Identifying and Treating Common Skin Conditions in Children
Easing Your Child’s Pain
To help ease your child’s discomfort from skin disorders, you should:
- Avoid long, hot baths. Instead, use lukewarm water and sponge bathe your child.
- Apply moisturizer after bathing to lock moisture in the skin.
- Dress your child in cotton, other fabrics may irritate the skin.
- Use mild laundry soap and be sure clothes are thoroughly rinsed to minimize irritants.
- Avoid rubbing or scratching the skin.
- Contact your doctor if you notice any skin infections.
August 2004 — From birth through adolescence, it’s not uncommon for children to experience a variety of skin problems.
The cause of pediatric skin conditions varies. However, since skin can only react in a limited number of ways, the most common symptom is a rash. A rash can appear as an area of inflammation or as a change in the color or texture of the skin. It may cause itching, tingling, burning, pain or swelling.
As a parent, the more familiar you are with common skin problems and treating their accompanying rashes, the happier both you and your child will be.
Bacterial and Viral Infections in Children
Many childhood diseases have bacterial or viral causes and result in rashes. The good news is that vaccines are effective in minimizing the risk of disease.
Common childhood diseases include chickenpox, measles and scarlet fever. Their symptoms and treatments include:
CHICKENPOX
Although this disease is not a serious threat to otherwise healthy children, it can last for 2 weeks and be extremely uncomfortable for young children. For children with weakened immune systems, chickenpox can pose a greater threat.
Symptoms:
An itchy rash on the scalp, armpits or groin area that begins as a red area with a blister in the center. The blister ruptures, and then forms a crust. A series of blisters eventually spreads over the entire body. A low-grade fever, sore throat and/or red eyes are also common.
Treatment:
The virus spreads through the air when an infected child coughs or sneezes, but the rash itself is also contagious. The child remains contagious until the last blister fully crusts over. Once chickenpox is confirmed, a physician can provide prescriptions to reduce itching and to help keep your child as comfortable as possible.
MEASLES/RUBELLA
Caused by a virus, both measles and rubella (German measles) can be prevented with the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine given at age 12-15 months and repeated at age 4-6 and/or 11-12.
Symptoms:
Nasal congestion, eye redness, cough and fever. After three or four days, a brown rash begins on the face and spreads over the body, lasting more than three days. In the case of rubella, a pink rash develops on the face and spreads over the body, improving in less than three days.
Treatment:
There is no therapy to treat the disease, and while your child may appear quite ill and miserable (more so with measles than rubella), the illness typically passes without long-term ill effects. To an unborn child, however, rubella can be very serious. Women should verify their immunity to rubella during their childbearing years.
SCARLET FEVER
Caused by streptococcal bacteria, scarlet fever is strep throat with a rash. This disease is very contagious, although frequent and thorough hand washing can decrease its transmission. The rash is not serious, but strep throat may have serious consequences — a doctor should be consulted immediately.
Symptoms:
A sore throat, fever, headache and swollen glands. After one or two days, a red rash that feels like sandpaper develops on the body. The face is flushed, but the skin around the mouth seems normal.
Treatment:
Antibiotics are used to treat streptococcal bacteria. The full course of treatment should be administered, even if your child is feeling better.
Other Skin Disorders
Your child may be afflicted by other types of skin disorders that are not caused by a virus or bacteria. These conditions usually do not pose a health risk, but are still uncomfortable and bothersome.
DIAPER RASH
Formally referred to as diaper dermatitis, diaper rash causes discomfort for babies, as well as concerned parents. The most common of these rashes, irritant diaper dermatitis, develops when newborn’s sensitive skin is exposed to urine and feces for an extended period of time.
Symptoms:
Bright red, sometimes blister-like patches in the diaper area.
Treatment:
A topical ointment with zinc oxide can be applied to provide a barrier to protect the skin and encourage healing. Many doctors suggest letting the baby’s bottom “go bare” for several hours a day to help the rash heal.
To prevent diaper rash, change your baby’s soiled or wet diapers as soon as possible.
RINGWORM
Ringworm is a contagious skin infection caused not by a worm, but by a fungus.
Symptoms:
A red, scaly oval on your child’s skin or scalp. The area may itch while the center of the rash may clear up and look normal.
Treatment:
Ringworm can easily be treated with topical medications from your doctor. In addition, because ringworm spreads easily, it is important to follow proper hand washing and hygiene guidelines.
EXCEMA
Between two and six months, newborns may develop excema (atopic dermatitis) on the cheeks, forehead, scalp, body, elbows and knees. This chronic condition does not have a cure, but can be treated and controlled with proper medical guidance. Many infants outgrow the condition by age 2, although flare-ups may occur throughout their lifetime.
Symptoms:
The skin may be red, thick, shiny and very dry. When scratched, the rash may ooze.
Treatment:
Liberal use of moisturizers and topical steroid creams may help during breakouts.
If you’d like to learn more about preventing and treating these skin disorders in children, see your doctor. For referral to a physician, call the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Physician Referral Service toll-free at (866) JDCH-DOC.