One question for parents: What is red and scratchy but can also be lumpy and bumpy and can develop on the skin of your little one?
Answer: If you answered rash, you are absolutely right!
Oh Crap! What is that? Where it came from?
It is parents ‘universal reaction whenever their cutie develops a very bright red and very visible rash?
Is your toddler itching and scratching badly or is covered in red, scaly and oozy bumps? While you see your munchkin through only rose-colored glasses, sometimes that rosy cheeks is an indication of skin rash in infants– but rest assured that most skin rashes in infants are nothing much serious and will fade off on their own or with a little help from a doctor-prescribed medicine.
If you have no idea what is causing the rash on your baby’s skin, read this write-up that best describes different types of rashes that may develop on the toddler’s skin.
| In a highly publicized case, Carter’s, a renowned children’s clothing manufacturer, ran into a big problem with their winter 2007 catalog. There were reports all around that babies with highly sensitive skin were experiencing allergic reactions to the heat-transferred, tag-less, labels utilized in the baby clothing.“It appears that a very little percentage of babies can be allergic to one or more constituents in the labels. The solid, in place of stenciled, background on the winter 2007 labels seems to have produced a more noticeable and hyped reaction among those children who are more allergic to ink,” the company announcement stated.Fortunately, a majority of skin rashes that develops in infants and toddlers are non-life threatening and usually subsides by themselves or with the help of medicines, Lotions and creams may be prescribed to aid in soothing the accompanying itch or burn |
Infant Skin Rashes
Milia
Many babies are born with milia; petite white bumps that appear on the cheeks, nose and chin. Most instances of milia vanish on their own within few weeks. In the meantime, wash your little baby’s face once a day with a mild soap and water.
Symptoms
- Small (around 1mm) white bumps that may appear on the cheeks, chin and nose of approximately half of all newborns
Treatment
- Milia are not at all contagious
- It goes off spontaneously over the first few weeks of life. No therapy is required, and the tiny bumps do not cause scars
Baby or Infantile Acne
Baby acne develops as white or red bumps on the cheeks or forehead of the baby. The condition usually appears within the 1st-month after birth due to exposure to maternal hormones during pregnancy. Infantile acne vanishes on its own within a few months. Meantime, consult your baby’s physician if acne does not heal within a few months or you would like to go for a more aggressive treatment. Moreover, you must wash the baby’s face once a day with mild soap and water.
Symptoms
- The rash commonly appears at about two-weeks of age, increases in intensity for 2-weeks and fades off without scarring over the next two months
- The rash commonly involves cheeks and nose
- While the exact cause of baby acne is still unknown, most doctors believe it indicates the sensitivity of oil glands of the baby to the maternal hormone level of pregnancy
Treatment
- Wash the face of the baby one time in a day with mild soap and water
Cradle Cap (or Seborrheic Dermatitis)
If your little one’s scalp is dry and flaky that appears like dandruff, oily, thick- brown or yellowish scaling and crusting patches, it is likely cradle cap. Physician calls it infantile Seborrheic dermatitis and it very common.
Cradle cap skin rash in infants is not at all cute, but it is harmless. It appears most often in the first few months of life and often clears up on its own in around 6-12 months – although some babies have it for longer. You may observe similar condition around your cutie’s eyebrows, ears and eyelids or even in his armpits and other creases.
The cause is still unknown. But we do know that cradle cap is not triggered by allergies or poor hygiene.
Symptoms
- Cradle cap is greasy, red, scaly and bumpy rash that can appear on the scalp, in the armpits, diaper area and behind the ears.
- It commonly develops at around 6-weeks of age and can vanish within a few months
- It is not contagious and will not scar
Treatments
- Shampoo more frequently (once a day), however be sure to rinse out all the shampoo or soap. After shampooing, gently brush the scalp of your baby with a soft terrycloth towel or brush
- Parents have has success using baby shampoos designed especially for cradle cap
- Gently massage the baby’s scalp with your fingers or a soft brush in order to loosen the scales
Diaper/ Nappy Rash
The effects of feces and urine on the sensitive skin of the newborn cause this skin rash. The folds and creases are spared in this rash, opposed to Candida or seborrhea diaper rash
It develops as a red puffy rash around the baby’s bottom, thighs and genitals. The rash can sometimes look pimply and can be either moist or dry. The baby may get the nappy rash during the first year of his life, and wetness is the key cause.
Symptoms
- The skin rash in infants appear as redness on the skin, with pimply spots and shiny patches
- The rash is usually appears in the diaper area, which includes the upper thighs, genitalia and buttocks
- The affected skin may be warm when touched. The creases and folds of the skin are generally unaffected
- An infant or toddler with nappy rash may seem more irritable and may cry or complain during nappy changes, particularly when the skin in the diaper area is being touched or cleaned
- Blisters, red or badly swollen areas can also be sign of infection
Treatments
- The best remedy is to keep the bottom of the baby clean and dry by frequently changing the nappy
- Ensure that the baby clothing is well-rinsed and do not use fabric softeners as they may irritate your baby’s delicate skin
- Topical creams with zinc oxide also confer a barricade and may aid with healing of the nappy rash
- Many doctors suggest that allowing the bottom to go bare for numerous hours a day helps heal a diaper rash
- Extra bathing will promote resolution to nappy rash
Erythema Toxicum
If your little one has Erythema Toxicum, it will appear on his skin as red spots will tiny white or yellow pustules in the middle. Newborns usually get this rash about 2-5 days after birth. Erythema Toxicum can pop-up anywhere on your newborn’s body, except on the soles of his feet and palms of his hands. It will probably disappear on its own within 2-weeks.
Symptoms
- The rash is characterized by numerous flat red areas about 1cm in diameter. Often in the center will be a little raised 2-3 mm yellow or white bump
- The rash begins the 2nd or 3rd day of life and usually disappears without treatment in 1-2 weeks
- The rash begins with tiny blisters on a red base
- Sometimes only the blotchy red base appears, and sometimes the blisters have a yellow or white material inside
Treatment
- Since the rash is not serious and not contagious, it does not need treatment
- The rash can appear somewhat identical to other sorts of rash, therefore consult your baby’s doctor with any concerns or questions
It is absolutely normal for babies to develop skin rashes from as early as a few days old because their delicate skin adapts to a different environment. Most skin rashes in infants are harmless and vanish on their own.
Nevertheless, if your infant has developed a rash and looks unwell, or if you are worried, consult the doctor to find the cause and any necessary treatments.
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