A Rash Is Rarely “Just a Rash”

As winter settles in and temperatures drop, I’ve seen what I jokingly call a rash of rashes. Cold outdoor air paired with dry indoor heat strips moisture from the skin, leading to flaking, itching, chafing, and inflammation. For many people, that’s the whole story.

But not always.

The skin is one of the body’s most visible communication tools. Sometimes it’s reacting to the environment. Other times, it’s signaling something deeper—food intolerances, infections, allergies, medication reactions, hormone imbalances, autoimmune processes, or disturbances in the gut microbiome.

In conventional care, rashes are often treated reflexively with topical or oral steroids. While these can suppress symptoms, they don’t necessarily address the underlying cause- and in some cases, repeated steroid use can worsen long-term skin health.

In many situations, a careful history and close observation of the rash itself provide the most valuable clues. Occasionally, a more extensive workup is needed. The goal isn’t just to quiet the skin, but to understand why it’s reacting in the first place.

If you’re dealing with a rash that isn’t resolving- or one that keeps coming back- it may be worth looking beyond the surface.

Snowy weekends are a good time to slow down, stay warm, and listen to what your body might be telling you.