You might feel alarmed when your child develops bumps on the skin. However, in most cases, these bumps aren't a cause for serious concern. If your child's bumps are accompanied by a fever, though, always contact her pediatrician. The pediatrician can examine the bumps and determine the cause. There are several common conditions that cause skin bumps in children.
Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a condition where children develop sensitivity to soap or other irritants, causing bumps. If you suspect your child has contact dermatitis, track when the outbreak occurs. Change to fragrance-free detergents and bath washes. Talk with your child's pediatrician about using an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream on the skin to relieve itching.
Seborrhea Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis usually causes itchy red bumps on your child's scalp. This condition, however, can also affect the face, back and child's upper chest area. Wash your child's skin daily with a gentle baby shampoo. If bumps don't get better, ask your child's pediatrician to prescribe a medicated body wash. Your doctor may also recommend the use of hydrocortisone cream to relieve your child's itching.
Eczema
Children with eczema get dry, itchy bumps on the skin. This condition is common in babies and children, according to MedlinePlus. Apply a fragrance-free moisturizer to your child's skin several times a day. Select a product with oatmeal, which naturally soothes the skin. Select a gentle body wash that doesn't contain fragrances. Ask your pediatrician about applying an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to itchy bumps daily.
Ringworm
Ringworm causes bumps that appear in the shape in a ring. Fungi overgrowth causes this infection. Wearing wet clothing or exposure to shower tiles and pool decks, without shoes, are risk factors for this condition. Over-the-counter creams, such as clotrimazole are used to treat ringworm infections in children. Talk with your doctor if the infection doesn't heal within two weeks. Your pediatrician can prescribe stronger topical creams to get rid of bumps.
Chickenpox
Chickenpox is another cause of bumps in children. This infection, however, is less common since the chickenpox vaccine. For children who haven't received the vaccine, this virus is very contiguous. Bumps initially resemble insect bites and appear on the face, back, scalp and chest area. The bumps will turn into blisters and break open. Bumps are accompanied by a headache and fever, according to MayoClinic.com. If you suspect your child has chickenpox, contact her pediatrician.
