Baby rashes are most common and normal to an extent they shouldn’t trigger an alarm to the parent. When the newborn babies are born into our world full of pollution and dirt, their very tender skin may react to the new environment and cause skin rashes. Many things may cause the rashes and most of the time; these rashes may disappear without treatment in a week or two, while others may be accompanied by other symptoms such as drowsiness, unresolving fever, a floppy body, headaches, among others.
Baby skin rashes treatment depends on the underlying causes of the rashes, and in most cases, it is usually recommended to immediately consult a doctor when the baby has rashes and other symptoms that may indicate signs of other mild or severe diseases. Such symptoms may include; a stiff neck, confusion, headaches unusually cold hands and feet, uncontrollable shaking, and uncontrollable fever.
When the baby shows signs of the rashes, one should make sure that the baby, her clothes, and her crib are very clean and no germs may get to the infant. Thereafter, patience may be needful, as one has to wait and see if the rashes will disappear or get worse.
CAUSES OF BABY SKIN RASHES TREATMENT
Since the baby’s immune system is still developing, a lot of things may cause skin rashes, including:
- Heat or temperature changes
- Chemicals from soaps and detergents
- Fabrics which may be rough to the baby’s skin
- Dampness which may be due to the baby’s unchanged diaper
- A fragrance which may contain allergic chemicals to the baby
- Friction on the baby’s skin
- Viral and bacterial infections
- Unchanged diapers
- New foods may cause allergic reactions
TYPES OF BABY SKIN RASHES
Baby skin rashes may be mild or may indicate signs of a serious illness or condition. Among the most common types of rashes in babies include:
- Diaper/Nappy rash: this is a skin inflammation caused by the wetness or the acidity of the baby’s urine or feces. Since the baby’s skin is very sensitive to foreign materials and has low immune protection against bacteria and germs, rashes may develop when one delays changing wet diapers immediately. To avoid this, the nappy should be changed frequently and the baby should stay nappy-free at other times to allow fresh air to circulate in the most prone area (baby’s bottom). This type of rashes should cause no need for alarm as they usually disappear in no time after applying a diaper rash cream or ointment at each diaper change.
- Heat rash: heat and high-temperature changes may cause irritation to the baby’s skin, resulting in small red spots (known as prickly heat or heat rash) which are very itchy. This type of rashes mostly occurs in areas covered by clothes, such as neck, chest, arms, legs, and armpits, and should clear up without treatment.
- Fifth disease: this rash may be accompanied by fever, tiredness, and mostly a sore throat.
- Eczema: this type of rash may cause the skin to intensely itch and turn red from time to time. Most children who have Eczema may often have allergies or asthma.
- Baby acne: this mostly develops 2-4 weeks after birth. The signs include tiny red or white bumps on the baby’s cheeks, nose, and forehead. Baby acne usually clears without treatment after a few months or a year.
- Drool rash: occurs when the drool irritates the baby’s skin around the mouth or on the chest.
- Measles, rosella, scarlet fever, or chickenpox infections: these may indicate serious illness and may need immediate treatment by the doctor.
- Hive: this causes red welts on the surface of the baby’s skin and looks like a mosquito bite.
- Sunburn: caused by the sun’s UV rays.
For other types of skin rashes, one may access the www.healthline .com.
BABY SKIN RASHES TREATMENT
When the signs and symptoms of the different types of skin rashes don’t disappear after a few months of applying respective treatment creams, it should be wise to reach out to a doctor for advice and further treatment. The best types of baby skin rashes treatment are outlined below:
- Ensure the baby is comfortable and clean by
This can be achieved by dressing the baby in loose-fitting clothing or leaving them naked when the temperatures are too high. This will leave the already affected areas free from any friction or irritation. The baby should also be kept away from direct sunlight to avoid dryness and further irritation on the skin, and one should always use a gentle cleanser when bathing the baby.
- Use pain relievers
This can be applied to babies beyond 6 months to reduce the itch, rash, and pain. However, one should receive the prescription instructions from a doctor.
- Using medications
To treat the different types of baby rash, one should ensure the baby’s skin is clean and healthy by using appropriate medications, lotions, shampoos, ointments, powders, or creams as advised by the doctor. This will assist the baby’s skin from further irritation and infection as they soothe the baby’s sore skin or create a protective barrier. Still, one should make sure to keep the medications away from the baby’s face and mouth.
PREVENTION OF BABY SKIN RASH
When it comes to babies, prevention is always better than cure, since the infants, depending on their age, may not be able to say what ails them. Below are tips on how to prevent baby skin rash:
- One should always ensure to check diapers very often for any wetness and wash hands before and after every diaper change.
- To remove poop from the diaper, clean plain water should be used or with a mild cleanser.
- It’s always advisable to gently pat the bottom area clean and dry, instead of rubbing as this may cause irritation. Wipes with any fragrance or alcohol should be avoided, and before putting on a fresh diaper, the baby’s bottom should be clean and dry.
- When temperatures are high, one should let the baby stay without any diaper to allow fresh air as much as possible. This should be done after a poop to avoid a mess in the house.
- One should consider using an ointment regularly and avoid over tightening diapers or nappies which prevent airflow into the diaper.
