Red spots or rash on your baby? This is what it could be

Heat rash, eczema, baby acne or red and chapped cheeks? Skin rashes are very common with babies and toddlers. Makes sense, with such a pure and sensitive skin. Sometimes a rash can be caused by childhood illnesses or allergies. When in doubt, make sure to contact your general practitioner. But no worries, it’s not always that serious. A rash can also be pretty innocent. We’ve made a list of some common issues, with tips of course!

1. Baby acne

Huh? Does my baby have pimples in their face? Yeah, it’s a thing. The common name for this is baby acne. It’s often thought that this issue has something to do with breastfeeding, but it actually starts in the womb and has everything to do with hormones and the production of extra sebum which clogs the pores. Mom’s hormones pass through the umbilical cord to the baby and can stay there for a while after birth. Usually baby acne occurs in the first four weeks. What to do about it? Not much. Creams and oils can make it worse, so better just leave it as it is. It will clear up eventually.

2. Eczema

About one in ten babies struggle with it: eczema. If your baby is one of them, they are definitely not alone in it. The most common kind of eczema is atopic eczema: red spots, blisters filled with fluid, flaky skin, bumps and itchiness. Mostly in the face, around the eyes and ears. It’s not always clear what causes eczema, but an allergy can be the reason (for example the food you little one gets).

What to do with eczema?

To deal with the itchiness and irritation of atopic eczema we’ve shared some tips over here. 

• Rub, rub, rub. It’s important to keep the skin nice and oily to keep the itchiness away. Use a greasy cream like our baby cream. This cream contains cottonseed oil and almond oil, ultra hydrating it is!

• Keep your little one’s nails as short as possible so they can’t scratch themselves. Putting socks around their hands can help too!

• Keep the clothes nice and breezy and use natural fabric instead of synthetic.

• It’s not necessary to bathe your mini every day. Long and warm showers or baths can dry out the skin. Also use an oil based product instead of soap, like our milky bath oil.

When in doubt, or when your baby is not feeling well at all it’s always best to contact a doctor or dermatologist.

3. Heat rash

Is your baby feeling hot, in summer or because of warm clothing, heat rash can occur. The sweat glands can get clogged which makes it unable for the sweat to get out and inflammation can arise. You can recognize heat rash by fluid filled blisters, often in de face, armpits or neck. But it can be in other spots too.

There are four different types of heat rash:

• Miliaria crystalline: clogging of the glands on the surface of the skin. The result is blisters filled with a clear fluid. They usually disappear again after a few hours.

• Miliaria rubra: the clogging occurs a little deeper in the skin. The blisters get red and cause itchiness.

• Miliaria profunda: with this type of heat rash the problem occurs even deeper into the skin. Sweat leeks from the glands into the skin which causes itchiness and pain.

• Miliaria pustulosa: when the blisters get infected with bacteria, this last type of heat rash will occur. There will be pus in and around the blisters, causing even more pain 

What to do with heat rash?

It’s important to keep the affected skin clean and dry to reduce the risk of further infection. Make sure to stay away from the heat and put your baby in more baggy and airy clothes. You can cool the skin with a cold cloth. It’s better to avoid using an oily baby cream when your baby struggles with heat rash, use a zinc cream instead. Zinc cream cools and softens the skin, but choose one without added perfume, because you would want to avoid that too.

4. Fifth disease

The fifth disease is a contagious spot illness that occurs in baby’s, children and adults. It’s caused by the Parvo B19-virus en spread through moisture particles in the air. How can you recognise the Fifth disease? Red spots in the face that then spread further all over the body. Your baby can also have a sudden fever or red cheeks that are itchy. Important to keep an eye on it! Usually, the spots disappear after about a week and once you’ve had the illness, you can’t get it again. Suspecting you might have the Fifth disease while you’re pregnant? It’s important to immediately contact you doctor or midwife.

What to do when you or your little one has fifth disease?

There’s not a lot you can do, except for sitting it out. To cool and soothe the skin you can use a zinc cream without added perfume onto the painful or itchy spots. Some fresh air might also do you good, so if possible you might want to go for a little stroll with your mini. Keep in mind that the Fifth disease is contagious, so it’s best to stay away from others. 

Always contact your doctor when you or your baby has a high fever.

5. Chicken pox

Who doesn’t know them: the famous chicken pox. Probably one of the most common childhood illnesses, almost every kid gets them. Chicken pox are most common in kids from 1 to 8 years old and usually occur in the winter or at the start of spring. This is how you recognize chicken pox:

• Spots in the face

• Spots become blisters

• Not feeling well

• Less appetite

• (Light) fever

What to do with chicken pox?

Make sure you put your kids in some light and airy clothes and make sure they don’t scratch themselves. Yeah we know, it’s easier said than done, but you got this! Cut their nails or put socks on the hands of your little one. Zinc cream can also help combat itchiness! Other than that there’s not much you can do, although some people swear by an oatmeal bath. Why not try it, right?

6. Red and chapped cheeks

Lots of baby’s struggle with dry skin, especially the cheeks can get red and chapped. Why? Your baby’s skin isn’t really finished yet, but is still developing! For nine months your little one was safe and protected from outside influences and suddenly the skin needs to do it all on its own. It can’t keep itself oily yet and with the sun, wind, outside air and temperature changes it can get pretty rough.

What to do with red or chapped cheeks?

• Use a nice and oily cream, like our baby cream. It’s enriched with almond and avocado oil and leaves a greasy layer on the skin without getting sticky. It doesn’t just repair the sensitive skin, but also cares for and hydrates it. Extreme dryness? Try our baby balm. It’s even more greasy and can help with the really dry spots.

• Try to limit bath time. A baby really doesn’t need a bath every day, they don’t get that dirty! Want to still do the same ritual as always? Try to use lukewarm water and soap free products like bath oil.

• Dab the cheeks dry with a soft towel.

• Outside in the summer? Our advice is to always keep babies out of the sun, but to also use sunscreen, because let’s be honest: you can’t avoid the sun completely/ The sensitive baby skin is not ready to deal with the bright sun and UV radiation. A mineral sunscreen with SPF 50 is a good choice. The difference with a traditional sunscreen is that the UV filter in a mineral sunscreen does not penetrate the skin but leaves a layer on top. This reduces risks of irritation or an allergic reaction. And.. don’t forget to use sunscreen on yourself either!

Those first years of a baby’s and kids’ life can be pretty tough on the skin. Sometimes it’s also pretty hard to find out what your little one is really struggling with. When in doubt just call your doctor! They can tell you exactly what’s going on and can help you with solutions for your little one's discomfort.