Mpox (monkeypox) rash: Dermatologists’ tips for treating your skin
If you have mpox, taking care of your skin can help it heal properly and minimize scarring. Here’s what dermatologists recommend:
While you have mpox rashes on your skin
Don’t scratch. Skin with mpox can be itchy. To ease the itch, dermatologists recommend the following:
- Apply a cool, damp washcloth to itchy skin. To do this, run a clean washcloth under cool tap water. Then wring out the excess water. Apply the washcloth to the itchy area, leaving it on your skin for a few minutes.
- Take warm baths. You want to use warm water. Hot water can dry your skin. Dry skin can worsen an existing itch and cause skin that didn't itch to itch.
If you have a rash on your genitals or around your anus, you can ease discomfort by taking sitz baths. One way to take a sitz bath is to sit in a clean bathtub of shallow, warm water.
You can also buy a device called a sitz bath. Available online and at drug stores, this device is a shallow basin that you fill with warm water and place in your bathtub or over the rim of a toilet. - Keep your fingernails short. This can help prevent a skin infection caused by scratching.
Wash your skin with a mild soap and water. Soaps that are mild include those made for sensitive skin.
Moisturize skin with mpox to help it heal. Dermatologists recommend applying petroleum jelly or a fragrance-free ointment that contains petrolatum. Keeping your skin moisturized may also prevent scars from forming.
When applying ointment, use a moisturizer that comes in a squeeze tube or bottle. You want to avoid dipping your fingers into a container, as that can transfer the mpox virus to the moisturizer. Likewise, germs that may be in the container can spread to your skin.Keep skin with mpox covered. After applying your moisturizer, place an adhesive bandage or non-stick gauze over the skin with mpox. When using non-stick gauze, keep the bandage in place with paper tape or a similar breathable, lightweight tape.
Keeping mpox lesions covered helps your skin heal. It also helps prevent spreading the virus to other parts of your body and to other people. Once all scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed, you no longer need to cover your skin.Don’t share towels and other items until your skin clears. Sharing unwashed towels, other bath linens, and clothing can spread mpox to others. In fact, anything that you touch can spread the virus to others.
Look for signs of infection. These signs can include pus, discoloration (red or pink on lighter skin tones and purple, gray, or white on darker skin tones), or the area feeling warm to the touch. If you think one or more spots on your skin are infected, get immediate medical care.
Use an antiseptic or antibacterial medication only if your doctor includes this in your treatment plan. These medications are only needed if skin with mpox becomes infected.
Treat mpox only if your dermatologist or other doctor prescribes treatment. You may see products, including natural remedies, that come with a claim that the product can cure or prevent mpox. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers that the FDA has not reviewed any of these products or natural remedies sold to treat, cure, or prevent mpox.
Additionally, these products and remedies, often sold online, have not been found safe or effective for treating mpox or other health conditions.
After the mpox skin spots heal
Some people develop dark spots or scars after their skin clears. These tips from dermatologists can reduce the likelihood of these developing:
Protect your skin from the sun. This helps prevent discoloration from developing on your skin. To protect your skin from the sun, dermatologists recommend that you:
- Seek shade when outdoors.
- Wear long-sleeves and pants.
- Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Before going outdoors, apply this sunscreen to all skin not covered by clothing.
Use a silicone-based gel or patch if your skin is prone to scarring. This can minimize scarring. A board-certified dermatologist can talk with you about other ways to reduce scarring.
Know that scarring can be treated. If scarring develops and you would like to discuss treatment options, see a board-certified dermatologist. A dermatologist can answer your questions and talk about ways to make scars less visible.
If you have a new rash and are unsure what’s causing it, it’s important to find out. Some diseases that cause a rash like mpox are contagious, so you can spread the disease to others. Some diseases also require treatment. A board-certified dermatologist has the expertise and training to give you an accurate diagnosis and provide proper treatment.
To locate a dermatologist, go to Find a Dermatologist.
Related AAD resources
Additional resources
For more information about mpox, visit the CDC website for mpox at: www.cdc.gov/mpox.
Reference
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Illegally sold monkeypox products.” Content current as of 1/31/2023. Last accessed 11/5/2024.
Written by:
American Academy of Dermatology
Reviewed by:
Esther Ellen Freeman, MD, PhD, FAAD
George J. Hruza, MD, MBA, FAAD
William Warren Kwan, MD, FAAD
J. Klint Peebles, MD, FAAD
Adrian O. Rodriguez, MD, FAAD
Misha Rosenbach, MD, FAAD
Last updated: 11/12/24