Skin Rashes in Children

Signs & Symptoms	What It Could Be	What To Do
Red or pink, raised areas on the skin that itch. These can change shape. They can fade and then come back anywhere on the body.	An allergic response is the usual cause.	Call 9-1-1 if your child also has signs of a severe allergic response: Problems breathing or swallowing. Severe swelling all over. Or the face, lips, tongue and/or throat swell. {Note: If your child has emergency medicine, such as an EpiPen, give it as prescribed. Give it before you call 9-1-1!} For hives without a severe allergic response, See Doctor if hives are severe or come back. Self-Care Have your child avoid things he or she is allergic to. If OK with the doctor, give an over-the-counter antihistamine, as advised. Use warm (not hot) showers or baths. Add baking soda or an oatmeal bath product to bath water. Put calamine lotion or a cold compress on itchy skin. Have your child wear clothes that fit loosely.
Deep red or purple spots that don’t fade when you press a glass against it. Other signs: Stiff neck High fever Very bad headache Vomiting or nausea Acts very sluggish or strange Seizure	Meningitis infection.*	Get medical care fast! Do the things the doctor tells you to do.
Pink to red rash on the arms, legs, and palms of the hands. The rash may start near the wrists and ankles. It gets darker in color and spreads. It can bleed. Other symptoms: Fever and chills Headache Confusion	Rocky mountain spotted fever. This shows up 1 to 4 days after a bite from an American dog tick or rocky mountain wood tick.	Get medical care fast! Do the things the doctor tells you to do.
It looks like sunburn. It feels rough or bumpy like sandpaper. The rash starts as tiny red bumps on the neck, chest and stomach. It can spread all over. It can be redder in the armpits, and groin. Other symptoms: Fever Sore, red throat. The tongue looks like a strawberry Swollen neck glands Nausea and vomiting. Body aches. Headache. After the rash is gone, skin on the tips of the fingers and toes begins to peel.	Scarlet fever. This is a bacterial infection*	See Doctor. Do the things the doctor tells you to do. Self-Care Give medicine prescribed by the doctor. Make sure your child takes all of the medicine. For fever, give your child acetaminophen of ibuprofen. Make sure to give the right kind and dose for your child’s weight. Have your child drink plenty of fluids. If rash itches, trim their fingernails short so skin isn’t damaged through scratching.
The rash is round or oval and has raised edges with pale centers and is called a bulls-eye rash. It fades after a few days. (The rash comes 3 days to 2 weeks after the bite.) Other signs: Fever Joint pain later on	Lyme disease. This is caused by a deer tick bite.	See Doctor. Do the things the doctor tells you to do.
Tiny red pimples that itch really bad. Common sites are between the fingers; on the wrists, elbows, and armpits; and along the belt line. Wavy lines in the skin up to an inch long may also be seen.	Scabies. This is caused by skin parasites called itch mites.*	See Doctor. Do the things the doctor tells you to do. Self-Care Wash clothing and bedding in hot water and detergent.
Red and itchy, scaly patches on the skin or scalp. These are round with distinct edges that grow outward as the rash spreads. Moist areas in the folds of the skin (under the breasts or in the groin area). Bald spots may appear on the scalp.	Ringworm. This is from a fungal infection*. This can be passed from person to person, pets, or contact with an object that has the fungus on it.	See Doctor if the rash is on the scalp or in many places on the skin. Do the things the doctor tells you to do.
In infants, pus-filled blisters and red skin. In older kids, golden crusts on red sores. The rash is on the arms, legs, face, and around the nose first. Then it is on most of body. Other signs: Fever (sometimes) Itching (sometimes)	Impetigo. This is caused by a bacterial infection.*	See Doctor if self-care tips don’t bring relief, if blisters are larger than 1 inch across, or if a red streak runs from the infection. Self-Care Clean the area with soap and warm water at least 3 times a day. After each washing, put an antibiotic ointment on the sore and cover it with a bandage.
Flat, rosy red rash on the chest and stomach. A high fever occurs 2 to 4 days before the rash. The child feels only mildly ill when the fever is present.	Roseola. This is caused by the Herpes type-6 virus.*	See Doctor if high fever causes a seizure. Self-Care Give your child acetaminophen for fever. Apply cool, wet washcloths or take baths with tepid (not cold) water.
