Rash

A rash indicates an abnormal change in skin color or texture. Rashes are usually caused by skin irritation, which can have many causes. A rash is any bumps or spots on the skin. The rash can be red, skin-colored, or slightly lighter or darker than skin color. Prickly heat causes rash or blotches during hot weather or in a hot environment just like a heat rash.

Hives are red welts that appear to move around on the body. They differ in size and shape and are usually very itchy. The most common cause of hives is a viral infection. There is no treatment for the virus, and the hives may last for a few weeks. You can use antihistamine medication for the itching. Sometimes bacterial infections cause hives. These are treated with antibiotics. Sometimes hives can be a sign of an allergy. This is best determined by your health care provider.

Milia/miliaria are tiny white, clear or red bumps on the skin.  These usually occur on the face and chest. Usually the white or clear ones are seen in newborns. The red ones are also called heat rash or prickly heat.

Baby acne is caused by exposure to the mother’s adult hormones. Little white dots often seen on a newborn’s nose represent an abnormal amount of normal skin oil that is a result of these hormones. Acne usually occurs between 2 and 4 weeks of age, but may appear up to 4 months after birth and can last for 12 – 18 months.

Eczema is a condition of the skin in which areas are dry, red (or darker than normal skin color), and itchy. When it goes on for a long time the areas become thickened. It is often associated with asthma and allergies, although it can often occur without either of these. Eczema often runs in families.

Cradle cap causes greasy, scaling, crusty patches on the scalp that appear in a baby’s first 3 months. It usually goes away by itself, but some cases may require treatment with medication.

Erythema toxicum can cause flat red splotches. These splotches are usually with a white, pimple-like bump in the middle and appear in up to half of all babies. These blotches rarely appear after 5 days of age, are usually gone in 7 – 14 days, and are nothing to worry about.

Most baby rashes cause no harm and go away in time on their own.