Your Ultimate Guide to Baby Rashes

Babies have incredibly sensitive skin, which makes them more likely to develop rashes than adults and older kids. But with all the different types out there, it can be hard to identify what the baby rash is, what’s causing it and how to treat it. Plus, no parent wants to see their precious little one with a red or bumpy reaction on their soft skin. Many might wonder how rashes affect baby’s comfort level and whether they cause itchiness or pain. And how can parents tell if baby’s rash is a harmless diaper rash or something a little more serious?

Because there are so many types of baby rashes, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms to look out for and know when to call the pediatrician. To help you better identify baby’s rash, we’ve put together a handy guide on all things rashes. Keep reading to learn more about the common types of baby rash, tell-tale signs and symptoms and the best remedies to treat them.

Baby Rash Causes

When it comes to baby rashes, there are many types and many culprits. Some common causes include:

• Irritants. Common irritants that can bother baby’s sensitive skin are saliva and drool, poop, baby wipes, detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, soaps, lotions and sunscreen.
• Allergies. Allergic reactions can cause a baby rash to appear in a bunch of different forms. Rashes can be itchy, welt-like hives or dry, itchy patches. Eczema is the most common version of a baby rash caused by allergies.
• Infections. Infections can lead to different types of baby rash, the most common of which are diaper rashes. Sometimes, however, a viral baby rash can develop. “These rashes occur when babies have specific viral illnesses and may be associated with fever or other symptoms,” says Anna Bender-Zeckendorf, MD, a pediatric dermatologist at Bodhi Medical Care in New York City and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College. A viral baby rash can appear as small dots on the torso and sometimes arms and legs, and can last for several days to a week. It may spread for a few days and then begin to clear up.

“Baby’s skin barrier is especially fragile because it’s thinner, immature and the skin is still developing, so that makes it a lot more vulnerable to damage and dryness. It’s also more reactive, especially to things that could be irritants,” explains Lauren R. Crosby, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician at LaPeer Pediatrics in Beverly Hills, California. Baby’s skin is typically ultra-sensitive from birth until around age 2, although diaper rash can continue to rear its head past that age until kids are potty-trained.

In our guide below, we outline the different ways baby rashes look and behave. Keep reading for the most common types of baby rash to keep an eye out for, plus how to prevent and treat them. From heat rashes to chickenpox, we help make sense of any bumps or blotches you may find on baby.

Baby Acne or Rash?

Breakouts aren’t just for teenagers—it’s actually totally normal for babies to get acne. “Also known as neonatal acne, it’s a common rash in babies during the first month of life,” Bender says. “It’s thought that maternal hormones—those that pass from mother to baby in utero—may cause baby acne to flare.”

But how can you tell if it’s baby acne or a baby rash? Baby acne typically looks like a bunch of small, red bumps.

Baby acne symptoms

• Pimples. Baby acne usually involves clusters of tiny red pimples and whiteheads.
• Irritated cheeks. Baby acne usually develops on the cheeks, but it can also appear on baby’s nose, forehead, chest, back and sometimes behind the ears and on the scalp.
• Persistent symptoms. Baby acne can last up to three to four months.

Prevention and treatment

Usually, baby acne clears up on its own with gentle cleansing. Once in a while parents might need to see a dermatologist if it’s persisting beyond the normal three to four months, but that’s pretty rare.

Baby Heat Rash

Baby heat rash tends to happen when baby’s sweat glands become blocked and trap sweat under the skin, Crosby says. It’s usually seen in warm weather or when baby’s overdressed. How do you know if the baby rash is caused by heat? Read on below.

Heat rash symptoms

• Tiny red bumps. These typically appear on baby’s head, neck and shoulders, and sometimes on the chest or in skin folds such as the armpits, neck, elbows or thighs.
• Itching. Sometimes heat rash can be itchy, so take note if baby is fussing or scratching at their irritated skin.

Prevention and treatment

To prevent baby heat rash, dress baby in lighter clothing to make sure they aren’t getting overheated or sweaty. In warm climates, it’s fine to let them sleep in just a onesie and diaper, and run a fan in the bedroom to keep the air cool and circulating. When baby heat rash does strike, “I recommend a daily bath with a non-fragrant sensitive skin cleanser to help clear out the sweat and keep the skin clear,” Crosby says. A baby rash from heat usually goes away on its own in three to four days, as long as baby isn’t overdressed and stays in a cool environment.

Baby Diaper Rash

It’s pretty self-explanatory where you can expect to see this baby rash. “Diaper rash can occur due to irritation from wet diapers and friction,” Bender says. Baby diaper rash is even more common in older babies who sleep through the night longer and may have wetter diapers in the morning, as well as if baby’s pooping often or has diarrhea.

