Different types of neonatal rashes include thrush, neonatal acne, cradle cap, and milium. Most are harmless and clear up on their own, but any rash with a fever or lethargy should be checked by a doctor. Treatment varies, from gentle brushing for cradle cap to oral fungal medication for thrush.
There are different types of neonatal rashes including thrush, neonatal acne, cradle cap, and milium. Treatment of newborn rashes depends on the type of rash your baby has developed. Most newborn rashes are harmless and clear up on their own within a few weeks to a few months. Any rash that develops along with a fever, cough, or lethargy should be looked at by a doctor right away to rule out serious infection or other health problems.
Baby acne, also called pink pimples or baby acne, is characterized by small whiteheads surrounded by red, irritated skin. This rash is common in newborns and usually appears on the cheeks and forehead at birth or a few weeks after birth. Neonatal acne is the result of the baby’s exposure to hormones while in the womb. This skin condition is not serious and will gradually clear up within a few weeks to months without any treatment.
Another of the common newborn skin rashes is cradle cap, which is characterized by the formation of numerous greasy, crusty, thick, yellow crusts on the scalp. Cradle cap may feel itchy and painful, but the rash doesn’t affect the baby at all. Cradle cap will gradually lighten within a few months. To loosen the scabs and speed up their removal, gently brush the scalp and wash your child’s hair every day. For rashes that don’t clear up, see a doctor.
Milium, also known by its plural form, milia, is common in newborns and is characterized by small white bumps on the face. Milium development in infants is the result of pockets of trapped skin not being properly shed due to still developing sebaceous glands. There are three types of neonatal milium rash: primary, secondary, and Epstein’s pearls. Primary milium develops on healthy skin, secondary coexists with a secondary skin condition, and Epstein’s pearl variety develops on the palate. No treatment is needed, because the milia will gradually clear up within a few months.
Thrush is a neonatal rash characterized by a cottage cheese-like or milk-like coating on a baby’s mouth; it is the result of an overgrowth of yeast in the body. Thrush can be painful for a baby and occasionally requires treatment. To treat this newborn rash, a doctor prescribes oral fungal medications that need to be applied to the area as directed. For nursing mothers, doctors recommend applying the drug to the mother’s nipple area as well to prevent the infection from passing back and forth. Thrush generally clears up after a few weeks.
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