Common baby skin rash - Baby Skin Care

There are 4 type of skin rash that common on baby: Eczema, Nappy Rash, Miliaria, and Seborrhea Dermatitis.

Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Eczema or atopic dermatitis is a dry skin condition that affects some baby to varying degrees. It usually doesn't appear until after three months of age, so don't confuse eczema with the normal flaky skin most baby have for up to two months after birth. Eczema is more likely to occur when condition such as asthma and hay fever run in families, although about one baby in five who has eczema has no family history of allergies. Most baby and toddlers outgrow their eczema before the age of five years.
Treatment involves using a combination of moisturizers and cortisone creams. It is advisable to consult a skin specialist for moderate to severe eczema. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months seems to delay the onset of eczema and may reduce its severity.

Nappy Rash (Ammonia Dermatitis)
This is the most common form of nappy rash. Raised and red in appearance, it is caused by ammonia. Fresh urine doesn't cause irritation but if it sits for too long in your baby's nappy, or on his skin, bacteria from his stools will break it down into ammonia. Ammonia is an irritant, it burns the skin.
To clear the rash, keep the nappy area as clean and dry as possible, using gentle cleansers and moisturizers when you change your baby's nappy. A nappy rash cream and nappy liners can also be used to help protect your baby's skin from urine and feces between nappy changes.
If nappy rash persist for more than a couple of days it may need a more active medical treatment. A fungal or bacterial infection may also be present. If it is, you will need to use an antifungal cream to clear the rash. If in doubt, check with your doctor who will advise the most appropriate treatment depending on the cause of the rash.

Miliaria (Prickly Heat)
This often occurs due to a blocking of the narrow openings of the baby's sweat ducts. It appears as flat red pin head spots that may develop yellow pustular heads. They may look infected but are not, they just an indication that the pores of the baby skin are not yet efficient. No treatment is required.

Seborrhea Dermatitis
This condition appears where abundant oil is excreted, i.e. head (cradle cap), eyebrows and faces. The skin is reddened and scaly, is not itchy and symptoms usually disappear after a few weeks. It is usually found in the folds of the skin, in the crooks of the elbows, at the wrists and behind the knees. Very occasionally there may be a transition to an atopic state.