We all are always worried about our beloved ones. Aren’t we? Even the tiniest discomfort to our kids makes us extremely uncomfortable! With the summer season ending and frequently changing the weather, the delicate skin of children may be at risk of getting rashes and infections.
Well, to be genuinely honest you shouldn’t be overly concerned for your loved ones in this case, as mostly mild forms of the children’s skin rashes usually disappear on their own and without medical care.
However, if your child’s skin rash is affected and you feel like that it is something abnormal and won’t take a normal course of healing then you must consult a skin specialist. Some severe forms of children’s skin rashes can be hazardous to overall health accompanied by breathing difficulties and high fever. In such a scenario, you must visit the pediatrician as soon as possible.
In most cases, rashes vanish after parental care at home and are not that harmful but there are many types of children skin rashes that you must be aware of.
Below is the list of most common skin rashes according to the data provided by healthcare billing services. By observing the possible symptoms, causes and remedial methods, one can easily get rid of the skin diseases.
Table of Contents
1. Eczema
Eczema is a chronic skin condition in which the skin of your child may turn red, itchy, irritated and at times it may even flare up especially in cooler seasons. Eczema in kid results in patches of dry and scaly skin on typical areas of the body including the forehead, cheeks, arms, legs, knees, and elbows.
The Atopic Eczema is the most common type of eczema which usually develops in the hood but may even continue in adulthood, if not taken proper care of.
What triggers it?
- Usually triggered by usage of harsh soaps, bubble baths and overly drying shampoos on the skin.
- Excessive sweating or Overheating the delicate skin of children may also trigger it.
- Extreme dryness in cold months along with dryness caused by air conditioners may also flare up the Eczema in kids.
- Chlorination of swimming pools, wool, and polyester clothing may also cause irritations.
What can Parents do?
- Don’t let your child scratch! – Trim down the fingernails of your child and make sure he doesn’t scratch or else the rash may turn into an infection.
- Moisturize, Moisturize, and Moisturize!-but not excessively. Make sure to moisturize the tender skin of your love with an irritant-free moisturizer, especially after bathe and swimming.
- Topical steroids and medications such as Elidel and Protopic may also be effective to deal with mild Eczema.
2. Prickly Heat (Heat Rash)
Miliaria or more commonly known as ‘sweat rash’ is an itchy rash of small raised red spots. It is usually visible as numerous red or pink blisters appear on the skin and are likely to cause stinging sensation and itching.
They often appear on the face, chest, and at the back of the body but any part of the body can be affected.
Most infants are affected by this condition. It can also be caused when their parents overly dress them, especially in humid or hot weather.
What causes it?
- Caused when the sweat pores are obstructed and perspiration is unable to escape.
- When infants are overly dressed in hot humid weather causing irritation and heat rashes.
What can parents do?
- Keep kids cool and avoid over clothing them.
- If possible, Air conditioners and fans may be used.
- Leave some area of your child’s body exposed to surroundings.
3. Tinea (Ringworm)
Tinea (Corporis) is a highly traumatizing skin infection caused by fungi (Yes- Not by some worm!) that’s grown in warm and damp conditions. The rash normally develops and appears in a ring-shaped red lesion with smooth skin in the center while scaly and inflamed around the edges.
Ringworm usually appears on the arms and legs of a child but it can affect any part of the body most importantly the scalp, neck, and feet. Ringworm may spread child to child especially athletes during summers when personal belongings are shared.
What can Parents do?
- Stop the spread- Never allow your child to share combs, brushes, towels, hair caps, or any sort of personal items at all. Inspect if any family member, your pet (most infections spreads from them only) or any school mate suffering from the infection. In case there’s any make sure your child maintains a healthy distance from him/her until he/she recovers
- Mostly Ringworms can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) products prescribed by your pediatrician. The anti-fungal medicine and ointments such as Oxitsat and Spectazole are easily accessible from most pharmacies and can effectively deal with it. In case if there are patches on the scalp, an anti-fungal shampoo may also be prescribed by your doctor to get rid of Tinea (Corporis) effectively.
4. Chickenpox
You knew this was coming! Chickenpox is a viral infection that almost the majority of kids deal with during their childhood. The classic itchy rash of chickenpox turns into blisters and vesicles forming red infectious papules which later turns into scabs after they crust over.
Initially, chickenpox rashes start from the trunk of the child as diagnosis details found in the healthcare billing system, however, with time the spots may get visible at any part of the body including scalp, ears, arms, and legs. Children under the age of ten are mostly affected by it.
The worst part about chickenpox is that its secondary symptoms including fever, headaches, loss of appetite, and constant abdominal pain can be pretty distressing.
What can parents do?
- VACCINATE- Always make sure your loved ones are vaccinated appropriately on time to ensure the best health of your child.
- Fever can be dealt with Paracetamols while calamine lotions and cooling gels can calm down the itching effectively
- Do visit a pediatrician as soon as possible if the condition doesn’t improve.
5. Poison Ivy and other Plant Rashes
When your baby’s tender skin comes in contact with an irritation-causing plant such as Poison Ivy or Poison oak, it may result in your child getting rashes or burning sensations.
This allergic reaction usually occurs after exposure to the stem or roots of a plant probably during those camping and hiking trips in the woods. The symptoms of Poison Ivy may emerge immediately within 8 hours to a week.
If your child is having an extremely itchy rash, fluid-filled blisters, and red bumps arranged in a straight line, He’s probably infected with Poison ivy. Other plants such as wild parsnip and giant hogweed contain an irritating chemical that may increase the hypersensitivity of your child’s skin and damage it in the long run.
What can parents do?
- Prevent contact- Explain to your child to be cautious with the Poison Ivy and Poison oak plants by describing its appearance such as having shiny green leaves and instruct them to maintain a distance from them.
- Rinse thoroughly- Wash off the area of skin that came in touch with the plant thoroughly and as soon as possible. Also, make sure to clean off the clothes and shoes of your child to prevent any further damage
- Calm down the skin- but avoid Anti-histamine as it may further increase irritation. Calamine lotion can be applied topically to reduce the itching.
Usually, rashes are harm-free and fade away on their own however in case if your child’s skin reacts negatively or gets further irritated, kindly visit the nearest pediatrician as soon as possible, or else just a common rash may turn into a serious infection or chronic skin disease.