Few things spark parental anxiety as quickly as concern over a baby's health. First-time parents are especially prone to worrying about a baby's appearance and behavior. While it is a good idea to consult with a doctor about your baby's facial rash, it can be reassuring to understand some of the more common causes.
Milia
Milia are tiny, white spots that often appear on the face of newborns, especially on the tip of the nose and across the cheeks. Parents often mistake milia for acne, though they are not. Medline Plus, an online resource of the National Institutes of Health, explains that these pinpoint white spots on the surface of the skin are simply a buildup of dead skin. Newborn milia are harmless and disappear on their own, usually within weeks.
Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum
The sound of the words "erythema toxicum neonatorum" is enough to worry parents who have never heard the term before. However, this condition, referred to as "newborn rash," is harmless. The rash is very common and usually shows on the face and bodies of about half of all babies, to one degree or another. Newborn rash typically presents as whitish-yellow central spots surrounded by an area of reddened skin. Parents may notice very little newborn rash or it can appear to cover much of the baby; both can be normal manifestations. Although the white center sometimes appears to contain pus like a pimple, it does not. Like milia, newborn rash disappears in short order on its own and does not need to be treated.
Infantile Eczema
Babies with infantile eczema often start showing symptoms in the first six months of life. The rash from infantile eczema is usually dry, scaly, red and often first appears on a baby's face. The cause of eczema is not well-understood, but Medline Plus points out that many infants with this condition have a family history of hay fever, eczema or asthma. While many babies outgrow this condition by about age 2, eczema often requires treatment and should be managed in concert with a baby's physician. If you suspect that your baby has developed eczema, make an appointment to see the doctor.
Drool Rash
Teething babies often experience "drool rash": a raised, red rash on the face, especially around the lips, mouth and cheeks. This rash, caused by excessive drooling, is often exacerbated by friction from contact with wet clothes, bed linen and rubbing. The rash typically occurs where drool has flowed, usually on the chin, neck and chest. Askdrsears.com describes treating drool rash as uncomplicated; keeping the affected skin clean, dry and moisturized with lanolin ointment should help to heal it.
Heat Rash
Heat rash, also known as "prickly heat," typically occurs in babies during periods of warm weather. Drspock.com describes heat rash in babies as pink bumps with blotchy, pink skin, which sometimes feature tiny blisters. Prickly heat symptoms are most common on the neck and upper chest but can appear on a baby's face as well. Heat rash in babies usually resolves on its own without any treatment.
Illness
Many illnesses can cause a facial rash in infants and babies, some of which are relatively harmless and others that are more serious. Fifth disease, chickenpox, roseola, measles, impetigo and rubella are only some examples of illnesses that can present with a facial rash. it is often unrealistic, if not impossible, to diagnose a skin rash without actually seeing it first, so it is always advisable to bring your baby to the doctor when a rash occurs.
