Common Rashes
After colds and ear infections, a rash is one of the more common reasons for a visit to the pediatrician. Rashes can range from small red bumps and itchy, crusted plaques to welts from head to toe.
Advice to avoid daily baths is now considered “old school.” Most experts now recommend that a daily bath is good for the skin, as long as you use lukewarm water and a mild soap, and then gently dry the skin and apply a moisturizer within a few minutes after the bath.
Eczema
Eczema is one of the more frustrating rashes, both because it is so itchy and because it usually keeps coming back. It often affects children with other allergic-type diseases such as allergies and asthma. Usually beginning at about age six to eight weeks, infants with eczema develop itchy, red patches on their cheeks, elbows, knees, and eventually the rest of the body in severe cases.
Treatments for flare-ups of eczema usually include a topical steroid cream, either over-the-counter for mild cases or prescription strength for persistent cases, and regular use of moisturizers as a preventive measure. Flares also can sometimes be prevented if you can find and avoid common triggers, such as harsh soaps, wool clothing, overheating, and frequent baths without using a moisturizer.
Hives
Hives are large, red, raised areas that come and go quickly and are very itchy. Unlike most other rashes that affect children, each hive usually only lasts a few hours before it disappears and another pops up somewhere else. Hives are a common allergic reaction in children, often triggered by foods, such as peanut butter, egg whites, milk, and soy. They also can be triggered by medicines or even by infections. If possible, try to find and then avoid known triggers. You usually can treat hives with an oral antihistamine, like Children's Benadryl, but ask your pediatrician first, especially to review the dosage for a younger child.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal infection that can occur on a child's skin or scalp. On the body, the rash looks like a ring-like red area with scales, and it's usually easily treated with a topical over-the-counter antifungal medication. Scalp fungal infections can cause areas of baldness and scaling and are much more difficult to treat, requiring a prescription for an oral antifungal medication.
Diaper Rashes
A diaper rash is one of the more common rashes that your baby might have during his first year. It is often caused by irritation and can be prevented with frequent diaper changes and use of a barrier-type diaper rash medication, such as A+D, Balmex, or Desitin. Various diaper rash creams and ointments also can be used to treat most diaper rashes. If the rash doesn't go away, especially if it is bright red and surrounded by small red bumps, then it may be caused by a yeast infection. You should use an over-the-counter or prescription strength antifungal cream in addition to a diaper rash medication to clear up this type of secondary infection.