Dry, red, itchy patches of skin. Blisters may drain and then crust over.	Contact dermatitis. This is from direct contact with something that bothered the skin. Examples are cleaning items, cosmetics, and metals in jewelry. Poison ivy, oak, and sumac cause this type of rash.	See Doctor if there are signs of infection: Red streaks, fever, pus, or the redness, swelling, or pain gets worse. Self-Care Keep your child away from what caused the rash. Don’t scratch it. Have your child bathe in cool or warm (not hot) water. Add an oatmeal product to the water. Pat the skin dry. Put calamine lotion or an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream on the skin. If OK with the doctor, give an over-the-counter antihistamine, as advised.
Patches of skin that are dry, red, scaly, blistered, and swollen. Sometimes the skin looks thick, discolored, or oozes fluid and crusts over.	Eczema (atopic dermatitis). This problem tends to run in families. It is common in persons with asthma or allergies. Contact with irritants may worsen eczema.	See Doctor if Self-Care Tips don’t bring relief or if there are signs of infection: Red streaks, fever, pus, or the redness, swelling, or pain gets worse. Self-Care Keep your child from scratching the skin. Have your child bathe in lukewarm (not hot) water. Use a mild soap or no soap at all. Don’t bathe too often. Use a light, nongreasy, unscented lotion on the skin after it is washed and patted dry. Don’t use ones with alcohol. Have your child avoid foods, chemicals, cosmetics, etc. that make the eczema worse.
Small patches of rough, red skin and tiny pimples on the buttocks, thighs, and/or genitals. This hurts, but doesn’t itch.	Diaper rash. This is often related to wet diapers, skin sensitivity, and chafing.	See Doctor if there are blisters or small red patches outside the diaper area, such as the chest. Self-Care Change diapers as soon as they are wet. Wash the area with warm water. Keep the skin dry. Don’t use throwaway wipes. Apply diaper cream or ointment containing zinc oxide or petroleum to the skin. Don’t use plastic or rubber pants until the rash is gone.
Flat, red spots that become raised and look like small pimples. Then they turn into small blisters that break and crust over. Other symptoms: Fatigue and mild fever occur 24 hours before rash appears. Itching may be very bad.	Chickenpox. This is caused by the varicella-zoster virus.* Chickenpox vaccines prevent chickenpox.	See Doctor if self-care tips don’t bring relief or if there are signs of infection: Fever or pus or if the redness, swelling, or pain gets worse. Self-Care Keep from scratching affected areas. Use cool, wet compresses, or give cool or lukewarm baths for 10 minutes as often as needed. Add 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) of baking soda per tub. Give your child acetaminophen for fever. If itching is very bad, give an over-the-counter antihistamine as advised by your child’s doctor.
Blotchy, red rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. The rash lasts about 7 days. These signs come before the rash: Fever Runny nose Sneezing Eyes look red and are sensitive to light Blue-white spots in the mouth	Measles. This is caused by a virus.* MMR vaccines prevent measles.	Call Doctor right away to be sure the problem is measles. Do the things the doctor tells you to do. Let the child’s school and local health department know if it is measles. It is usually okay for your child to go back to school about 7 to 10 days after the rash and fever go away. Self-Care Have your child rest until the fever and rash go away. Give lots of liquids to your child. Give your child acetaminophen for fever. Have your child avoid lights, TV, reading, etc. while their eyes are sensitive to lights.
Red rash that usually starts on the face. It looks like the child’s cheeks have been slapped. Then a lacy red rash shows up on the chest, back, stomach, arms and legs. Cold-like symptoms may also be present before the rash appears.	Fifth Disease. This is caused by the Human parvovirus B19.*	Self-Care The rash usually goes away 7 to 10 days without treatment. Have your child rest and keep cool. They should avoid hot or even warm baths or showers.
Rash with small red pimples, pink blotchy skin, and itching. Common sites are between skin folds (armpits, under the breasts, the groin).	Heat rash. This happens when the skin sweats too much.	Self-Care For large rashes, have your child bathe in cool water without soap every couple of hours. For small rashes, apply a cool, wet washcloth several times a day. Let your skin air dry. Apply calamine lotion to very itchy spots. Don’t use ointments and creams that can block sweat gland pores. Have your child stay in a cool, dry place.
Scaly, crusty rash in newborns. It starts behind the ears and spreads to the scalp.	Cradle cap. Hormones that pass through the placenta before birth causes this.	Self-Care Apply baby oil to the scalp to soften the hard crusts. Then use an antidandruff shampoo. Massage the scalp with a soft brush or washcloth for 5 minutes. Be sure to wash all of the oil out. Do this 2 to 3 times a week.

