Posts Tagged ‘baby’

Infant Heat Rash

Heat rash is most common in babies and young infants when they become overheated, either because it is too warm outside or they are simply overdressed or have a fever. Although having an infant heat rash is common, it is likely not as common as many parents believe. It is typical to call any red rash kids may have when it is hot outside a heat rash.

Learning to distinguish heat rash from other common skin rashes, such as impetigo, eczema, folliculitis, and poison ivy, can be helpful so that you can properly treat and prevent this common rash. Though heat rash can affect anyone, newborns are most susceptible. As the name implies, infant heat rash is triggered in certain children when they become overheated, either because they are overdressed or because it is simply too hot outside. As they become hot and sweat, their sweat ducts become blocked and rupture.

Because a newborn’s sweat ducts aren’t fully developed, they rupture easily, trapping perspiration beneath the skin. This happens most often in hot weather, but it can occur anytime infants are dressed too warmly. Newborns who have high fevers or are in incubators can also develop blocked sweat ducts. The inflamed sweat ducts look like small bumps with a red halo around them and can usually be found grouped together under a child’s clothing and inside the folds of his skin, such as his neck, armpits, and groin. Infants who wear a hat may also get a heat rash on their forehead and scalp. Most often, heat rash goes away on its own. Severe forms of heat rash may need medical care, but the best way to relieve symptoms is to cool your skin and prevent sweating.

Mild heat rash doesn’t require any other treatment, but more severe forms may need topical therapies to relieve discomfort and prevent complications. Topical treatments may include things like calamine lotion to soothe itching or lanolin, which may help prevent duct blockage and stop new lesions from forming.  Topical steroids are often used in the most serious cases. Some anecdotal evidence supports the use of oral vitamin C supplements to help relieve heat rash also. However you should contact your health care provider if your child experiencing any of the following symptoms:

* A fever or other unexplained symptoms associated with the rash
* Any areas that look wet, oozing, or red, which are signs of infection
* A rash that extends beyond the diaper area
* A rash that is worse in the skin creases
* A rash, spots, blister, or discoloration and is younger than 3 months
* Blisters
* No improvement after 3 days of home treatment
* Significant scratching

Toddler Rashes

Toddler rashes can be symptoms of many different ailments. It is hard to determine exactly what it may be unless a visit to the pediatrician is planned.  By doing a little research you may be able to get a general idea of what potentially could be causing the rash.

Diaper rash, Fifth disease Scarlet fever, Roseola, Eczema and Hives are all childhood afflictions very frequent in newborns and toddlers.  Unfortunately, diaper rash is common until a child is completely out of diapers. The skin may become red and itchy and your toddler may be irritable. It can be treated easily.

A symptom of fifth disease is a pink or red rash that may look like lace. It appears on the cheeks and/or arms. Fifth disease needs to be treated by a doctor. Scarlet fever often accompanies strep throat and a fever. The rash will likely feel rough and may or may not be felt by the toddler.

Roseola is a red rash that generally follows the breaking of a fever due to a viral infection. It is not serious. Eczema is a broad term used for skin rashes of different natures. It often occurs in toddlers with sensitive skin. Triggers may be identified by the parent or a pediatrician and treated. Hives may appear as a rash or welts on the skin. These are often caused by an allergic reaction. They can be serious and may require a visit to the doctor.

Heat rash is also known as prickly heat or summer rash.  It is one of the most common toddler rashes.  It is an eruption of little bumps on the skin that can show up when a child overheats. The bumps may appear red, especially on light skin. Heat rash is not painful but it can be very itchy and annoying. It also is a sign that your toddler is over heated.

Symptoms to watch for are a pimply rash on neck, chest, stomach, back, under arms, or near edges of diaper or clothing. Tiny blisters will also accompany this rash.  If your toddler gets too warm or has too many layers of clothing on and develops a rash you can start by cooling your toddler off.  Loosen or remove any clothing. Move the toddler into a cool room or a shady spot. Allow your child to air dry instead of rubbing him with a towel.  Using ointments or creams on the rash is not recommended.  These can make the toddler rash worse.

