| Stress - a MAJOR factor in how a rash behaves (or not). Apparently, when one is under stress the body releases histamines to the skin. This causes a rash. For those who already have a rash, well the rash appears to spread. Here is a great reference:
Stress and Skin
Then there's the issue of scratching releasing histamines. Check out this link:
Scratch Science
And our friend Dr. Greene discusses how additional histamines make the itch worse:
Dr. Greene's page
I guess that's why I can get away with doing nothing for the rash except keeping it clean and dry. I don't stress anymore. I survived a nasty round back in 1995 (on my chest, neck, face and end of my nose no less - yuck!) and figured that after that nothing is so bad. No more stress.
| 