Red or pink, raised areas on the skin that itch. These can change shape. They can fade and then come back anywhere on the body.

An allergic response is the usual cause.

Call 9-1-1 if your child also has signs of a severe allergic response:

Problems breathing or swallowing.
Severe swelling all over. Or the face, lips, tongue and/or throat swell.

{Note: If your child has emergency medicine, such as an EpiPen, give it as prescribed. Give it before you call 9-1-1!} For hives without a severe allergic response, See Doctor if hives are severe or come back.

Self-Care

Have your child avoid things he or she is allergic to.
If OK with the doctor, give an over-the-counter antihistamine, as advised.
Use warm (not hot) showers or baths. Add baking soda or an oatmeal bath product to bath water. Put calamine lotion or a cold compress on itchy skin.
Have your child wear clothes that fit loosely.

Deep red or purple spots that don’t fade when you press a glass against it. Other signs: Stiff neck

High fever
Very bad headache
Vomiting or nausea
Acts very sluggish or strange
Seizure

Meningitis infection.*

Get medical care fast!
Do the things the doctor tells you to do.

Pink to red rash on the arms, legs, and palms of the hands. The rash may start near the wrists and ankles. It gets darker in color and spreads. It can bleed. Other symptoms:

Fever and chills
Headache
Confusion

Rocky mountain spotted fever. This shows up 1 to 4 days after a bite from an American dog tick or rocky mountain wood tick.
Rocky Mountain Rash

Get medical care fast!
Do the things the doctor tells you to do.

It looks like sunburn. It feels rough or bumpy like sandpaper. The rash starts as tiny red bumps on the neck, chest and stomach. It can spread all over. It can be redder in the armpits, and groin. Other symptoms:

Fever
Sore, red throat. The tongue looks like a strawberry
Swollen neck glands
Nausea and vomiting. Body aches. Headache.
After the rash is gone, skin on the tips of the fingers and toes begins to peel.

Scarlet fever. This is a bacterial infection*

See Doctor.
Do the things the doctor tells you to do.

Self-Care

Give medicine prescribed by the doctor. Make sure your child takes all of the medicine.
For fever, give your child acetaminophen of ibuprofen. Make sure to give the right kind and dose for your child’s weight.
Have your child drink plenty of fluids.
If rash itches, trim their fingernails short so skin isn’t damaged through scratching.

The rash is round or oval and has raised edges with pale centers and is called a bulls-eye rash. It fades after a few days. (The rash comes 3 days to 2 weeks after the bite.) Other signs:

Fever
Joint pain later on

Lyme disease. This is caused by a deer tick bite.

See Doctor.
Do the things the doctor tells you to do.

Tiny red pimples that itch really bad. Common sites are between the fingers; on the wrists, elbows, and armpits; and along the belt line. Wavy lines in the skin up to an inch long may also be seen.

Scabies. This is caused by skin parasites called itch mites.*
Scabies

See Doctor.
Do the things the doctor tells you to do.

Self-Care

Wash clothing and bedding in hot water and detergent.

Red and itchy, scaly patches on the skin or scalp. These are round with distinct edges that grow outward as the rash spreads. Moist areas in the folds of the skin (under the breasts or in the groin area). Bald spots may appear on the scalp.

Ringworm. This is from a fungal infection*. This can be passed from person to person, pets, or contact with an object that has the fungus on it.

See Doctor if the rash is on the scalp or in many places on the skin.
Do the things the doctor tells you to do.

In infants, pus-filled blisters and red skin. In older kids, golden crusts on red sores. The rash is on the arms, legs, face, and around the nose first. Then it is on most of body. Other signs:

Fever (sometimes)
Itching (sometimes)

Impetigo. This is caused by a bacterial infection.*

See Doctor if self-care tips don’t bring relief, if blisters are larger than 1 inch across, or if a red streak runs from the infection.

Self-Care

Clean the area with soap and warm water at least 3 times a day.
After each washing, put an antibiotic ointment on the sore and cover it with a bandage.

Flat, rosy red rash on the chest and stomach. A high fever occurs 2 to 4 days before the rash. The child feels only mildly ill when the fever is present.

Roseola. This is caused by the Herpes type-6 virus.*

See Doctor if high fever causes a seizure.

Self-Care

Give your child acetaminophen for fever.
Apply cool, wet washcloths or take baths with tepid (not cold) water.

Dry, red, itchy patches of skin. Blisters may drain and then crust over.

Contact dermatitis. This is from direct contact with something that bothered the skin. Examples are cleaning items, cosmetics, and metals in jewelry. Poison ivy, oak, and sumac cause this type of rash.

