Your newborn may be prone to different types of baby rashes. In fact, it’s quite normal for newborns and babies to develop rashes in their first few months, as a variety of factors can trigger these skin changes. Fortunately, most baby rashes are harmless and usually go away on their own.
Read on as we explore some of the most common rashes in babies and newborns, and when to consider seeking further treatment options.
Baby rash from dermatitis
Dermatitis is an umbrella term for any condition that causes skin inflammation, and can occur at any age. Dermatitis conditions are often accompanied by red rashes, itchiness and dry skin. Specific conditions that fall under dermatitis include:
Nappy rash
Nappy rash is common in babies and can develop for a number of reasons, particularly when a baby is exposed to urine or poo for too long or their nappy rubbing against their skin.
Prevention and treatment
Regularly cleaning a baby’s nappy area, changing them frequently, and not putting their nappy on too tightly can help prevent nappy rash.
Your GP may also prescribe treatment if your baby is distressed or has an infection. This may include a steroid cream, ointment, an antifungal cream or antibiotics.
Cradle Cap
Cradle cap is a common skin condition that’s harmless in babies. It typically appears as patches of yellow, scaly skin on a baby’s scalp and face4. While the cause of cradle cap remains unclear. it can also appear on your baby’s nappy area.
Prevention and treatment
Only use an approved, sensitive baby shampoo to wash your baby’s scalp
Brush their hair with a soft brush
Do not pick crusts, as this could cause an infection.
Your pharmacist may also recommend emollient creams, gentle baby shampoos for the scalp, or barrier creams to protect the nappy area.
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Eczema is a condition that can cause dry, red, itchy skin. A poor skin barrier function can trigger eczema, and other factors such as the kind of soap used to bathe and indoor temperature and conditions can make the condition flare up.
Prevention and treatment
There is no cure for eczema, but symptoms can be managed by avoiding triggers. Emollients may be used to moisturise the skin while steroid creams can help ease any inflammation.
Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a type of eczema that is trigged when your baby encounters an irritant (such as soaps or detergent), or an allergen (such as substances in certain products). Symptoms may include itchy, dry, cracked skin, commonly on the hands and face.
Prevention and treatment:
Keeping your baby away from irritants or allergens that might trigger their symptoms is the best way to prevent contact dermatitis. In some cases, emollients or topical corticosteroids may be recommended.
Baby rash from bacterial, viral and fungal infections
Some rashes in babies can also be caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. These include:
Fifth Disease (Slapped Cheek Disease)
This viral infection can cause your baby’s cheeks to appear bright red. A ‘lacy’ rash may also appear on their arms and legs. A rash on one or both cheeks, accompanied by a high temperature, runny nose, sore throat and a headache are common.
Prevention and treatment
You can help ease your baby’s symptoms by ensuring they get plenty of rest and fluids. Ibuprofen and paracetamol may also help children aged two months or older.
Hand, foot and mouth disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral infection that can affect both adults and children. Symptoms are usually mild, and typically include a sore throat, high temperature, and loss of appetite. The second stage usually begins a few days later, and can show up as mouth ulcers and raised spots on the hands and feet. These spots can turn into blisters, which may be painful.
Prevention and treatment
Symptoms usually improve on their own within seven to 10 days. In the meantime, the following tips could help:
Give your baby cool fluids but avoid fruit juice.
Feed them soft foods such as yoghurt.
Offer children over two months paracetamol or ibuprofen to help with pain or a high temperature.
Roseola
Roseola is a common infection that affects babies and toddlers. Symptoms include a high temperature, followed by a rash.10 The rash typically consists of pink/red spots, patches or bumps. It starts on their chest, stomach and back before eventually spreading to their face, neck and arms.
Prevention and treatment
Roseola should pass within a week. In the meantime, ensure your baby gets plenty of rest and fluids. Paracetamol, or ibuprofen can also help with a temperature, but do not give pain killers to children under two months of age.
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a viral infection, with symptoms involving small, itchy spots that eventually turn into blisters and scabs. The infection is contagious and mostly affects children.
Prevention and treatment
Symptoms usually get better after one to two weeks. Treatment typically includes:
Cooling gels or creams from the pharmacy
Drinking plenty of fluids
Paracetamol to help ease any pain (only if baby is two months or above)
Antihistamine medicine (speak to your pharmacist to see if appropriate).
If your child is under the age of four weeks, or is showing signs of dehydration, has a fever or difficulty breathing, or shows signs of bacterial infection, seek medical care immediately.
Measles
This is a highly contagious infection. It can cause similar symptoms to the flu and a rash that spreads across your baby’s body. Sometimes, small spots can appear in their mouth.
Prevention and treatment
The MMR vaccine can prevent measles. If your child has the infection, request an urgent appointment from your GP or seek help from NHS 111. After seeking help, ensure your baby is well rested and hydrated. You can try to manage symptom discomfort with ibuprofen or paracetamol. Just check the medication is suitable first.
Rubella (German Measles)
Rubella, also known as German measles, is a viral infection that may cause a spotty rash on the face, or behind the ears that then spreads to the neck and body. Other symptoms can include coughs, sneezes, and headaches.
Prevention and treatment
The MMR vaccine can prevent rubella. Symptoms usually improve in around a week. First, get advice from your GP, then ensure your baby gets plenty of rest and drinks lots of water. Ibuprofen or paracetamol may also help. But do not give to children under two months.
