It can be an unnerving experience for parents to see their toddler with any type of rash. With so many causes, it can be difficult to determine if your child is ill, had an allergic reaction or has a skin disorder. Most rashes will clear on their own or with treatment.
Diaper Rash
Probably the most common rash parents see on their toddlers are diaper rashes. A diaper rash occurs from exposure to prolonged moisture caused by urine or feces, so toddlers are most susceptible to these rashes at night when they are often in the same diaper for seven hours or more. Diaper rashes can also be caused by chafing and the material of the diaper.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, diapers should be changed promptly and kept somewhat lose during the night. To treat a diaper rash, use a thick layer of zinc oxide or petrolatum. To prevent diaper rashes, use gentle baby wipes or a squirt bottle of water and use a diaper rash cream.
If the diaper rash is not responding to treatment within a few days, according to Baby Center, it's possible your baby has a yeast infection, which will appear as a red bumpy rash in the diaper area. This is most common if your toddler has recently had antibiotics.
Eczema
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, or AAD, eczema is often called "the itch that rashes." It affects 10 to 20 percent of children, of which 80 percent have the condition before age 5, according to the AAD.
Eczema can cause skin to appear thickened, red, dry and scaly. In addition, tiny red bumps will often be present. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, eczema will often start on the cheeks, forehead and scalp, but if left untreated it will progress to the arms and trunk.
There is not a cure, but most children will outgrow eczema.
Allergies
Rashes caused by allergic contact are often red, itchy and swollen. In some cases, small blisters may also develop. Once you find your toddler has an allergic reaction, it's important to find what's causing the reaction so you can eliminate or minimize contact with the stimuli. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your dermatologist will study materials your child is often in contact with to help identify the cause.
A patch test will often be performed on the skin to help the dermatologist discover the culprit of a rash caused by an allergy. During a patch test, a small amount of common allergens will be applied to the skin and covered with tape. After a few days, the tape is removed and if a rash is present, the parents know the allergen.
According to the AAD, some common allergens are medications, poison ivy, poison oak, fragrances, nickel and rubber.
Illnesses
Chicken pox will start as itchy small bumps and then progress to fluid-filled blisters. According to Baby Center, it's possible to only have a few blisters, but it's more common to have 250 to 500 blisters. Chicken pox is highly contagious, so children should not be in day care with this illness.
Roseola, which according to Baby Center is most common between 6 months and 3 years old, could also cause the rash. Roseola is a viral infection that causes a high fever for three to seven days. Once the fever goes away, a rash appears on the body. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a child with roseola should drink plenty of fluids and can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the fever.
Some other illnesses that cause rashes are often preventable with vaccinations, such as measles and rubella.
Expert Insight
There are many possibilities for the cause of a rash, so the only way to be 100 percent is to take your toddler to the doctor so your toddler can be diagnosed, treated and relieved of any discomfort. If treatment has begun, but the symptoms are getting worse, contact your doctor immediately or if your doctor is unavailable, take your toddler to an emergency room.
