How do you say rash in Spanish?

Most patients say "el sarpullido." "La erupción cutánea" is the clinical term, and "las ronchas" specifically means welts or hives.

How do you ask if something itches in Spanish?

"¿Le pica?" is the natural way to ask. The noun is "la picazón" or, in Mexico especially, "la comezón."

What is "culebrilla"?

It is the everyday word for shingles (herpes zóster). Patients rarely use the clinical term, so recognise "culebrilla" when you hear it.

Rash and Skin Conditions in Spanish

Skin complaints are one of the most common reasons Spanish-speaking patients come to urgent care and primary care. This vocabulary covers rashes, itching, lesions, and the history questions that distinguish an allergy from an infection.

English	Spanish	Audio
rash	el sarpullido / la erupción "Sarpullido" is what patients say; "erupción cutánea" is the clinical term.
skin	la piel
itching	la picazón / la comezón
hives	la urticaria / las ronchas
blister	la ampolla
bump / lump	el bulto
redness	el enrojecimiento
swelling	la hinchazón
dry skin	la piel seca
peeling	la descamación
bruise	el moretón
wound / sore	la herida / la llaga
burn	la quemadura
insect bite	la picadura de insecto
mole	el lunar
acne	el acné
eczema	el eccema
psoriasis	la psoriasis
fungal infection	la infección por hongos
shingles	la culebrilla / el herpes zóster
ointment / cream	la pomada / la crema
Where did it start?	¿Dónde le empezó?
Is it spreading?	¿Se le está extendiendo?
Have you used any new soap or detergent?	¿Ha usado un jabón o detergente nuevo?
Do not scratch it.	No se rasque.

Using these terms with patients

Sarpullido is the patient word, "erupción cutánea" the clinical one. Ronchas specifically means welts or hives.
"Culebrilla" is shingles. Patients almost never say "herpes zóster", so recognise the everyday term.
Ask about new soaps, detergents and plants before reaching for an infectious cause: "¿Ha usado un jabón o detergente nuevo?"

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Frequently Asked Questions

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