What kind of rash is this, and which ones need a doctor today?
Most baby rashes are common, harmless and short-lived. Heat rash (miliaria) is a scatter of tiny pink or clear bumps where skin stays warm and damp, and it clears with cooler air and looser clothing. Drool rash is red, chapped skin around the mouth, chin and neck folds from constant saliva, and it eases with gentle patting dry and a thin barrier. Erythema toxicum is the blotchy red rash with small yellow-white centers that many newborns get in the first days, and it fades by itself within a week or two. The rash that needs emergency care now is one that comes with a fever, purple or red spots that do not fade when a glass is pressed against them, blisters, or a baby who seems unwell.
Go to emergency care now for spots that do not fade when a glass is pressed on them, for a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby under three months, or for a baby who is unusually sleepy, floppy or hard to wake. Same day: a rash with a fever in an older baby, blisters or open skin. Call your pediatrician for a rash that is spreading or has lasted more than a few days without a clear cause.
Who it's for: intact skin that looks red or blotchy and is otherwise well.
The Soothe step, on intact skin
Soothing Serum is a water-light, fragrance-free leave-on that helps intact skin that looks red or blotchy feel soothed and calm. It stays off broken skin and off any rash that needs a doctor.
Questions parents ask
What does heat rash look like on a baby?
Heat rash is a cluster of tiny pink, red or clear bumps in places that trap warmth and sweat: the neck, chest, back, armpits, diaper line and under a hat. Babies get it because their sweat ducts are still small and block easily. Cooler air, a lukewarm rinse and lighter clothing clear it in a day or two.
How do I care for drool rash?
Pat the chin and neck folds dry often with a soft cloth, change damp bibs and collars, and put a thin layer of a bland barrier on dry skin before naps and outings. Rubbing and scented wipes make the chapping worse. Drool rash fades once teething and drooling ease.
What is the glass test for a baby rash?
Press the side of a clear glass firmly against the rash and watch the skin through it. Most rashes fade or blanch under the pressure; spots that stay red or purple and do not fade are a non-blanching rash, which can be a sign of a serious infection. A non-blanching rash is an emergency: call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department.
Is a rash with a fever serious?
A rash with a fever is a same-day call to your pediatrician, and any fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby under three months is an emergency. Many viral rashes are mild, and the fever is the reason to be seen, since a clinician needs to rule out the few that are not. Write down when the rash started and where it began.
When do newborn rashes go away?
Erythema toxicum, the blotchy newborn rash with small yellow-white centers, fades within a week or two. Milia rub off within a few weeks, and baby acne clears over a few weeks to months. Heat rash and drool rash come and go with the conditions that cause them.
Which rashes should I leave alone?
Most newborn rashes do best with less: cool skin, loose cotton, water, patting dry, and time. Creams with fragrance or actives made for older skin add variables to a rash that is already resolving. The ones that need a product or a prescription are the ones a clinician names.
