Digestive enzymes in your baby's saliva can cause a skin rash once she begins teething. Excessive drooling occurs when your baby is both awake and asleep. As a result, her skin is exposed to wetness 24 hours per day. Keeping a teething baby dry is often a difficult job due to the constant drooling that occurs. Thankfully, the rash is temporary; treat it at home.
Cause
When a baby begins the process of teething, his body also adjusts to handle the solid foods that will soon be coming his way. Digestion begins in the mouth, as food is mixed with saliva. When teething begins, saliva levels increase in anticipation of this food. Since teething babies like to chew on things to help relieve the pain, the saliva runs out of the mouth; this process causes skin irritation on the face, often resulting in a rash.
Symptoms
When a baby gets a rash with teething, it appears as red bumps on the cheeks, chin, neck or chest; it also appears as pink or red irritated skin. The rash doesn't itch. It is very tender to the touch; it hurts if chemicals in soaps or some baby wipes come in contact with the rash.
Treatment
The most important thing in treating a teething rash is to keep your baby's skin as dry as possible. This is difficult when it seems like a faucet is running constantly. Use bibs to catch the saliva and change them out often. Keep a clean cotton cloth nearby to gently dry her face from time to time. Only wash your baby's face with warm water and pat it dry after baths.
Considerations
If your baby's teething rash gets worse or appears to be causing discomfort, consult his pediatrician. A rash that begins to bleed or ooze is a cause for concern because it can lead to a skin infection. Also contact the doctor if he has a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, or if the rash spreads to other parts of his body. That could indicate that something else is causing it, such as an allergic reaction or chicken pox.
