Keep the itchy area cool and wet if your child is older than age 9 months.Keep your child out of the sun and in a cool place.Cover your baby's hands with socks to help keep him or her from scratching. Keep your child's fingernails clean and short, and encourage him or her not to scratch.Sometimes itching can get worse by scratching. Rashes caused by chickenpox, eczema, or contact dermatitis are much more likely to itch. Itching with a rash is generally not serious, but it can be annoying and may make a rash more likely to become infected. Most viral rashes are contagious, especially if a fever is present. If your child has a rash, he or she should not be in contact with other children or pregnant women. Encourage your child not to scratch the rash.Leave the rash exposed to the air whenever possible.Once a rash has developed, leave it alone as much as possible. If your child has come in contact with a substance that may cause contact dermatitis, such as poison ivy, immediately wash the area with large amounts of water. Home treatment can often relieve pain and itching until the rash goes away. Most rashes will go away without medical treatment. Check your child's symptoms to decide if and when your child should see a doctor. To know how serious the rash is, other symptoms that occur with the rash must be evaluated. TEN may occur after the use of some medicines. This type of rash may cause the skin to peel away, leaving large areas of tissue that weep or ooze fluid like a severe burn. A very rare and serious type of generalized red rash called toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).This type of rash may be caused by a rare condition called toxic shock syndrome. A rash that looks like a sunburn and a fever of 38.9☌ (102☏) or higher.A characteristic expanding red rash usually occurs at the site of the tick bite and is followed by flu-like symptoms, such as a headache, chills, fever, body aches, and stiffness. Lyme disease, which is caused by a bacteria carried by deer ticks in some areas.Rashes that may require a visit to a doctor include:
Cradle cap is not a part of any illness and does not mean that a baby is not being well cared for. It is common in babies and is easily treated. Cradle cap is an oily, yellow scaling or crusting on a baby's scalp. Most contact dermatitis is mild and goes away when your child's skin no longer comes in contact with the substance. This rash is caused by contact with a substance, such as food, soap, or lotion, that causes an allergic reaction. Cold sores are clusters of small blisters on the lip and outer edge of the mouth caused by the herpes simplex virus. These are sometimes called fever blisters. This rash often results from a well-meaning parent dressing his or her baby too warmly, but it can happen to any baby in very hot weather. This bacterial skin infection is caused by strep or staph bacteria. This rash is caused by rubbing, moisture, chemicals, or bacteria in the baby's urine or stool substances in disposable diapers or soaps used to wash cloth diapers. Common localized rashes that occur during childhood include: Localized rashes which affect one area of the body have many different causes and may go away with home treatment. Sometimes the specific virus that causes a rash is never known. This rash occurs about 3 days after a high fever.
It also causes a lacy, pink rash on the arms and legs, torso, and buttocks. This facial rash looks like the cheeks have been slapped. This rash is a common, contagious illness caused by a type of herpes virus. This immunity protects the child from getting that specific viral illness and rash again. Home treatment is often all that is needed to treat these rashes.Īfter a child has had a rash caused by a virus, his or her body generally builds an immunity to that virus. Most rashes caused by viruses are not serious and usually go away over a few days to a week. A rash may be caused by a viral illness if the child also has a cold, a cough, or diarrhea, or is in a daycare setting where he or she is with other children with viral illnesses. Generalized rashes over the whole body that are caused by viruses are more common in babies and young children than in adults. A rash may be caused by contact with a substance outside the body, such as poison ivy ( contact dermatitis), or by other more serious illnesses, such as measles or scarlet fever (strep throat with rash). A rash is generally a minor problem or is part of an illness that will go away on its own. A rash means some change has affected the skin. Healthy skin is a barrier between the inside of the body and the outside environment.