Normal newborn babies usually come into this world with flawless skin. However, it is not uncommon for them to develop some kind of skin rash or another later on. Many babies in the first year of life will have a rash of some type. Rashes often appear as red, raised bumps on the skin. Sometimes a rash makes the skin look red or irritated, but without any raised areas.

Diffuse mottling of skin with alternating areas of some redness and pallor are quite common in newborn babies. These look like a rash but are really due to the changes in the blood flow patterns of the immature skin of the baby. They are quite harmless and do not need any treatment. Little white bumps, called milia, break out on the faces of most newborns because their oil glands are still maturing. Most of these are due to blocked openings of these glands. Other than washing with water, no other major forms of treatment are necessary for these. It is best to just leave them alone and they will disappear with time.

As time goes by some babies develop sweat rashes. These are tiny elevated reddish irritant areas and are somewhat itchy especially when the baby sweats. Sweat rashes do tend to make babies quite uncomfortable and the common areas affected are the neck, trunk and the abdomen. These are seen regularly in warm climates with high humidity which are prevalent in some areas of this country. All these sweat rashes need are soothing lotions and creams and there are many bland medications that help. These tend to make the baby restless and fussy and need to be treated just to make him or her a little bit more comfortable.

Occasionally yellowish bubbles containing pus appear on the skin. Sometimes these are soft, flaccid and very fragile. When they break they leave a red angry looking raw area on the skin. They are also quite painful and make the baby miserable and fretful. Occasionally they penetrate to deeper areas of the skin and form small abscesses. These are due to infections of the skin of the newborn and they need treatment. Depending on the extent of the involvement of skin they may need antibiotics either by mouth or by injection and local application of antibiotic creams. When treated properly these subside without causing major problems and they do not generally leave any scars. It is important for these to be seen by a doctor and treated promptly as there is a small risk of the infecting bugs spreading throughout the body causing major problems. If that occurs, it is a very significant illness that would need hospitalisation.

The bottom of the baby and the nappy area is usually quite soft and smooth. However, sometimes a "nappy rash" develops. Diapers or nappies, because they are warm and often wet, are good places for bacteria and yeasts to grow. Those germs, along with wetness, can create a red, raw, rash on the skin of your baby’s bottom. Diaper rash is usually not a serious condition, but it can hurt. These rashes initially start due to irritation of retained urine but get secondarily infected by bacteria, yeasts and fungi. A common organism that complicates the problem is candida or thrush. The rash can also then spread to other areas of the body. There are some things one could do to prevent these nappy rashes. Changing the nappies as soon as they are wet or soiled really helps to prevent these rashes. This may mean changing them 15 to 20 times a day. Rinse the baby’s bottom with clear water at each diaper change. Dress him or her in a cloth diaper with no plastic or nylon cover. Cotton allows some air circulation. Give baby’s bottom some "air time" each day. Leave a diaper off entirely for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. This could be easily done before a bath. If you wash your own cloth diapers, use a mild soap or detergent and double rinse them to get out any soap residue. If you are using commercially available disposable diapers, change them often. Disposable diapers can hold an amazing amount of urine before they leak. Remember to change them every couple of hours, even when you take the baby away from home. Avoid using baby powder. It can clump and cake, and give bacteria a place to grow.

However, even in spite of all these precautions, if the baby does get a diaper rash it is prudent to increase daily "air time" and apply a soothing nappy rash cream or lotion. If the rash looks quite angry and the baby is miserable, it will need medical attention. A doctor would be able to assess the situation and decide whether antibiotic or antifungal creams are also warranted. If the rash develops into sores, or does not get better in one or two days, it is imperative to seek medical help.

Cradle cap is the name for crusty, oily, scaly patches on your baby’s head or face. A significant proportion of babies are affected by this problem. It is due to a combination of those overactive oil glands and the fact that many parents are afraid to clean the baby’s head. To prevent cradle cap, wash baby’s head with mild shampoo every few days, or rub on a little baby oil, brush the scales away, then rinse with water. Yet for all this, if the skin appears to be red and irritated, it will need medical attention. There are several drugs that can be effectively used to control the condition. Cradle cap is most common in babies in the first few months of life, and it generally goes away on its own by 6 to 12 months of age. However, if the baby is over 6 months and still has a lot of cradle cap, be sure to have a doctor check things and take appropriate action.

Infantile eczema is a rash that starts as an itchy, red area on the cheeks. It may develop into small sores or blisters. There may also be involvement of the fronts of the elbows and the backs of the knees. Eczema is a sign of an allergic reaction. It makes the baby itchy, uncomfortable, and fussy. Many things such as external irritants, fabrics, rugs, soaps, or laundry detergents can aggravate eczema. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 10 to 20 percent of all babies have an eczema bout by their first birthday. It is generally necessary to keep the baby’s nails clipped to prevent damage from scratching. Most of these rashes need medical attention but the secret is to try and control them with rather simple medications rather than by using potent blunderbuss therapy. The real positive side is that many of them tend to get over the problem by the second year of life. However, in a few, it continues to give trouble during childhood and even into adult life. They may need more sophisticated forms of treatment. There are several medications that could be usefully employed to treat eczema but these should always be prescribed by a qualified doctor and should always be used under medical supervision. Many creams available today contain potent antibiotics and steroids. These should never be indiscriminately used on babies. The dubious practices of using whatever creams that are available in the household or using creams that had been prescribed for other inmates or using local applications recommended by pharmacists on their own volition should be strictly avoided. Pharmacists are there to issue prescribed medications and not to treat patients. They just do not have the basic training to do so.

Some babies are born with unusually dry, scaly skin. Such skin occasionally shows some cracks which are quite painful and also are susceptible to getting secondarily infected. Many people believe that this problem is due to a vitamin deficiency, particularly vitamin A. This is a misconception. Dry skin is an inherited disorder of the skin and no amount of vitamins, as commonly used, is helpful. This condition needs moisturising lotions and creams of a bland nature. Just plain aqueous cream is as good as anything else. Special moisturising soaps too help. However, when cracks in the skin and pain at certain sites occur, further treatment is necessary.

It must be remembered that some rashes that occur in very young babies may be the indicators of more serious illnesses and have a rather sinister significance. These may be purely skin disorders or pointers of more deep seated and generalised diseases. Contrary to popular belief there are some purely skin disorders which are quite serious and which may threaten the well being and even the life of a baby. However, these are not at all common occurrences. If the rash is reddish and contains blood it needs urgent evaluation by a doctor. If rashes are accompanied by high fever, then too urgent action needs to be taken. If there is any reason to be concerned, it is best to see a doctor regarding the problem.