Molluscum Contagiosum
Molluscum Contagiosum is a harmless viral infection that can trigger raised, dome-shaped spots with a white dimple to appear on the skin. The infection is typically passed on through skin-to-skin contact.
Prevention and treatment
Molluscum Contagiosum usually clears up on its own. If the spots are an issue, your GP may recommend antibiotics or steroid cream treatments.
Scarlet Fever
Scarlet fever is a contagious infection, with symptoms ranging from a high temperature and sore throat to swollen neck glands. A rash may appear later as small, raised bumps that develop on the chest and stomach before spreading.
Prevention and treatment
Symptoms usually last for around a week and can be treated with antibiotics.
Impetigo
Impetigo is a bacterial infection that anyone can get, but it’s more common in younger children. Symptoms include red sores or blisters that burst, resulting in crusty sores. Impetigo can easily spread through skin-to-skin contact.
Prevention and treatment
Keeping cuts, scratches and bites clean and treating skin conditions like eczema can help prevent impetigo. Treatment may include antibiotics.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a type of fungal infection that can cause a ring-shaped rash to appear on your baby’s body. The rash may appear scaly, dry or swollen. It can also be itchy. The infection can be spread through contact with infected animals, people, or objects.
Prevention and treatment
A pharmacist can recommend antifungal medicine for ringworm. They can also advise when to take your baby to a GP.
Baby rash from other conditions
Not all baby rashes are caused by an infection or dermatitis. Other rashes may arise from:
Teething – This can cause a rash to appear on your baby’s face, alongside other symptoms such as pain, drooling, and rubbing gums.
Allergic reactions – May cause itchy skin or a raised rash. Other symptoms may include feeling sick, a runny nose and coughs, and sneezes.
Heat rash – Also known as ‘prickly heat’, it appears as a rash of small, raised spots that itch or feel prickly, as the name implies.
Warts – Look like small lumps on the skin that are rough and firm to touch. They can appear on the palms of the hands, knuckles, knees, and fingers.
Baby acne – A common skin condition that affects newborns. It typically appears as breakouts on their face and chest.
Milia – Tiny white or yellow spots that can appear on your newborn’s face a few days after they’re born. They usually appear on their nose, but can also develop on other areas of their face.
Erythema toxicum – Raised red, white, or yellow spots that appear on baby’s face, body, upper arms and thighs. Common in babies in the first few weeks.
Scabies – Itchy, raised spots that typically appear between the fingers at first. These types of spots are caused by small mites that burrow into the skin.
When to call a doctor for baby rash
Rashes in babies can develop for a variety of reasons. The good news is that most baby rashes are usually nothing to worry about. However, if your child displays any of the following symptoms, book an urgent GP appointment, or get help from 111:
They have a rash you’re concerned about, and you don’t know what to do
Their back or chest feels hotter than usual, they are shivering or feel sweaty
They have a temperature of 38°C and are under three months old
They are three months or older with a temperature of 39°C or higher
They are five years old or above with a temperature below 36°C.
Seek immediate medical attention if your baby is poorly with a rash and also:
Has a stiff neck
Is troubled by light
Seems confused, agitated or doesn’t respond like they normally do
Has trouble breathing, appears breathless or is breathing excessively fast
Has pale, blue, grey or blotchy looking skin, lips or tongue
Has swelled lips, mouth, throat or tongue
Has a tight throat and finds it hard to swallow
Their rash appears as tiny bruises or bleeding under the skin, and doesn’t disappear when you put a glass to it.
How AVEENO® Baby products can be used to maintain good, healthy, hydrated skin
If your baby's skin is dry, applying AVEENO® Baby moisturising products can help moisturise their skin – and potentially lessen the chances of certain irritating rashes from occurring.
AVEENO® DERMEXA EMOLLIENT CREAM – Specially formulated for babies with dry, itchy skin prone to irritation and itchiness. The formula helps to strengthen their skin barrier function.
AVEENO® BABY DAILY CARE MOISTURISING LOTION – A nourishing, non-greasy formula clinically proven to moisturise normal to dry baby skin.
AVEENO® DAILY CARE BABY NAPPY CREAM – Designed to sooth sensitive baby skin and protect against the causes of nappy rash.
AVEENO® BABY DAILY CARE 2-in-1 SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER - Designed for baby’s delicate hair and scalp. Leaves hair soft, smooth and easy to manage, without drying.
Our guide to newborn skincare may also be helpful for general advice.
Rashes in Babies & Newborns: FAQs
If you’re unsure what kind of rash your baby has, you can refer to the NHS website for more guidance. If you’re worried about their rash and aren’t sure what to do to help them, book an appointment with your GP or get help from NHS 111.
Your newborn might be breaking out in a rash for a number of reasons, ranging from a mild skin infection to an allergic reaction. Most of these rashes are usually nothing worrying. However, if your baby has a rash that you’re concerned about and you don’t know what to do, speak to your GP or contact NHS 111.
There are several common viral rashes in babies and children, such as chickenpox. Measles is a contagious viral infection that can cause a rash to spread all over their body. It can also be accompanied by flu-like symptoms. Rubella is another viral infection that can look like measles. The MMR jab protects against measles and rubella.