Baby Rash
When a rash is seen on a baby’s skin, a parent could take it either way. There are times when parents lose it and they just become so hysterical about it. Then, there are times when parents would just shrug it off as something benign and normal.
The bumps and skin marks and blotches that are usually seen on babies’ skin are usually nothing really harmful. Most of the time, they are just rashes from minor skin irritation. Finding out the causes of these irritations then becomes the main focus in the situation.
One of the most common rashes that are found on a baby’s skin is the diaper rash. A diaper rash occurs when the skin is kept damp due to urine or stool. Babies who wear diapers will usually experience some form of diaper rash. This is really no cause for alarm though. This is by far the most common baby rash that a baby and the parents encounter.
Hives are another type of rash that baby’s usually experience. These are the red marks or welts that seem to affect multiple parts of the body. Hives are reactions of the skin to irritants. The hives that are seen on the skin of the baby seem to move around a bit. There are even times that a parent may choose to monitor a patch or a welt of redness and in a few hours this patch of red will have disappeared. This may be temporary though as the welt may “reappear” somewhere else. The exact cause of hives is not the same for each situation.
Then, there’s heat rash. Heat rash could also be called by its other name- prickly heat. These are rashes that are caused by prolonged exposure to heat and humidity. This is usually experienced when the baby is exposed to the environment without proper protection or without proper clothing. Sometimes, all a baby needs to avoid experiencing prickly heat is a change of diaper and clothes.
Another baby rash that is usually experienced and observed is eczema. Eczema is a skin rash that turns areas of the skin scaly, red and itchy. Eczema is usually an inherited condition. These are also associated with allergic reactions and skin asthma but it may also occur without these conditions. The triggering factors are the most important factors that need to be considered when dealing with eczema. Sometimes when eczema is confined to the head area it’s called cradle cap rash.
Another type of rash that’s significant for babies are the rashes that are precursor to a chicken pox. The first few rashes that are seen in babies are usually non-raised patches of redness that will irritate the baby. For rashes that are suspected of being those that are associated with chicken pox, the parents must first determine if there were any known exposure and contact with individuals who just had the pox.
The rashes that babies experience are generally not alarming. These are usually just minor irritations that would sometimes just go away on their own. Parents however could do many things to protect their babies and to reduce the effect of the rash.
The first thing that parents need to do is to keep their baby’s skin clean and free from irritants. This means that parents need to avoid putting every baby lotion or product they could find on the skin of their baby. These products are not particularly harmful but some do contain allergens and irritants that would sometimes cause rashes.
Sometimes, the bath soap is the culprit. There are some baby soaps that cause irritation to the skin because of their drying effect. This is why parents need to really look for something that is really mild. Even when baby products are labelled to be mild on baby’s skin, these products still need to be tested by the parents. Only after they are satisfied with how the baby bath soap feels on their own skin shall they then use the same soap on their baby’s skin. Even after initial satisfactory testing on the parents’ skin, if the baby’s skin is irritated the product should not be used again.
Sometimes it is advisable for parents to apply baby skin products such as lotions and creams after baths to avoid drying and subsequent irritation. This application of lotions however shall still be subject to further testing by the parents.
Parents should avoid bathing their babies longer than is necessary. It is not advisable for babies to really take long baths and hot baths since these are in fact drying and irritating to the skin.
Clothing is also important when it comes to baby skin protection. This is why it is necessary for parents to really pick out loose, cotton clothes that would help absorb moisture or perspiration.
The skin of babies are particularly sensitive any irritant. This is why parents should really take note of what irritates their child’s skin. This makes it necessary for parents to really do their own research on what works or what doesn’t. Even with all the product labeling and the brand marketing that surrounds the baby product, one really can’t be too certain until the product is personally tested.
If however the rash that is seen on the baby worsens in appearance or if the baby becomes acutely sick, then a doctor should be consulted. This is also true when these rashes cause skin damage enough that breaks the skin. The doctor may provide antibiotic creams or protective salves that would help on alleviating the problem.
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