Diaper rash symptoms

• Red patches. These typically appear on the rounded part of baby’s bottom.
• Puffy, warm skin. In some cases, baby’s skin may be slightly raised and feel warm to the touch.

Prevention and treatment

“Diaper rash can improve with frequent diaper changes and use of over-the-counter diaper paste containing zinc oxide, which helps in acting as a barrier to prevent friction and irritation in the diaper area,” Bender says. Ward off baby diaper rash by making sure the skin is completely dry before you put on a fresh diaper. In the past, baby powder was the go-to trick for absorbing moisture and protecting baby’s skin, but doctors no longer recommend using powder for diaper rash, since inhaled powder can irritate baby’s lungs.

Sometimes a rash on baby’s butt can actually be a yeast rash caused by fungus that lives on our skin.

Yeast rash symptoms

• Red patches. These patches usually appear in baby’s skin folds and in the diaper area, accompanied by small dots or pimples around the edge.

Prevention and treatment

To treat a baby yeast rash, apply a topical, over-the-counter antifungal cream a few times a day. Prevent yeast rash by keeping baby clean and dry.

Meningitis Rash

Meningitis is when the lining around the brain and spinal cord (the meninges) is inflamed, and “is a serious infection because it can be present in the blood and brain and cause organ damage, permanent brain damage or death,” Bender says.

While the viral form of meningitis can be serious, most people get better on their own without treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bacterial meningitis, however, can be deadly and calls for immediate medical attention. There’s a vaccine for bacterial meningitis, but it typically isn’t given until later in childhood or before college. The bacterial meningitis rash looks quite different from other rashes. It’s called purpura and it typically looks red or purple, like bruising.

Meningitis symptoms

• High fever. Take baby’s temperature, since a high fever is a classic sign of meningitis.
• Lethargy. If baby is less active than usual, it could be another sign of meningitis.
• Vomiting. This symptom is more common in infants, along with a loss of appetite and irritability.
• Rashes. Meningitis rashes can vary in appearance depending on the type of meningitis, but the most common ones include pink or red dots all over, purple rashes that can look like tiny bruises or broken capillaries in the skin, and an itchy, red rash.
• Stiff neck. In children aged 6 months and up, a stiff neck is a classic sign of meningitis.

Prevention and treatment

Viral meningitis usually clears up on its own in seven to 10 days, but bacterial meningitis requires immediate medical attention so antibiotics can be given as soon as possible. Serious cases may call for hospitalization. If you think baby might have meningitis, call your doctor right away—they can determine if baby has the disease and the type of meningitis.

Strep rash

Strep can cause several types of skin rashes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), including a scarlet fever rash and skin infections. More rarely, it can cause severe infections, including necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.

Strep rash symptoms

• Red blotches. A scarlet fever rash typically starts as red blotches, followed by a pink-red rash that feels like sandpaper and might itch. The rash can develop after a sore throat or headache.
• Itchy, oozing sores. Strep can cause a skin infection called impetigo, which in turn causes itchy, red, oozing sores, according to the AAP.
• Painful skin. Strep can also cause a skin infection called cellulitis, which results in red, swollen and painful skin.

Prevention and treatment

Since strep can spread from person to person through close contact, keep baby away from infected people. Unlike your run-of-the-mill neck rash, which can be treated with over-the-counter antifungal creams, strep requires a visit to the doctor. Once the diagnosis of strep rash is confirmed, your pediatrician may prescribe an oral antibiotic as treatment.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox appears as a rash on the body. Before the chickenpox—or varicella—vaccine became available in 1995, practically every child came down with chickenpox before age 9, according to the AAP. Nowadays, it’s pretty rare for babies to get chickenpox, thanks to the vaccine. It’s a super-contagious viral infection caused by the varicella zoster virus, so avoid contact with infected people to keep baby safe.

Chickenpox symptoms

• Red bumps and blisters. Chickenpox causes a blister-like baby rash on the skin, starting on the back, tummy or face and spreading all over baby’s body. The blisters are often in different stages of healing, so some may look like pink bumps, some look like scabbed bumps and others may look like blisters.
• Itchiness. Chickenpox rashes are renowned for their intense itchiness.
• Fever. A temperature of 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit is common with chickenpox.

Prevention and treatment

Doctors recommend daily baths and keeping baby’s nails short so they can’t scratch and dig into their skin, which could cause a secondary infection. Typically, the course of treatment for chickenpox is to wait it out—it can last five to seven days—but in severe cases (which aren’t common), an antiviral medication may be prescribed. To prevent chickenpox, the AAP recommends that healthy babies get the first dose of the vaccine between 12 and 15 months old, followed by a second dose at age 4 to 6.

