Treatment For Rash In Babies

These Rashes May Look Worrisome But Will Self Resolve

When a baby’s rash is due to developing oil glands or maturing skin, a Pediatrician will often recommend that you leave the rash alone until it resolves. Here are examples of these kinds of rashes in babies:

Dry Peeling Skin In A Newborn – This happens in the first few days of life as full-term babies shed their upper layer of skin that was exposed to fluids & substances in the womb. We don’t recommend any lotions or creams at this age. As this skin peels away, normal new soft skin comes to the surface.

Baby Acne – This can be due to maternal hormones or overproduction of oil from a newborn’s oil glands. It appears by 1-2 mos of age and self resolves within a few weeks. It helps to gently clean your baby’s skin with warm water and hypoallergenic baby soap. Avoid any fragranced lotions or soaps.

Milia – This appears as pinpoint yellow or white bumps along the nose or cheeks in the first few weeks of life. It results from trapped dead skin cells and will self resolve. It is harmless, doesn’t bother your baby and no management is recommended.

Home Remedies & Prescriptions Can Help These Rashes

In addition to oil production from immature glands, a rash in babies can result from frequent rubbing or irritation of skin. Sometimes it can also be due to underlying allergies or an infection of the skin. These situations may require a doctor’s evaluation to get you the right management recommendations for your baby.

Cradle Cap – This is yellow flaky or scaly residue that can appear on a baby’s scalp, eyebrows or behind their ears. It is due to oil production and usually appears between 2-4 months of age. Though it is harmless and will self resolve, many parents want to make it go away. You can rub some oil into the scales, let it soak in for ½ an hour, wash away with gentle baby shampoo and then gently scrub away with a washcloth or soft brush.

Heat Rash – Sweat can clog a baby’s pores and create small red pimple like bumps. The best thing parents can do is keep their babies in cool areas, use washcloths to wipe away excess sweat/drool/food & dress babies in cotton clothing to allow skin to breathe easier.

Diaper Rash – Parents can easily be alarmed by pink discoloration in their baby’s diaper region.

This can result from: 1) irritation from frequent wiping, 2) sitting too long in moisture or stool, 3) an allergic reaction to contacts like diapers, wipes, lotions or oils or 4) an infection.

If airing out your baby’s private region, rinsing with water instead of wipes, and using your tried & true Zinc Oxide Cream with Topical Barriers like A&D Ointment or Vaseline don’t resolve the situation it’s time to see a Pediatrician for a possible prescription cream or compound.

Also, if your baby develops sores or starts bleeding in their diaper region – seek medical attention.

Drool Rash – Constant drooling, trapped saliva behind bottles & pacifiers and your baby rubbing their food & saliva all over their cheeks can lead to red irritated cheeks. (It only makes it worse when we’re constantly kissing or rubbing those cute cheeks!)

Keeping their cheeks, chins & chest clean from saliva & food while applying barriers like Vaseline or Aquaphor to keep them from getting further chapped is all very helpful.

Again, if your baby begins to develop skin breakdown, redness, oozing, warmth of the area or it just isn’t getting better – seek medical attention.

Eczema – Red, rough, dry, flaky skin on the cheeks, in the creases of the elbows & behind the knees can be a result of food allergies, exposures to certain irritants or even a response to changes in climate. Eczema can often run in families.

Frequent moisturization of your baby’s skin is key to management of Eczema. Bathe your child daily for no more than 10 minutes, then cover their entire body with hypoallergenic lotion like Eucerin, Aquaphor, Cetaphil or Aveeno. In some cases a thicker ointment like Vaseline is very helpful.

If the rash isn’t improving or is spreading or beginning to look inflamed (red/hot/oozing) then it’s time to see a doctor for possible prescriptions & a treatment plan to help your baby feel better faster.

Thrush – This is a common fungal/yeast infection in the mouth of newborns that makes their tongue/inner lips/inner cheeks look like there are patches of cotton or cottage cheese on them. These patches don’t rub away and are different from milk residue.

It is important for your child to see a doctor to get a prescription of anti-fungal oral medication. Sometimes it will cross-infect breast-feeding moms. They, too, will need medication to feel better.

Yeast Infections – A fungal infection of any part of the body is called a yeast infection. The medical term for yeast infection is called candidiasis because it is due to a fungus called Candida. (A yeast infection of the mouth is specifically called Thrush.)

Babies in the first few months of life can develop yeast infections in the creases of their necks, armpits or creases of the groin because moisture gets trapped in these regions and allows Candida to thrive. Another place moisture gets trapped is the diaper region. Yeast infections are quite common in the diaper region as well.

Yeast Infections look shiny bright pink, sometimes with little pink dots/patches as they spread. Keeping these areas clean, dry and allowing them to air out is all very helpful. If the rash isn’t improving, or it is spreading, it is important to see a doctor to get the right medication to treat your baby.

Is It Possible To Treat My Baby’s Rash Using Telemedicine?

The saying “A picture is worth a thousand words,” applies without a doubt in this situation! There will be times you don’t want to take your baby out into the elements of the world or are just exhausted from the duties of being a new parent. In these situations, a telemedicine Pediatrician can easily help allay your concerns. They can give you their expert knowledge to help you understand why your baby is having this rash and what you can do about it.

Birthmarks like Strawberry Hemangiomas or Mongolian Spots are easily evaluated by telemedicine. Birthmarks can be bothersome for parents to look at, but may not warrant a full-blown trip to the doctor.

Certain Rashes In Babies Need A Doctor’s Evaluation Immediately

Infectious Rashes in the newborn period can be very dangerous if not treated promptly.

Here are 2 types of rashes that warrant immediate action:

Tiny blisters spreading on your baby’s skin make us worry about Herpes that could have been contracted in the birth canal or if a relative with a cold sore kissed the baby. Herpes can spread through your baby’s body and affect their brain if untreated.

Pinpoint red/pink dots under the baby’s skin that don’t move or get faint when you press on them can make us concerned that your baby has an infection of the brain or spinal cord called meningitis.

Because babies have very innocent immune systems, infections can spread quickly all over the body.

If your baby develops extreme fussiness, fevers > 100.4°F, or becomes unresponsive, it could mean a newborn infection has spread throughout their body. This requires your baby to be seen by a Pediatrician or ER & possibly be hospitalized immediately.