Often, a child’s skin rash can betreated at home.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
1.
The only exception is if your child is allergic to the insect and has an allergic reaction.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
Keep in mind that discoloration or swelling may occur immediately.
Is Your Child’s Rash Serious?
Call your provider if your child has a high fever and a rash that persists for several days.
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This can be a sign of aninfectionor a condition likeKawasaki disease.
Call 911if a rash is accompanied by trouble breathing and a drop in blood pressure.
Chickenpox
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Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Dr Mashihul Hossaindermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from DermNet and Dr Mashihul Hossaindermnetnz.org2023.
The most notable symptom of chickenpox is a rash with itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually scab over.
Othersymptoms of chickenpoxtypically include:
Some kids also may experience mild abdominal pain or a lack of appetite.
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Chickenpox is contagious from one to two days before the rash and up to six days afterblistersform.
How to Treat Chickenpox
Most cases of chickenpox will resolve on their own within a few weeks.
Cold Sores
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Some children getcold soreson a regular basis.
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These sores often occur on the same spot on the face or lip.
AD is acommon pop in ofeczemaand mostly affects children.
Atopic dermatitis is often called the itch that rashes because it begins with itchy skin.
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Scratching the itchy skin causes a rash to appear.
Fifth Disease
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Thats why it is sometimes called slapped cheek syndrome.
Verywell / Vincent Iannelli
The rash may also spread to the arms, chest, stomach, and thighs.
This rash often has a raised, lace-like appearance and may be itchy.
The infection is most contagious before the rash appears.
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Once your child has the rash, theyre not contagious anymore.
This makes it even redder and more irritated.
Eventually, children develop the classic lip licker’s dermatitis that many parents and pediatricians see in the winter.
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The trick is to put the moisturizer around your child’s lips frequently.
This helps break the cycle of irritation and lip licking.
It is less common in children.
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Measles
Measles, also calledrubeola, is a highly contagious respiratory infection resulting from a virus.
Measles typically begins with:
The rash appears three to four days after these initial symptoms.
It shows up as flat red spots near the hairline before spreading to the rest of the body.
Verywell / Vincent Iannelli
As the rash spreads, the spots often join to form larger, blotchy patches.
The measles rash lasts about one week before it begins to fade.
As it fades, it turns a brownish color and starts peeling.
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How to Treat Measles
There is no specific treatment for measles.
The virus needs to run its course.
you’re able to take steps to manage symptoms though:
8.
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It affects adults too, but more than 90% of cases occur in kids.
Although harmless, molluscum bumps are very contagious.
How to Treat Molluscum Contagiosum
Treating molluscum bumps is a lot like treating warts.
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They can be frozen, scraped, burned, or lasered off.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two topical agents for the treatment of MC.
Ycanth (cantharidin) is a topical treatment for people aged 2 and older.
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It is applied by your healthcare provider every three weeks until the affected area is cleared.
It is not known what causes pityriasis rosea.
It may be triggered by a virus or a reaction to a previous viral infection.
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The child then develops a red, itchy rash all over their body a few days later.
Typical symptoms of poison ivy rash include:
The rash can last for one to three weeks.
How to Treat Poison Ivy
Treat the poison ivy rash with home remedies.
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These will help reduce itching and irritation.
To prevent this and similar rashes, learn toidentify poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.
Swimmer’s Itch
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Swimmer’s itch(cercarialdermatitis) is a rash brought on by aparasitein water.
Aquatic birds, snails, and other species pass the parasites into the water.
Contact your healthcare provider if symptoms persist for more than two weeks.
Also, known astineainfection, ringworm is sparked by a fungus.
The infection causes red, ring-shaped rashes on the skin.
Ringworm of the scalp and body (tinea corporis) are the most common types of ringworm in children.
How to Treat Ringworm
Ringworm is treated with an antifungal ointment or cream.
Yeast Diaper Rash
Yeast infections can commonly complicate other diaper rashes.
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Impetigo
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Impetigois a highly contagious skin infection that causes red sores or blisters.
It shows up when bacteria enter the body through broken or irritated skin.
Impetigo can look different depending on which bacteria caused it.
It usually affects the skin that isnt covered by clothes, such as around the mouth or nose.
The rash can start as a cluster of itchy red bumps or blisters.
Eventually, the blisters burst open and form a honey-colored scab.
The topical antibiotic Altabax (retapamulin) is prescribed for children as young as 9 months old.
Bactroban (mupirocin) is used to treat people 12 years and older.
It mainly affects children under age 10, but older kids and adults can catch it as well.
Mouth sores develop within two to three days, and the rash appears shortly after that.
The most you’re able to do is treat the symptoms.
Oral anesthetics such as oral lidocaine are also not recommended for painful mouth sores.
Focus on keeping children hydrated and using acetaminophen or Advil ibuprofen to relieve pain.
Heat Rash
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A heat rash develops when sweat gets trapped under the skin.
The rash looks like dots or tiny pimples and the skin often feels prickly to the touch.
To help prevent it, dress your child in loose clothing that keeps their skin cool and dry.
Let them know if the child has painful urination with the rash.
COVID-19 can cause arashthat may be part of a complication calledmultisystem inflammatory syndrome in children(MIS-C).
Summary
Children get skin rashes often.
While some skin rashes can be prevented, others may be because of factors outside of your control.
you’ve got the option to treat some skin rashes with over-the-counter medication.
Others may require prescription medication.
Your child’s pediatrician can help you figure out what to do about a particular kind of skin rash.
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