Baby Drool Rash

Noticing a baby rash on your little one’s face? When babies’ saliva glands turn on, usually around 3 or 4 months of age, they start to drool. A lot. “If you think about it, saliva is part of your digestive tract,” Crosby says. “It’s not just water—it contains digestive enzymes and sometimes food particles—so it’s irritating.”

Baby drool rash symptoms

• A red, irritated baby rash on the face. Because the skin around baby’s mouth, chin and neck is constantly wet, these areas are especially prone to drool rash.
• Flaking skin. Baby rash from drool can also appear slightly flaky and dry-looking.

Prevention and treatment

One way to prevent and heal a baby rash caused by drool? Have a soft bib handy to keep the skin on baby’s face and chest dry. Apply a gentle over-the-counter ointment before and after meals as a barrier to prevent saliva from touching the skin, so baby’s drool rash can heal underneath it.

Baby Eczema Rash

Eczema, often-chronic red, dry patches of skin, is one of the most common skin disorders in babies—in fact, 60 percent of eczema cases will appear in the first year of life. “Sometimes babies scratch so much, it can lead to bleeding and can interfere with sleep,” Bender says. “Babies with eczema often scratch more in the evening when they’re put to bed or at night when they aren’t distracted by other activities.” Eczema can get infected if not treated, leading to scabbing and oozing skin spots.

Baby eczema symptoms

• Itchiness. The more severe baby’s eczema is, the more itchy the rash.
• Dry skin patches. This is a common sign of mild eczema.
• Pinker patches of dry, flaky skin. This signifies a moderate case of eczema.
• Red, flaky patches of skin. If baby’s skin is a darker red, it signifies severe eczema, which usually comes with worsened symptoms and intense itchiness across most of the body.

Prevention and treatment

Keeping baby’s skin well moisturized with a daily application of a thick cream can prevent the onset of eczema in infants who are at higher risk for the condition—aka those who have a strong family history of eczema or eczema-related diseases. A mild case of this baby rash can sometimes be treated with just moisturizer, while moderate eczema may need a cortisone cream or ointment to treat it. Severe eczema is treated with prescription products.

Hives

“Hives can occur soon after baby eats something they’re allergic to or if baby is fighting a virus, in which case the hives may last for several days off and on,” Bender says. They can appear anywhere on the body, even if caused by food. If the baby rash is sparked by something your child touched, it usually appears on the part of baby’s body that came in contact with the allergen. If hives are accompanied by wheezing or if baby’s face, mouth or tongue starts to swell, see a doctor immediately.

Hive symptoms

• Pink, blotchy welts. These welts can come and go on baby’s skin.
• Itching. Hive welts are often very itchy.

Prevention and treatment

Benadryl or a non-drowsy antihistamine can help treat hives. For a more natural remedy, try dabbing calamine lotion on the welts to soothe hives.

Baby Allergy Rash

As you expose baby to new products, foods and materials, there’s always a small chance they could be allergic to a certain ingredient or chemical. These rashes can be caused by food or medication that baby’s allergic to, or when baby’s skin comes into contact with an allergen, Crosby says.

So what does an allergy rash look like on a baby? A baby allergy rash can manifest in different ways, but the two most common signs are hives and eczema. As mentioned above, hives usually show up as pink blotchy welts, while eczema appears as red, dry, flaky patches. Both rashes are itchy.

Allergy symptoms

If you notice the following symptoms, call 911 or take baby to the ER:

• Swelling of the lips or face. If baby’s lips or face become swollen, it’s a sign of a severe allergic reaction and should be treated by a doctor immediately.
• Wheezing. Any sign of difficulty breathing is a red flag.

Prevention and treatment

“Treatment depends on the age of the child and what is triggering it,” Crosby says. “You want to remove the allergen or trigger if you can, and use a topical medication or oral allergy medicine.” Sometimes a blood or skin test might be needed to figure out what baby is having an allergic reaction to.

Baby Fungal Rash

A fungal baby rash is often caused by chronically wet or irritated skin. A yeast infection is the most common type of fungal rash. It can also appear in babies if another family member or family pet has ringworm.

Fungal rash symptoms

• Pink, ring-like flaking patches of skin. These flaky patches can pop up anywhere on the skin, including the scalp and diaper area.

Prevention and treatment

“A fungal rash needs a special antifungal cream, or if it’s on the scalp and hair, it may need an oral antifungal medication,” Bender says. To prevent fungal baby rash, keep the skin clean and dry.

Cradle Cap

Essentially dandruff for babies, cradle cap is relatively common and typically caused by yeast. This type of baby rash usually shows up in the first month of life but can occur any time, Crosby says.

