Red Spot White Center on Baby Leg Foot

Skin rashes in children

Childhood rashes are mutual. Most rashes are harmless and disappear without the demand for handling. See your GP or call GP out of hours service if your child has a rash and seems unwell, or if you're worried.

About peel rashes in children

Information technology's especially of import to be aware of the symptoms of meningitis, see section below.

Also below is data on some of the most common rashes in children.

This guide may requite you a better idea of the cause of the rash. Just don't rely on it to diagnose your baby'due south status if they show any signs of beingness unwell. Always encounter a GP or contact a GP out of hours service for a proper diagnosis.

read about causes of skin rashes in babies

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of pare and underlying tissue.

Picture showing orbital cellulitis

About cellulitis

the affected area will be red, painful, swollen and hot
it often affects the legs, simply tin occur anywhere on the body
your child will probably also have a fever

Contact your GP or GP out of hours service if an area of your child's peel turns red, hot and tender. Do this immediately if your child appears unwell. Cellulitis usually responds well to treatment with antibiotics.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is a viral illness that nigh children grab at some point. It nigh commonly affects children under 10 years of age.

Chickenpox spots normally appear in clusters

Virtually chickenpox

it causes a rash of itchy spots that turns into fluid-filled blisters
they crust over to form scabs, which after a while drop off
some children simply have a few spots, others have them over their entire body
the spots are about likely to appear on the face, ears and scalp, under the arms, on the chest and abdomen, and on the arms and legs

There'southward no specific handling for chickenpox. You lot can take steps to salve the symptoms. For example, paracetamol can help relieve fever (don't requite aspirin to children under 16). Calamine lotion and cooling gels tin be used to ease itching.

Eczema

Eczema is a long-term condition that causes the pare to become itchy, red, dry out and cracked. The most mutual type is atopic eczema, which mainly affects children but tin can continue into adulthood.

Picture of atopic eczema on back of the knees

Most atopic eczema

usually develops behind the knees or on the elbows, neck, eyes and ears
it isn't a serious condition, simply if your child later becomes infected with the canker simplex virus, information technology tin can crusade the eczema to flare upward into an outbreak of tiny blisters and will cause a fever

Erythema multiforme

Erythema multiforme is a skin rash (usually balmy). Information technology is acquired by an allergic reaction to the canker simplex virus.

Nearly Erythema multiforme

the spots look similar targets, with a nighttime red eye and paler band around the outside
the hands or anxiety tend to be afflicted first, followed by the limbs, upper body and face up
your child will probably feel unwell and may have a fever, which y'all should be able to care for with over-the-counter medicine
it may accept from two to six weeks before they experience meliorate

See your GP if your child has a rash and seems unwell.

In rare cases, erythema multiforme can be triggered by a reaction to certain medications, such as an antibody or anticonvulsant.

This more severe form is called Stevens-Johnson syndrome and it can be life-threatening.

Hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and rima oris disease is a common, contagious infection.

About hand, pes and rima oris disease

causes mouth ulcers and spots and blisters on the palms of the hands and soles of the anxiety
it's most common in young children (particularly those nether x), but it can likewise bear on older children and adults

At that place's no cure for mitt, foot and oral cavity disease. It's easily spread, so you lot should go on your kid away from school or nursery until they're better.

Your kid's allowed system will fight the virus. Information technology should clear upwards later on about seven to ten days.

Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluid. If eating and swallowing is uncomfortable for them, requite them soft foods, such equally mashed potatoes, yoghurt and soup.

Impetigo

Impetigo is a common and highly contagious pare infection that causes sores and blisters. It is acquired by bacterial infection. It isn't usually serious and often improves within a week of treatment.

In that location are two types of impetigo – bullous and non-bullous.

About bullous impetigo

typically affects the trunk (the surface area of the body betwixt the waist and neck)
causes fluid-filled blisters that burst later on a few days to leave a yellowish chaff

About not-bullous impetigo

typically affects the pare effectually the nose and mouth
causes sores that quickly flare-up to go out a yellow-chocolate-brown chaff

Run into your GP if yous recall your kid has impetigo. If it is impetigo, antibiotics will ordinarily be prescribed. This is an effective treatment, immigration up the infection.

Keratosis pilaris ('chicken skin')

Keratosis pilaris is a common and harmless skin condition.

About keratosis pilaris

the skin on the back of the upper arms becomes rough and bumpy, as if covered in permanent goose pimples
sometimes, the buttocks, thighs, forearms and upper dorsum tin can as well be affected
typically begins in childhood and gets worse during puberty
some people find it improves after this and may fifty-fifty disappear in adulthood

At that place's no cure for keratosis pilaris. It frequently gets better on its ain without treatment. There are some measures you can accept that may improve your kid's rash. These include using non-soap cleansers rather than soap, and an emollient to moisturise their skin.

Your GP or pharmacist will be able to recommend a suitable cream.

Measles

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that most commonly affects young children. It'due south now uncommon in Northern Ireland because of the effectiveness of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination programme, with high levels of vaccination.

About measles

the measles rash is red-dark-brown blotches
information technology normally starts on the face, caput or upper neck and then spreads outwards to the rest of the body
your kid may also have a fever and cold-similar symptoms

Call your GP surgery if yous call back your child has measles. It's all-time to phone before visiting. This is because the surgery may need to make arrangements to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.

Measles usually passes in almost 7 to ten days without causing farther bug. Paracetamol or ibuprofen tin be used to relieve fever, aches and pains (don't give aspirin to children nether 16).

Also, brand sure your kid drinks plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral peel infection.

