Skin rash in babies: the most common causes and treatment options

It happens that red spots on the baby’s face seem very bad, although the cause is ultimately harmless. On the other hand, it is also possible that only a few pimples appear, which in turn could indicate serious skin problems. If in doubt, it is worthwhile to always consult a pediatrician if you have a skin rash.

So you play it safe and also get valuable medical tips for effective treatment. Tried and tested home remedies usually help to get rid of the rash in the baby.

What is a rash?

A skin rash in babies, but also in adults, is referred to as an exanthema in the professional world. The rash usually occurs very suddenly and can appear on a wide variety of parts of the body.

Appearance may also vary. For example, red spots appear on the baby’s face, or blisters or scales form on the skin. The triggers for the rash on the face or body are either skin diseases or allergies.

Infectious diseases such as measles, scarlet fever or chickenpox can also cause a rash. Atopic dermatitis or psoriasis is usually accompanied by a very stubborn, itchy rash on the baby. Adults can also be affected by this annoying skin disease.

A skin rash is a specific reaction of the skin as a “response” to internal or hormonal or external influences. This reaction can manifest itself not only as red spots on the face, but also in the form of blisters, nodules or redness. Weeping patches of skin and/or itching are also an annoying consequence of these influences.

Common causes of skin rash in babies

• Allergies
• Infectious diseases such as rubella or ringworm , scarlet fever or measles
• Skin fungus
• Shingles
• Lyme disease
• Autoimmune diseases such as neurodermatitis, psoriasis or acne
• Psychological factors
• Influence of medication
• Hormonal fluctuations

When should you go to the pediatrician for a baby’s skin rash?

• With a pronounced skin rash, going to the doctor you trust is inevitable.
• You should take your baby to the pediatrician if the cause is unclear and you are generally unsure about the exanthem.
• If red spots on the face continue to spread, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
• In the event that your child develops other symptoms in addition to the rash on his face, a visit to the doctor gives you peace of mind.
• If the rash on the baby is extremely itchy, painful or excessively weeping, you should see a doctor.

Tip:

After an in-depth discussion with the patient, your child will be physically examined. This may require a tissue sample, a skin swab or an allergy test. The doctor usually takes blood from the little patient in order to be able to make a targeted diagnosis in this way.

Human skin is made up of over two billion cells. The skin is the largest human organ. It protects the body from solar radiation, overheating, dehydration and excessive heat loss.

It is also an excellent protector against pathogens. In babies, it covers an area of ​​about 0.75 square meters and weighs a total of two to three kilograms.

Important:

 

As much as human skin protects us, we should also take care to protect the skin. The skin of babies and small children in particular is very sensitive and usually reacts immediately to internal and external influences. These are usually visible within a very short time.

This is how the skin changes due to external and internal influences:

If the skin changes optically, this is referred to in technical jargon as an efflorescence. If the baby’s skin rash only appears in individual areas, it is called an exanthema. it is quite possible for the rash to appear on the face, fingers, hands or legs.

A rash on the baby can occur just as often in the back of the knees, in the area of ​​the toes, on the forearms or in the elbows. Skin rashes can also be seen in the genital area, on the forearms, on the back or on the tummy when certain factors come together.

Even the mouth and throat area is not immune to a rash.

• Babies often notice red spots on their face when they are stressed or scared.
• The skin reacts with pallor to nausea or exhaustion.
• Rashes can also occur due to hormonal fluctuations.
• Heat and cold are common triggers for skin rashes in children
• Food intolerances can be accompanied by a rash on the face and/or body.
• In the case of drug intolerance, a rash can appear on both the face and extremities.

What is eczema?

Doctors speak of eczema when a skin rash occurs in the baby or in the adult, which is caused by skin inflammation. Eczema is always a non-contagious inflammatory disease of the skin.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s internal or external influences – eczema can develop relatively easily, especially in children, but it can also disappear completely within a few weeks.

The most common rashes

The diaper rash

A sore bottom or the so-called diaper rash often occurs in babies. The skin on the bottom is red or irritated. One speaks of “being sore”. The baby usually feels great pain when the skin is irritated.

A doctor’s visit is usually not necessary for a sore bottom. In fact, you can use a good wound protection cream to help the skin calm down again.

milia

A rash on the face in the form of small, hard, or white pimples is not in itself dramatic. These are the so-called milia, which are only caused by blocked sebum or sweat glands.

In infancy, but also in adolescence, many young people struggle with milia. It is important that you don’t push around with it, but simply “sit out” the whole thing. Because milia are usually a thing of the past after a few days.

neurodermatitis

Even newborns can suffer from neurodermatitis. This so-called psoriasis is associated with scaly, weeping or inflamed areas of skin and can be very itchy.

Those affected usually find the skin disease very distressing. Close cooperation with an allergist and a dermatologist is therefore essential for parents with a child suffering from neurodermatitis.

Heat or cold pimples

Because babies’ skin is very sensitive, it usually reacts highly sensitively to the effects of cold and heat. Pimples, red spots on the face, but also rough and even cracked areas can develop.

Protect your baby from the summer heat and from the sun’s dangerous UVA and UVB rays. In addition, your child’s skin should never be exposed to cold weather without protection. The best thing to do is to use a rich, fragrance-free cream – and wear warm clothing.

Head gneiss or cradle cap

Cradle cap occurs in many babies. The scaly deposits on the scalp are sometimes confused with cranial gneiss. While head gneiss is absolutely harmless, cradle cap may require medical treatment.

If in doubt, it is best to consult your trusted pediatrician at the first sign of scaly skin.

three days fever

Three-day fever is a viral infection. It is particularly common in babies and young children between the ages of six months and three years. If your child has a high fever, this can be the first sign that they are struggling with three-day fever.

As soon as the fever has subsided, tiny red spots appear all over the body. This rash is usually clearly visible for about two to three days. However, it does not itch or hurt and usually disappears again after a short time.

It’s a good idea to see a pediatrician and make sure the baby is drinking enough fluids.

From a layman’s point of view, it is often hardly possible to find out which rash it is. It can be helpful at first to find out where the rash appeared.

In professional circles, this is referred to as so-called localization. The visual inspection of the appearance with regard to the type, extent and course of the rash is called efflorescence. These two factors are often indicative when trying to determine the cause of the rash.

Is the rash in the diaper area? Then it could be diaper rash or a fungal disease or thrush.

Is the trunk mostly affected by the rash? Is the rash also visible on the arms and legs? Do you also notice blisters on your child’s oral mucosa? Then it could be scarlet fever, measles or chickenpox.

Chronically dry eczema, which occurs with slight tears in the earlobe area, is usually a sign of psoriasis. Does the rash appear on the face and also on the body, arms and legs? It could be a drug or food intolerance.

Tip:

If your child’s rash is accompanied by severe itching, it could help to give them so-called antihistamines. This is especially beneficial when itching and/or pain make it difficult for you to sleep well at night. However, the administration of medication on your own is not recommended under any circumstances.

Combat the exanthema efficiently

Experience has shown that the rash can sometimes even worsen as a result. It is best to consult a doctor. This is the best way to help your child. In addition, you will usually receive valuable tips and suggestions from the experienced doctor on how you can better prevent another skin rash in the baby in the future.

This is how the pediatrician helps 

Skin rash in babies:

Depending on which skin rash it is and what the cause is, the doctor uses different forms of therapy. The administration of antibiotics or antivirals often helps.

While an antibiotic does not help with a viral skin disease, an antiviral is not recommended for bacterial skin diseases. Topical treatment of the affected areas of the skin with creams or ointments is the most common way to treat the baby’s rash and provide relief.