Cradle cap symptoms

• Flaky skin. Rough, yellowish or pink crustry or oily scaly patches on the scalp are a classic sign of this type of baby rash.
• A slight oily scent. This results from the buildup of oil on baby’s scalp in moderate to severe cases.

Prevention and treatment

Most cases of cradle cap can be treated with regular shampooing and a soft scalp brush to loosen the flakes. If that doesn’t cut it, your pediatrician may recommend a medicated shampoo.

Hand, Foot and Mouth

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common viral illness in babies and toddlers. While the name might sound scary—and it feels pretty uncomfortable—it’s a short-lived infection that typically gets better on its own, says Lee Beers, MD, a professor of pediatrics and the medical director for community health and advocacy at Children’s National Hospital. Hand, foot and mouth disease can cause a blister-like, reddish rash:

Hand, foot and mouth symptoms

• Blister-like rash. This rash can appear, as the name suggests, on the hands, feet and around the mouth—but also around the diaper area, says Alexis Phillips-Walker, DO, a pediatrician at Memorial Hermann Medical Group Pediatrics in Atascocita, Texas. The rash can be painful and itchy, she adds.
• Fever. Hand, foot and mouth can cause a fever as the illness starts.
• Mouth sores. After a couple of days, baby might develop sores in and around their mouth that typically start out as bumps or spots and then turn into blisters, says Cleveland Clinic.

Prevention and treatment

Hand, foot and mouth can spread pretty easily. To prevent baby from contracting it, both Beers and Phillips-Walker stress the importance of washing baby’s hands frequently and disinfecting surfaces. There’s no specific treatment, but Phillips-Walker says you can use soothing products like hydrocortisone and calamine lotion for itchiness. You can also give baby Tylenol or ibuprofen if they’re in pain, she adds; just make sure to check the correct dosage for their age. “It’s also important to be sure your child continues to drink fluids and [stays] hydrated,” says Beers.

Roseola Rash

Roseola is a common viral infection that usually affects little ones under the age of 2, says Beers. A roseola rash typically appears as spots or patches that develop after a high fever, says Phillips-Walker.

Roseola symptoms

• Fever. Roseola often starts with a fever that’s over 103 degrees Fahrenheit, says Phillips-Walker. Keep in mind that the AAP recommends calling your pediatrician right away if a baby under 3 months has a fever of 100.4 Fahrenheit or higher; if a child of any age has a fever above 104 and if a fever lasts for over 24 hours for a child under 2 years old.
• Rash. A roseola rash usually shows up as many flat-looking spots or patches that aren’t itchy or painful, says Phillips-Walker. It typically starts on the chest, back and stomach, and then spreads to the arms, legs and face, she adds.

Prevention and treatment

Wash your hands to prevent spread, advises Phillips-Walker. Make sure baby stays comfortable and well-hydrated, and give medicine for the fever as needed, says Beers. “Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish roseola from more serious illnesses early on before the rash starts, so don’t hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns,” she adds.

When to Be Concerned About Baby Rashes

Now that you’re familiar with some of the most common kinds of baby rashes, you’re probably wondering, “When should I be concerned about my baby’s rash?”

The truth is, many baby rashes are harmless, and some will come and go on their own without any medical treatment. The other good news is that there are vaccinations to prevent many serious rashes from developing in the first place.

With that said, there are some signs you should keep an eye out for when you notice a baby rash on the body. Some baby rashes can indicate a more serious condition, particularly if the rash is persistent or if baby is experiencing swelling or wheezing.

• Contact a doctor if baby experiences any of the following:
• Pain at the site of the rash
• Fever
• Bruise-like lesions at the site of the rash
• Oozing, bleeding or blistering
• Rash continues to spread across baby’s body
• Cold symptoms (coughing, wheezing, etc.)
• Swollen neck glands or swollen lips
• Rash doesn’t go away, or at least start to look better, after two days

In general, the trick to preventing a baby rash is keeping your child’s skin healthy. It’s best to keep baths to 10 minutes or less and use lukewarm water, since “during a bath, skin can really lose moisture, and babies are much more prone to getting dry skin,” Crosby says. Hydrating baby’s skin regularly is crucial. The best time to apply lotion? The first five minutes after a bath, to lock in moisture. “The skin is the largest organ in the body and it’s there to protect us from the elements and infections,” Crosby says. “The importance of really caring for it from infancy through adulthood can’t be stressed enough.”

Do baby’s lumps or bumps not line up with any of those listed in this guide? Baby can also develop a rash as a result of bug bites, sunburns, poison ivy and even dry skin. If you’re still not sure about baby’s rash, don’t hesitate to give your pediatrician a call or schedule an appointment.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Plus, more from The Bump:

How to Relieve Heat Rash on Baby

13 Diaper Rash Creams That Work Wonders

How to Care for Your Newborn’s Peeling Skin