be Diagnosed?

A doctor will first have to diagnose the individual with lyme disease in order to diagnose erythema migrans. To confirm the presence of lyme disease it is done with a gathering of medical symptoms from the individual, their history and a blood test. The rash is easy to identify as being associated with lyme disease once it is diagnosed. If the rash is in areas that are not easy to view it can sometime be missed such as the buttocks. If in this area tick bites are also harder to discover.

What Treatments Are Available for Erythema Migrans?

The rash will fade on its own if it is left alone and eventually go away. Oral antibiotics are often prescribed to treat lyme disease. Individuals will have to take these antibiotics for at least three weeks. If an individual is allergic to antibiotics it is important to tell their physician since this is the main course of treatment. The rash will usually fade within three to four weeks once lyme disease is treated. To keep the rash from getting irritated a cream or ointment may be recommended by a doctor. The rash can recur in some individuals.

The body’s reaction to a virus can cause erythema migrans. It is important to have the underlying cause of the disorder treated in these cases since this will usually allow the rash to begin to heal and go away on its own. It is important to determine if lyme disease is the cause since erythema migrans can be confused with other rashes that look similar.

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