What You Need to Know About Baby Skin Rash

Baby’s skin is probably as close to perfect skin as you can get.  However, just because it generally appears flawless doesn’t automatically exempt it from unsightly rashes.  Your baby’s skin is very sensitive and as such, any appearance of rashes, discolorations or lesions must be examined with care to determine their root cause.  Here are some symptoms and causes that often lead to skin rashes in babies and what you can do about them:

Neonatal acne

Yes, babies can get acne, which can appear as pinkish to reddish pimples.  These bumps on the skin often appear if the baby had been exposed to his/her mother’s hormones while still in the womb.

This type of skin rash is often temporary and can last from a few weeks to a few months.  There is no need to use medication or other forms of treatment because it will resolve on its own.

Milia

Milia appear as white bumps on the face, particularly on the area of the nose.  These are merely whiteheads, caused by oil glands that have been blocked.  Like baby acne, this type of skin rash will eventually disappear.

Prickly heat

Prickly heat appears as tiny red bumps on the baby’s body, often on the neck, shoulders, chest and back and occasionally, on the face, armpits and diaper area.  It is caused by sweat and quite often appears on babies during the summer.  It can also be common for infants and toddlers living in tropical areas.

To treat, frequent change in clothing will help, particularly if the clothes are loose and made of natural fibers.  It will also help to keep the baby cool to prevent sweating.

Cradle cap

Cradle cap is technically called seborrhea.  It appears as white to yellow crusts on the scalp.  Cradle cap is caused by excess oil, which explains why it appears and feels greasy.  Although it is often limited to the scalp area, it might spread out to the face, ears and neck.  Occasionally, it can also affect the baby’s armpits.

To treat cradle cap, simply ask your pediatrician for a mild baby shampoo and follow directions carefully.  Have your baby’s skin rash checked as well in order to eliminate any underlying conditions.

Eczema

Eczema is a form of dermatitis or inflammation of the skin.  It appears as groups of red or deep pink rashes on the baby’s skin, frequently on the face, torso, arms, legs, behind the baby’s knees and elbows.  Eczema is often caused by allergic reactions to food, medication, certain substances or even fiber.

To treat this type of baby skin rash, it’s prudent to seek the help of a pediatrician.  You can also help alleviate the itchy symptoms for your baby by using gentle soaps and shampoos.  Switch to hypoallergenic products for washing baby’s clothes to help prevent any allergic skin reactions.  In some cases when eczema is stubborn, topical steroid creams might be prescribed.

Diaper rash

Probably the most common baby skin rash is diaper rash.  Prolonged use of soiled diapers (either by feces or urine) will irritate the baby’s sensitive skin, causing it to break out into red, pimply patches.

Diaper rash can be very uncomfortable for the baby and at times, quite itchy and painful, so it’s often best to prevent the condition from happening.  Using fresh, clean diapers and frequent washing will help.  To treat the skin rash, a steroid cream might be prescribed to eliminate the inflammation.  Allowing the baby to go diaper-free for a few hours each day will also do wonders for his/her skin.

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