Baby skin may be well-known for its soft, flawless appearance, but it's actually very common for newborns to experience rashes and red bumps on the face. The causes of these bumps vary, and while they may look uncomfortable and unsightly, they're rarely cause for concern. However, if your infant's rash includes blisters or pus, or is accompanied by fever, weakness or any other unusual behavior, call your child's doctor right away to rule out a serious problem.
Baby Acne
Baby acne is one of the most common causes of red spots on a newborn's face, affecting more than 30 percent of newborns, according to Seattle Children's Hospital. Baby acne shows up when infants are 3 to 5 weeks old, and is characterized by small red pimple-like bumps on the face. The bumps are the result of the surge of maternal hormones that babies receive just prior to birth, and they usually disappear without any treatment by 4 to 6 months of age.
Infant Eczema
Infant eczema, which can occur when babies are between 1 and 5 months old, appears as small red bumps and patches. It may be exclusively on the cheeks, or may be spread over different parts of the body. Eczema is sometimes caused by allergies, but it often has no known cause, so it's important to see your pediatrician to pinpoint the source of the problem. Your doctor can also prescribe a treatment, which usually includes a moisturizing topical cream.
Erythema Toxicum
Erythema toxicum may have an intimidating name, but this rash is both harmless and very common, affecting more than 50 percent of newborns. This type of rash usually appears two to three days after birth and looks like red blotches, each with a small white or yellow lump in the center. Newborns with Erythema toxicum require no treatment, and the condition will usually clear by 2 weeks of age.
Seborrhea
Seborrhea, also called seborrheic dermatitis, typically appears by 4 weeks of age and looks like very small red bumps and crusty yellow scales around eyebrows, eyelashes, the scalp and other parts of the body where hair grows. The cause of seborrhea isn't entirely understood, and the condition usually clears on its own. However, steroid creams may help heal the rash.
Drool Rash
If your newborn's red bumps seem to come and go around her cheeks and chin, it may be a simple case of drool rash. An infant's skin can become irritated when milk, drool or stomach acid from spit-up sits on the skin for too long. To prevent drool rash, wipe your baby's face thoroughly with a clean wet cloth after feeding, spitting up or when you notice her drooling.
