Causes of rashes in baby and toddler

Baby rashes are often caused by intolerance reactions of the delicate baby skin to care products or even after taking medication. One drug that often causes rashes in babies is the antibiotic amoxicillin. Often a baby gets a rash shortly after birth, which is caused by a change in the environmental situation, i.e. from amniotic fluid to air.

This can lead to blockage of the sebaceous glands and thus to skin rash and pimples. Another reason for a baby’s skin rash is the so-called baby or newborn acne, which is caused by the hormonal changes after birth, in that the hormone production previously taken over by the mother must now be ensured by the baby’s body alone.Furthermore, the delicate baby skin can also be irritated by environmental influences such as cold or sunlight to such an extent that a rash develops. Sometimes babies react to newly used care products with an agonizing itching.

If a product is suspected of triggering this allergy, another care product should be used quickly. Often, excessively dry skin also causes itching and reddening of the skin in one area of the body. In this case, skin care products that keep the skin moist and supple are especially helpful.

Numerous baby oils are available in stores and can be used to care for the skin. Another common cause of skin rashes in babies is the so-called diaper dermatitis. Here, contact with the diaper in combination with heat and moisture causes a reddish skin rash on the buttocks or groin, which can burn and itch and can severely restrict the baby’s movement.

The typical localization is characteristic for diaper dermatitis. For treatment, it is urgently necessary to dry the skin area. The diaper product should be changed and a zinc paste should be applied to the itchy areas of skin to dry the skin.

Furthermore, babies can also very often develop fungal infections of the skin. Most often fungal infections present themselves as reddish areas, which sometimes flake, sometimes can be smooth and are usually itchy. Because of the typical appearance and the characteristic localization, a fungal infection is usually a diagnosis of the eye.

The treatment is done with ointments or creams. Healing should be evident within a week. A common reason for a skin rash in small children is the hand-foot-mouth disease.

This is a viral and contagious disease that becomes visible in children in the form of painful blisters (usually first in the mouth). In addition to the typical childhood diseases that lead to skin rashes, another common reason is allergy or even hives. Here, a very itchy rash and wheals occur, which can be caused by intolerance to medicines, food, skin care products or insect bites.

In small children attending kindergarten, lice can also cause a skin rash. Head lice are a common cause. Skin mites, which are easily transmitted through skin contact and therefore often affect entire kindergarten groups, can also cause a rash with severe itching. The rash is caused by the body’s defensive reaction to the eggs and faeces of the parasites, which lay them in the skin. This infestation with mites is called scabies.