Identifying Infant Rashes

Baby skin is so soft and delicate.  Being so delicate though can cause there to be lots of different bumps, or rash breakouts from lots of different contributors.  The trouble you can have is trying to identify what is causing the rash, and what rash your child is suffering from.  There are a few main rashes that can cause your baby trouble.  Some main causes of rashes are the weather, lotions, detergent, perfumes, or even bathing too often.  

 

Eczema

One of the main rashes that affects nearly 20% of infants is eczema.  Eczema is a rash that has pink or red patches of dry skin, or the skin will look cracked.  It can happen anywhere on the body though it is normally found behind the knees, cheeks, or arms.  Your baby may be more prone to getting eczema if you have a family history of it.  Most of the time though with infant eczema it will go away on its own as the baby gets older. 

Some triggers that could aggravate the eczema are wool, being too hot, soaps, fragrances, lotions, and detergent. 

If your baby has eczema you will want to give them lukewarm baths, only occasionally, over bathing can aggravate the eczema as well.  After bathing pat the skin dry instead of rubbing. Make sure to moisturize with unscented gentle lotions or creams.  You can try changing your laundry detergent to see if that helps it go away.  When it is warm outside make sure your baby is in light breathable clothes that allow the skin to breathe and your baby not become too hot.  Whenever you buy new clothes make sure you wash them before wearing.  

 

Heat Rash

Another common rash your baby can develop is heat rash.  This is when your baby’s sweat glands become clogged, not allowing their bodies to cool down appropriately.  This is very common in the summer hot days, if it is overly humid, or if you have over bundled them on a cooler day. 

Heat rash will look like tiny pink or clear bumps.  These bumps usually appear in the folds of the skin, such as the thighs, but they can also be found  on the cheeks, by the diaper area, legs, neck, chest, and face. 

If you notice your child is developing a heat rash apply a cool rag to the back of their neck, or unbundle them.  Make sure on hot days they are in cool breathable clothing.  You can use a cortisone cream or an antihistamine in severe cases.  Heat rash usually goes away once the baby’s temperature is lowered and they start to cool off.  If you are outside with them when a heat rash presents try taking them into the shade, offering cool water, or taking them into some air conditioning to help their body cool down. 

 

Read More:  Fast Food Can Cause Eczema, Asthma In Kids

 

Yeast Infections

Yeast infections are also a common rash your baby can develop.  Usually found in the diaper area, or on the bottom this rash will be red patches of skin with papules.  A papule will be a swollen bump of skin that isn’t producing pus. 

Yeast infections can happen in baby’s that are taking antibiotics, or are breastfeeding and the mother is taking an antibiotic.  The antibiotics cause the good bacteria to be killed that keeps the yeast in the body under control.  Too much yeast causes the yeast infection. 

Barrier cream on the rash can help as well as making sure you clean thoroughly each diaper change.  Loosening up the diaper so air can still flow into it can also help dry up the rash. 

 

Molluscum Contaiosum 

Molluscum Contagiosum, usually affecting one year old’s, is a form of the pox virus.  Since it is a form of the pox virus it can be spread to other people.  It isn’t dangerous and the immune system will fight it off on its own.  The pox will be a clump of pink or pearly bumps found behind the knees, in creases, but can be anywhere. 

 

Hand Foot and Mouth Disease & Hives

Two other common rashes are hand foot and mouth disease, and hives. 

Hand foot mouth disease is when a rash is found like the name says, on the hands, feet or in the mouth.  The sores can sometimes be painful, especially in the mouth which can make feeding difficult sometimes.  There is no treatment, it is most common in the summer and the bumps will present pink on the skin and in the mouth. 

Hives are also very common when seasons are changing.  Hives can be a reaction to an allergen or even a virus.  Hives should come and go within minutes of being exposed to whatever allergen affects your baby.  Common allergens could be pollen, detergent, perfumes, even food allergies could cause hives.  If the hives don’t resolve or your baby starts having difficulty breathing along with them, call your doctor immediately. 

 

Treatments

Babies are susceptible to a lot of different rashes, and contact dermatitis.  Sometimes finding the cause is like going on a scavenger hunt to figure out what is causing them.  If your baby is prone to getting rashes there are some things you can do to help. 

  • Make sure that your baby is being hydrated inside and out.  This means make sure they are getting enough fluids during the day, as well as moisturizing up that soft wonderful skin a couple times a day as well. 
  • Adjust the temperature inside the home, make sure it isn’t too hot and that the humidity is at a good level as well. 
  • Make sure your baby is appropriately clothed, not too bundled, but bundled enough that the cold air won’t chap their skin. 
  • Short lukewarm baths are best for their skin, and patting them dry instead of rubbing will also help. 
  • If your baby is drooling or has a runny nose, pat that away to avoid a chapped face. 
  • If you swim in a chlorinated pool a quick rinse to get all the chemicals off can also help protect the skin. 
  • Finding out if anything triggers a rash for your baby and avoiding or changing that can also help, whether that is laundry detergent, perfumes, or lotions.  

 

Seek Medical Help

Usually rashes come and go without needing any intervention from a doctor.  If a rash lasts for longer than two weeks and doesn’t go away, or your child has other symptoms along with a rash you will want to consult with your doctor to make sure there isn’t something more serious going on.  

 

Read More:  What Your Skin Is Trying To Tell You

 


Your baby may be more prone to getting eczema if you have a family history of it.


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Written by HealthStatus Team
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our blood alcohol, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years. Our team of health professionals, and researchers use peer reviewed studies as source elements in our articles. Our high quality content has been featured in a number of leading websites, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Live Strong, GQ, and many more.

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