There are a number of baby skin marks and rashes that can affect your baby, but it is important to know that many of them are quite common and are not serious. If you are ever unsure as to the origin or severity of a skin mark or rash on your baby, it is highly recommended to visit your pediatrician to discuss the issue. Otherwise, being an informed parent can help lessen the panic that may arise when you see a skin mark or rash. There are three very common types of skin marks, also known as nevi that occur in infants and young babies. Rashes during infancy can include milia, prickly heat, newborn acne, cradle cap, and diaper rash.
The common baby skin marks include stork bites, strawberries, and moles. Stork bites are actually small birthmarks that usually appear on the middle of your baby’s forehead, eyelids, and the nape of the neck. These marks are caused by overgrown blood vessels that have bunched up and show through the skin. In most cases, as your baby’s skin thickens and the blood vessels shrink, they will fade or disappear. Strawberries are birthmarks that appear within a week or two of birth, but generally disappear or shrivel by the age of three. These marks begin as raised red circles and grow to about a strawberry size within a year. These, like the stork bites, are a result of blood vessels that kept growing. Moles are brownish black markings on the skin that resemble freckles, and are mostly harmless.
Milia and newborn acne usually appear within the first few days after birth and tend to clear up within three to six weeks. The former consists of tiny whiteheads on the baby’s face while newborn acne is a red, pimply, oily rash also known as seborrheic dermatitis. To treat these, all you need to do is wash your baby’s face with a mild soap and warm water. Prickly heat is another common rash that is caused in warm weather. It appears as a reddish, pimply rash in moist areas such as the neck folds, behind the ears, and groin. To avoid prickly heat, simply keep your baby clean and in loose lightweight clothing in warm temperatures.
Strange marks and rashes on your baby can be quite frightening, but in most cases these ailments are quite common and not very dangerous. With cradle cap and diaper rash, as well as other types of rashes, it is always a good idea to keep your baby as clean as possible and not to panic. With birthmarks, always check with your doctor if you think something more serious may be at hand.
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