It’s difficult, even for medical professionals, to identify the differences between mild and harmful rashes in children, and it’s normal for every rash to seem serious to a parent. However, just as it’s hard to judge books by their covers, there’s no way to know how serious a skin rash is simply from its appearance.
When you need to see a specialist about your child’s rash, contact Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD in Fountain Valley California. Dr. Tandon and her team have the background and experience to diagnose and treat complex rashes, or to give you the information you need to treat your child at home.
First, you need to know when to make the call for additional help. We’ve prepared some background information on typical rashes and what to look for to gauge how mild or severe the problem may be.
Rashes can be deceiving. For instance, a viral infection called roseola follows a common cold and fever, and it covers a child’s entire body with a rash, just as they’re feeling better from the cold. They might be full of energy and, except for skin inflammation, they look just fine.
Your child’s behavior when they display a rash often says more about their condition than the skin outbreak. It may be time to see Dr. Tandon when a rash accompanies other symptoms of illness.
Let’s look at some of the more common childhood rashes and their identifying signs.
It’s the most common form of skin condition affecting babies, and it starts when moisture in the diaper area becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Frequent diaper changes including thorough cleaning and drying of the area tends to keep diaper rash at bay.
Allergic responses sometimes cause changes in your child’s natural skin barrier, resulting in the itchy and irritated skin characteristic of eczema. Warm baths and gentle skin moisturizing can control its effects.
Infections are a common reason behind rashes. Common bacterial infections include:
Viral infections that cause rashes include:
Vaccination can prevent many rashes from viral sources.
There are also many other reasons for skin rashes in children. Watch your child’s behavior and mood, and if these are consistent, check for signs of fever, which often accompanies more severe rash causes.
When in doubt, contact Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD, online or by phone, to schedule an in-person or telehealth visit today.