Baby Rashes Pictures

Cradle cap

Heat rash

Diaper rash

Most newborns and toddlers end up with some type of baby rash.  This can be anything from baby acne, heat rash, diaper rash, cradle cap, prickly heat or miliaria crystalline. Chicken pox and eczema are also common childhood afflictions.  Most of these rashes are harmless and go away on their own.

Cradle cap, a common rash on a baby’s head, is usually easy to recognize, with symptoms that can include a scalp rash that is dry and flaky.  It also appears as thick, greasy, yellow or brown scales.  Other symptoms is it has red patches with crust and is sometimes itchy.

For mild cradle cap, time is often the best treatment, as many children get better on their own.

If the baby has red skin around the diaper area, diaper rash is most likely the culprit. Most diaper rashes occur because of skin irritation due to diapers that are too tight; wet diapers left on for too long; or a particular brand of detergent, diapers, or baby wipes. Avoid it by keeping the diaper area open to the air as long as possible, changing your baby’s diaper as soon as it’s wet, washing with a warm cloth, and applying zinc oxide cream.

Baby acne gets its start in the womb, where baby is exposed to mom’s hormones. Those hormones increase oil production which in turn clogs baby’s oil glands. Pimples on baby’s nose and cheeks usually clear up by themselves in a few weeks. So you don’t need to treat baby acne or use lotion.  If your child starts to get blisters on the body or face or limbs that then crust as new blisters appear, this is probably chicken pox.

Although having a heat rash is common in infants, it is likely not as common as many parents believe, who tend to call any red rash their baby has when it is hot outside a heat rash. As the name tends to imply, heat rash is triggered in certain children when they become overheated, either because they are overdressed or because it is simply too hot outside.

When comparing baby rashes pictures are a good way to identify which rash is which.  Most baby rashes pictures will also include detailed descriptions that can be helpful in identifying the type of rash affecting your infant.  It is common for some rashes to be confused with others. In the event there is still some doubt as to what you are dealing with it is a good idea to contact your doctor.

Baby Hives

Hives, also known as urticaria or welts, are swollen areas on the skin. They can show up in different shapes and sizes, but are generally well defined, with a pale, central, raised area surrounded by a red border. Baby hives usually itch.  Hives can come and go over a period of minutes, hours and sometimes even weeks. They also can appear for only a few minutes and never return again.

Baby hives are a sign of an allergic reaction, and are usually harmless if they are the only symptom your child is having. Children with hives and more severe symptoms, such as wheezing, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling in their mouth or throat, may have anaphylaxis – a serious allergic reaction. These children need immediate medical attention.

Hives are a type of allergic or immune system reaction that occurs when something triggers the release of chemicals, including histamine, from cells in a child’s body. It is important to remember that there are many more things in addition to food allergies that can cause hives in kids. These include medications, infections, exposure to the sun, and for some kids, even physically touching their skin repeatedly, like scratching, which is called dermographism.

A baby with hives may have additional symptoms depending on what is triggering the hives. For example, if a viral infection is causing the hives, then he may have a sore throat, runny nose, and/or a cough. Although some things, such as certain foods, commonly cause hives, keep in mind that almost anything can trigger hives.

To help figure out the cause of baby hives in your child, keep a diary of all of your baby’s medications and everything he has recently had to eat and drink.

Since hives are caused by the chemical histamine, it is logical that you would treat them with an antihistamine medication, such as diphenhydramine more commonly known as Benadryl.  Of course, the best treatment for hives, whenever possible, is to remove and then avoid whatever is triggering your baby’s hives.

Common causes of hives can include:

·         foods, especially peanuts, eggs, tree nuts, milk, shellfish, wheat, and soy

·         medications, especially antibiotics like penicillin and sulfa drugs

·         additives in foods or medications, such as the food dye tartrazine (Yellow No. 5)

·         infections, especially viral infections

·         insect bites and stings

·         latex

·         exercise

·         stress

·         exposure to heat, cold, or water