A maculopapular rash is a type of skin rash that has raised bumps on discolored patches of skin. The rash can be itchy and uncomfortable. A maculopapular rash can be a symptom of an infection, an allergic reaction, or a number of other health conditions. Treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the rash, which is why it’s key to get a diagnosis from a healthcare provider.

What is a Maculopapular Rash?

The term maculopapular rash refers to a combination of flat, colored areas of the skin (macules) and raised bumps on the skin (papules).

The papules and their surrounding skin might be red or pink in light skin tones. In darker skin tones, the rash may appear more hyperpigmented or is present in an assorted shade of red.

These rashes may appear almost anywhere on your body. The area of the rash can be quite large in size, especially for maculopapular rashes, and the rash develops relatively fast.

Causes

When attempting to decide the cause of your maculopapular rash, it is helpful to consider the following:

• Medications you’ve recently taken

• The types of foods you’ve recently eaten

• Viruses to which you may have been exposed

• External irritants with which you’ve come into contact 

That’s because a wide variety of medical conditions and external triggers can cause a maculopapular rash.

Medication Reaction

You may have started a new over-the-counter or prescription medication and developed a rash a few days later. This is an adverse drug reaction.

• Antibiotics
• Amoxicillin
• Anticonvulsants
• Allopurinol, a medication for gout, sold under the brand names Lopurin and Zyloprim
• Chemotherapy
• Ibuprofen, an NSAID, sold under the brand names Advil and Motrin
• It can take a day to a few weeks to develop the rash, depending on the drug.

Food Allergy

You may experience a maculopapular rash as part of your immune system’s reaction to exposure to a food to which you are allergic

• Trouble breathing

• Dizziness

• Swelling

• Stuffy nose

• Vomiting

• Abdominal cramping

Symptoms of a food allergy can start within minutes to hours after you have ingested the food. Medical attention may be required immediately to prevent severe complications.

Bacterial or Viral Infection

Maculopapular rash may be caused by many forms of infections. Some of the infections are as follows:

• COVID-19

• Rubella
• Measles

• Scarlet fever

• Hand, foot, and mouth disease

• First-year baby rashes

• Fifth disease

• Zika virus 

Skin Conditions

A maculopapular rash can develop with contact dermatitis, which occurs when an irritant comes into contact with your skin. Some common irritants causing such a reaction include:

Diagnosis

Obtaining a maculopapular rash checked will involve an assessment of your medical history and a physical examination.

The health care provider will likely ask you questions about:

• How long you have had the rash

• Whether you have any other symptoms

• Whether you have been in contact with anyone who has been sick

• Whether you have recently traveled

• Whether you are up-to-date on your vaccinations

From there, they will want to take a closer look at your skin. If necessary, blood tests or a biopsy (a small skin sample) may be taken to help with the diagnosis.

Treatment

The goals for treatment of maculopapular rash will include addressing the root cause, symptomatic relief, and resolution of your rash as soon as possible. This may include: 

Antibiotics if your rash is the result of a bacterial infection 

Antiviral medications if the cause of the rash is the result of a viral infection

Antihistamines to soothe itching in the case of an allergic exposure

If it’s determined that your rash was prompted by exposure to an allergen or irritant, it’ll likely be recommended to avoid the trigger. If medication is the suspected cause, a healthcare provider can determine whether the medication should be stopped or adjusted.

When to Seek a Healthcare Provider

If you notice that you are developing a maculopapular rash, you should seek a healthcare provider when it:

• Covers most of the body

• Is accompanied by a fever

• Spreads rapidly

• Blisters
• Causes pain

• Looks infected