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Types of Baby Rashes Face Rashes Heat Rashes Rashes from Allergies Try Nutramigen® A+® with LGG®

Article Summary:

  • There are several types of rashes that can affect babies including diaper rashes, heat rashes, face rashes and rashes from allergies.
  • Diaper rashes, heat rashes and face rashes can be treated at home. Parents who notice their infant is having a severe allergic reaction should contact a healthcare provider.
  • Babies with rashes or eczema from a cow’s milk protein allergy can try Nutramigen® A+® with LGG®.

Types of Baby Rashes

There are a few types of rashes that you may observe in your baby. Here’s a quick list to help you start to decipher your little one’s rash:

Diaper Rashes

If you notice a red rash and sore skin on your baby’s bottom or genitals, it may be diaper rash.1 Babies can get diaper rash from wearing a moist diaper for an extended period of time.1 The urine and stool in your baby’s diaper can aggravate your baby’s skin.1 Yeast or bacteria can also cause diaper rash.1 To try to prevent diaper rash, change your baby’s diaper frequently.2 It’s especially important to change your baby’s diaper frequently if they have diarrhea.2 You can also help prevent diaper rash by applying an unscented barrier cream like petroleum jelly to your baby’s skin.2

Fortunately, treating diaper rash is simple. Make sure you wash your baby’s bottom with mild soap and lukewarm water or unscented baby wipes when you change his or her diaper.2 You can clean their bottom with just water if there isn’t any stool.2 Rinse and pat their bottom dry.2 If your baby’s skin is inflamed and red, you can try washing the area in a warm bath to reduce any pain.2 You can also apply an unscented barrier ointment to lubricate and protect your baby’s diaper area while trying to treat diaper rash.2 If you can, try keeping your baby’s diaper off for short periods of time before applying the barrier cream.2 This can help expose their skin to open air, thus helping the rash heal faster.2 Contact your doctor if your baby’s diaper rash doesn’t go away.2

Face Rashes

You may notice face rashes on your newborn. A rash near your baby’s mouth or chin may be caused by drooling and spitting up.1 This type of rash will typically come and go on its own.1 To prevent face rashes, you can use gentle soaps sparingly and leave the rash open to the air.3 Don’t allow your baby’s skin to get too dry, as dry skin can make your baby’s skin itchier.3

Heat Rashes

Heat rash is also known as prickly heat, sweat rash or miliaria.1,4 It looks like a red or pink rash that’s itchy and will appear on the areas of your baby’s body where they wear clothing.1 Sweat rash often looks like little pimples.4 It’s especially common on the chest, neck, stomach, groin and buttocks.5 Heat rash can happen when your baby is dressed too warmly in hot, humid weather or even the winter.1,5 If your baby has heat rash, you should remove any extra clothing.5 Try putting your baby in light, loose-fitting clothing instead.5 If you’re not sure how many layers your baby needs, dress them as lightly as a resting adult.4 Heat rash will go away on its own without additional treatment.5

Rashes from Allergies

Allergies like cow’s milk protein allergy may cause a rash or hives.6 CMPA can result in immediate (IgE) or delayed (non-IgE) symptoms.7 Hives look like raised, itchy and red patches of skin.6 During a severe allergic reaction, your baby may exhibit hives all over their body, throat swelling, fainting or difficulty breathing.6 If your baby is having a severe reaction, call for emergency help since severe reactions can be life-threatening.6

Try Nutramigen® A+® with LGG®

Take control with Nutramigen® A+® with LGG®. This infant formula starts to help improve rashes or eczema from suspected cow's milk protein allergy in as early as 3 weeks^. Talk to your doctor if you suspect your baby has cow’s milk protein allergy. Explore the Allergy Centre to learn more about allergies in newborns and babies.

^ HCPS evaluated eczema in infants with suspected cow's milk protein allergy and reported improvement in 86% of infants by the follow up visit.
  1. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=zx1747
  2. https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/pregnancy-and-babies/diaper_rash
  3. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=abn2344
  4. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=tp12532
  5. https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/pregnancy-and-babies/your-babys-skin
  6. https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=acc9728
  7. http://gikids.org/digestive-topics/cows-milk-protein-allergy/
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