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many common childhood illnesses under control, they nevertheless do occur, so be vigilant about the symptoms of things like measles and rubella just in case.
Know your rashes
We asked a dermatologist in private practice, Dr Robert Weiss, to describe some of the more common rashes found in babies in the first year. Remember to use a good barrier cream for babies with every nappy change. This rash is most common in newborns but older babies can get it too. It begins with a flaky rash on your baby’s scalp that can become yellow, and crust-like scales that spread to the eyebrows when it’s severe. “Areas under the neck or axillary folds (under the arms) are sometimes involved. It does not itch nor do any harm to the baby,” says Dr Weiss. “But severe cases may need mild cortisone creams from your doctor. Post-inflammatory lightening of the skin may occur in dark skinned babies.”
Soften the scales with baby oil before washing the hair and brush well with a soft baby brush. Picking at the crusts with your fingernails can cause secondary infections, so try not to do this. sweating or not drying baby well after a bath. Always be sure to dry your baby’s skin creases well, don’t use a talcum powder and soothe the rash with a regular barrier cream. If the rash becomes worse, there may be a candida infection and then gentian violet or an antifungal cream will help.
Commonly referred to as “slapped cheeks”, the development of this bright red rash occurs mostly over a baby’s cheeks a few days after cold-like symptoms of a temperature and runny nose start. The rash is rather itchy and can spread all over the body (but never the palms and soles) and lasts for a few weeks. Dr Weiss describes this rash as “a lace-like pattern on the trunk that may recur especially after a hot bath long after A dry, scaly rash on your baby’s body can be caused by an allergy of some sort. But before you go cutting out all kinds of foods from your baby’s solids diet – or yours, if you’re still breastfeeding exclusively, Dr Weiss reassures us that baby allergies are rare. “Food allergies may occur in atopic eczema in a few children under one year, but dietary restriction should be avoided until definitive testing for allergies
This rash looks a lot like measles and a reaction to antibiotics is the most common cause. The rash goes away when the medication is stopped.