Picture showing molluscum contagiosum skin infection that causes clusters of small, firm, raised spots

Nigh molluscum contagiosum

causes clusters of small, business firm, raised spots to develop on the peel
commonly affects young children aged ane to five years, who tend to catch it later on close physical contact with another infected child
is commonly painless, although some children may feel some itchiness
usually goes away within eighteen months without the need for treatment

Molluscum contagiosum is highly infectious. Most adults are resistant to the virus. This means they're unlikely to grab it if they come into contact with information technology.

Pityriasis rosea

Pityriasis rosea is quite a mutual pare condition.

Picture showing red scaly patches caused by pityriasis rosea

Almost pityriasis rosea

causes a temporary rash of raised, red scaly patches to develop on the body
most cases occur in older children and young adults (aged between 10 and 35)
the rash can be very itchy
in most cases, it clears up without treatment in two to 12 weeks
in rare cases it can last up to five months

Emollients, steroid creams and antihistamines tin be used to help salvage the itchiness. The rash doesn't commonly leave scars. The skin tin sometimes exist discoloured afterwards.

Prickly rut (estrus rash)

Prickly heat (heat rash) is besides known equally miliaria.

About prickly heat (rut rash)

it is an itchy rash of small, raised ruby-red spots that causes a stinging or prickly sensation on the skin
it occurs when the sweat ducts in the outer layer of skin (epidermis) are obstructed
you can get a rut rash anywhere on your body, but the face, neck, dorsum, chest or thighs are most frequently affected
infants can sometimes become a prickly heat rash if they sweat more than than usual – for example, when information technology's hot and humid or if they're overdressed

It isn't a serious condition and rarely requires any specific treatment.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a long-lasting (chronic) skin status.

Picture showing psoriasis that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales

Almost psoriasis

that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales
the severity of psoriasis varies profoundly from person to person- for some people, it'southward merely a minor irritation, just for others it can take a major impact on their quality of life

There's no cure for psoriasis. In that location are a number of treatments, bachelor through your GP, which can aid better the symptoms and appearance of skin patches. For example, topical corticosteroids are creams and ointments that tin be applied to the skin.

Ringworm

Ringworm is a highly infectious fungal skin infection.

Picture of ringworm rash, which is usually ring-shaped, unless it's on the face, neck or scalp

Nearly ringworm

causes a ring-like red or silver patch on the skin that tin be scaly, inflamed or itchy
ofttimes affects the arms and legs, just it can announced almost anywhere on the body

Other similar fungal infections tin affect the scalp, anxiety, groin and nails.

Ringworm can normally exist easily treated with antifungal medicines. These are available from a pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist if you demand advice about treatment.

Ringworm of the scalp can cause scaling and patches of pilus loss.

Scabies

Scabies is a contagious peel status that's intensely itchy.

Near scabies

it's caused by tiny mites that couch into the pare
in children, scabies is usually spread through long periods of skin-to-peel contact with an infected developed or child – for example, during play fighting or hugging
the mites like warm places, such equally skin folds, between the fingers, under fingernails, or around the buttock creases
the mites go out small red blotches, which are oftentimes constitute on the palms of the easily or soles of the feet
in infants, blisters are ordinarily establish on the soles of the anxiety

Meet your GP if y'all call up your child has scabies. It's not usually a serious condition, but it does demand to exist treated. Your GP will prescribe a lotion or foam.

Scarlet fever

Cerise fever is a highly contagious bacterial infection.

Most cherry-red fever

usually affects children between two and viii years of age
causes a distinctive pink-cerise rash, which feels like sandpaper to touch and may be itchy
frequently starts with a sore throat, fever and headache, with the rash developing two to five days after infection
the rash usually occurs on the chest and tum before spreading to other areas of the trunk, such as the ears and neck
sometimes a white blanket may form on the tongue, which peels away subsequently a few days, leaving the tongue cerise and bloated - this is known as a 'strawberry tongue'

Scarlet fever usually clears up after about a week. But see your GP if you think your kid may have information technology. Your GP will prescribe an antibiotic to treat information technology.

Slapped cheek syndrome

Slapped cheek syndrome is a viral infection that's common in children aged six to 10.

About slapped cheek syndrome

causes a distinctive brilliant red rash to develop on both cheeks
this can await alarming, but it usually clears upward by itself in one to three weeks

Unless your child is feeling unwell, they don't demand to stay away from school.

In one case the rash appears, the infection is no longer contagious. Information technology's a good idea to let your child's school know near the infection.

Urticaria (hives)

Urticaria is also known as hives, weals, welts or nettle rash.

Picture showing urticarial rash

Almost hives

is a raised, itchy rash that tin affect ane part of the body or be spread across large areas
it'southward a common pare reaction that ofttimes affects children
occurs when a trigger causes high levels of histamine and other chemical messengers to be released in the pare
these substances crusade the blood vessels in the skin to open upward, resulting in redness or pinkness, and swelling and itchiness

There are many possible triggers of urticaria, including allergens, such as nutrient or latex, irritants, such as nettles, medicines, and physical factors, such as heat or exercise. Sometimes, a cause can't be identified.

The rash is usually short-lived and mild. It can oftentimes be controlled with antihistamines. Enquire your pharmacist for communication. Urticaria can be i of the offset symptoms of a severe allergic reaction known every bit anaphylaxis.

Call 999 immediately and enquire for an ambulance if you lot or someone else is experiencing anaphylaxis.

Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that environment the brain and spinal cord (meninges).

Child's arm with a blotchy rash that doesn't fade when a glass is rolled over

Almost meningitis

the classic rash associated with meningitis ordinarily looks like pocket-size, crimson pinpricks at first
it and then apace spreads over the body and turns into reddish or purple blotches that won't fade when a glass is rolled over information technology (this won't ever develop)

Meningitis tin can exist serious if not treated chop-chop. Telephone call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest emergency department if you lot think you or your child might exist seriously ill.