See Doctor if there are signs of infection: Red streaks, fever, pus, or the redness, swelling, or pain gets worse.

Self-Care

Keep your child away from what caused the rash. Don’t scratch it.
Have your child bathe in cool or warm (not hot) water. Add an oatmeal product to the water. Pat the skin dry. Put calamine lotion or an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream on the skin.
If OK with the doctor, give an over-the-counter antihistamine, as advised.

Patches of skin that are dry, red, scaly, blistered, and swollen. Sometimes the skin looks thick, discolored, or oozes fluid and crusts over.

Eczema (atopic dermatitis). This problem tends to run in families. It is common in persons with asthma or allergies. Contact with irritants may worsen eczema.

See Doctor if Self-Care Tips don’t bring relief or if there are signs of infection: Red streaks, fever, pus, or the redness, swelling, or pain gets worse.

Self-Care

Keep your child from scratching the skin.
Have your child bathe in lukewarm (not hot) water. Use a mild soap or no soap at all. Don’t bathe too often. Use a light, nongreasy, unscented lotion on the skin after it is washed and patted dry. Don’t use ones with alcohol.
Have your child avoid foods, chemicals, cosmetics, etc. that make the eczema worse.

Small patches of rough, red skin and tiny pimples on the buttocks, thighs, and/or genitals. This hurts, but doesn’t itch.

Diaper rash. This is often related to wet diapers, skin sensitivity, and chafing.

See Doctor if there are blisters or small red patches outside the diaper area, such as the chest.

Self-Care

Change diapers as soon as they are wet. Wash the area with warm water. Keep the skin dry.
Don’t use throwaway wipes.
Apply diaper cream or ointment containing zinc oxide or petroleum to the skin.
Don’t use plastic or rubber pants until the rash is gone.

Flat, red spots that become raised and look like small pimples. Then they turn into small blisters that break and crust over. Other symptoms:

Fatigue and mild fever occur 24 hours before rash appears.
Itching may be very bad.

Chickenpox. This is caused by the varicella-zoster virus.*
Chickenpox vaccines prevent chickenpox.

See Doctor if self-care tips don’t bring relief or if there are signs of infection: Fever or pus or if the redness, swelling, or pain gets worse.

Self-Care

Keep from scratching affected areas.
Use cool, wet compresses, or give cool or lukewarm baths for 10 minutes as often as needed. Add 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) of baking soda per tub.
Give your child acetaminophen for fever.
If itching is very bad, give an over-the-counter antihistamine as advised by your child’s doctor.

Blotchy, red rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. The rash lasts about 7 days. These signs come before the rash:

Fever
Runny nose
Sneezing
Eyes look red and are sensitive to light
Blue-white spots in the mouth

Measles. This is caused by a virus.*
MMR vaccines prevent measles.
Measles Rash

Call Doctor right away to be sure the problem is measles. Do the things the doctor tells you to do. Let the child’s school and local health department know if it is measles. It is usually okay for your child to go back to school about 7 to 10 days after the rash and fever go away.

Self-Care

Have your child rest until the fever and rash go away.
Give lots of liquids to your child.
Give your child acetaminophen for fever.
Have your child avoid lights, TV, reading, etc. while their eyes are sensitive to lights.

Red rash that usually starts on the face. It looks like the child’s cheeks have been slapped. Then a lacy red rash shows up on the chest, back, stomach, arms and legs. Cold-like symptoms may also be present before the rash appears.

Fifth Disease. This is caused by the Human parvovirus B19.*

Self-Care

The rash usually goes away 7 to 10 days without treatment.
Have your child rest and keep cool. They should avoid hot or even warm baths or showers.

Rash with small red pimples, pink blotchy skin, and itching. Common sites are between skin folds (armpits, under the breasts, the groin).

Heat rash. This happens when the skin sweats too much.

Self-Care

For large rashes, have your child bathe in cool water without soap every couple of hours. For small rashes, apply a cool, wet washcloth several times a day. Let your skin air dry.
Apply calamine lotion to very itchy spots. Don’t use ointments and creams that can block sweat gland pores.
Have your child stay in a cool, dry place.

Scaly, crusty rash in newborns. It starts behind the ears and spreads to the scalp.

Cradle cap. Hormones that pass through the placenta before birth causes this.

Self-Care

Apply baby oil to the scalp to soften the hard crusts. Then use an antidandruff shampoo. Massage the scalp with a soft brush or washcloth for 5 minutes. Be sure to wash all of the oil out. Do this 2 to 3 times a week.

Avoid Getting a Rash from Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac

Avoid Getting Lyme Disease