Baby’s skin is soft and sensitive, hence more prone to a skin rash that results from products, dryness, humidity, and environmental factors. Most of these skin rashes and conditions are not serious and recover on their own. This is a guide to the most common skin conditions and rashes and how to deal with them.
NB: This information is not for diagnosis. If you notice any of the following symptoms on your little one’s skin it’s advised to consult a doctor to prescribe a safe and effective treatment.
MOST COMMON RASHES AMONG NEWBORNS
Neonatal Acne: These are pimples that rise on a baby’s skin. They look like adults’ acne. It’s known to be caused by maternal hormones. It doesn’t need treatment and goes on its own after few days or few months.
Erythema Toxicum: It looks like red spots raised on the skin. It can have white or yellow color in the center. The cause is not known. It goes on its own after few days or months.
Skin dryness, and scales: It appears on almost every baby’s skin; especially those who are born later. The underlying skin is soft and healthy.
White bumps on skin “milia”: It occurs due to blocked oil glands. When enlarge and open those bumps fade.
Salmon Patches: It appears on the back of the neck and between eyes. It’s a nest of blood vessels that usually leave after weeks or months. In some cases, it stays on the skin. It’s know to be a result of maternity hormones.
Jaundice: Yellow coloration of the skin due to increase in the bilirubin in the blood. Exposing the skin to white or blue light helps in lowering bilirubin levels.
Mongolian spots: flat dark spots appear on any area of the skin. It’s bluish grey with various sizes. They are not harmful and usually fade away at school age.
MOST COMMON SKIN RASHES AMONG BABIES IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS
Cradle cap: Often appears one or two months after birth. It appears as thick scales on the scalp. It can also exist on the back of the ears, neck, face, and armpits.
Eczema: It appears on the face, arms, legs, and behind knees. It happens to dry and sensitive skin. It happens also as a result of some irritating products. Your doctor diagnoses the case and prescribes a safe and effective treatment. It’s advised to use gentle products designed for sensitive baby skin.
Prickly heat: It appears as red raised bumps. It often exists on skin that is more prone to heat and sweat, like the neck, diaper area, and armpits. To treat them keep the skin dry and cool by dressing the baby loose-fit clothes.
Fungal infection: It appears in different ways. Like White thrush on the tongue, or red rashes on the diaper area. Fungi love wet and dark places. It’s treated either by local creams or oral antifungals, or both.
In the first few months, any rashes associated with other symptoms like a cough, fever, poor feeding, lethargy, the baby will need evaluation by a doctor as soon as possible.
Author
Dr.Abeer
Pharmacist/Mother/ Interested in Child Care and Positive Discipline