Skin rashes come in all forms and sizes. Some are raised bumps, others are flat red blotches. Some are itchy blisters; others are pathes of rough skin. Most rashes are harmless and clear up on their own within a few days. A few may need medical attention. The skin is one of the first areas of the body to react when exposed to something you or your child is allergic to. The chart that follows lists information on some common skin rashes.

Does your child have a severe allergic reaction with any of these problems? Trouble breathing Blue color around the lips and mouth Trouble swallowing Swelling of the face, tongue and mouth
Does your child have a purple, blotchy rash? And are their hands and feet cold?
Does the child have any of these problems? Fever Headache Sore throat A red rash that feels like sandpaper Pain in the arm and leg joints, along with a rash that looks like a target
Does your child have any of these? Big blisters full of water Pus Swelling around the rash
Has your child been near someone with “strep” throat?
If your child has diaper rash: Do they have blisters or small red patches outside the diaper area? (The chest is one place to look.)
Was the child taking medicine when the rash started? Or was the child stung by a bug?
Are any of these things true? Your child’s rash is getting worse. Your child can’t sleep because of the rash. You can’t make the rash better, even after using Self-Care

For Diaper Rash

• Change diapers as soon as they are wet or dirty. Do this even at night if the rash is bad.
• Wash your baby with lots of warm water. Don’t use throwaway wipes. Put a little zinc oxide ointment on the skin after it is dry.
• Keep the skin dry, and give it air.
• Keep your baby naked for 10 to 15 minutes before putting on a fresh diaper. Put the baby on a soft, fluffy towel while you wait.
• Put diapers on loose, so air can get inside. If you use throw-away diapers, put some small holes in them. Don’t use throw-aways with tight leg bands.
• Don’t use plastic pants until the rash is gone.
• Wash cloth diapers in mild soap. Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse water. It helps get all the soap out.

For Cradle Cap

• Use dandruff shampoo on your baby. Shampoo your baby’s head once a day for 5 minutes. Use a soft brush or washcloth.
• Put a little mineral oil on the baby’s head before shampooing. This can make the cradle cap softer. But be sure to wash out all the mineral oil.

For Heat Rash

Keep your child in a cool, dry place. The rash should go away in 2 to 3 days. Try these tips to make your child feel better:

• Give the child a bath in cool water every 2 hours or so.
• Let the air dry your child’s skin. (Don’t rub with a towel.)
• Put calamine lotion on the very itchy spots. (Don’t use Caladryl.)
• Put corn starch in the body creases.(Examples: inside the elbows, behind knees, inside tops of thighs)
• Don’t use any greasy ointments or creams. They can block the skin’s pores.

For Hives

• Give your child an antihistamine like Benadryl. Check the labels of cold medicines. Some cold medicines have diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine. These can help. But remember that antihistamines can make your child sleepy.
• Cool your child down. Try one of these tips:
  • Rub an ice cube over the hives.
  • Put a cool, wet washcloth on the hives.
  • Give your child a bath in cool water.
• Rub your child’s body with calamine lotion, witch hazel, or zinc oxide.
• Find out what caused the hives. Keep your child away from it.

For Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, or Sumac

• Take off your child’s clothes and shoes.
• Wash your child with soap and water to clean off the plant oil.
• Rub the skin with alcohol. Then rinse it with water.
• Wash all the clothes and shoes your child was wearing.
• Cut your child’s nails. Try to keep your child busy so they won’t scratch.
• Soak the rash in cool water. Or give your child an oatmeal bath. You can use Aveeno or just put one cup of dry oatmeal in a tub of water.
• Give your child a hot shower if they can stand it. The itching will get worse at first, but then it stops for hours. Do it again when the itching starts again.
• Put calamine lotion on the rash every 3 or 4 hours.
• Put a little hydrocortisone cream on the rash. Use a tiny bit and don’t rub. (You could spread the poison.) You have used too much if you can see the cream on the skin. You can do this every 3 or 4 hours. Don’t get the cream near your child’s eyes.
• Teach your child to know poison ivy, poison oak, and sumac. (Poison ivy and poison oak both have 3 little leaves on each stem. Poison sumac has a row of 7 to 11 little leaves on each stem.) Tell your child to stay away from them.

To Protect Your Child from Lyme Disease

• Have your child wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when they are in fields and woods. Have them tuck their pants into their socks. (Light-colored, tightly woven clothes are best.)
• Check your child for ticks when he or she comes back from the woods. Take off any ticks you find on your child’s skin:
  • Use tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin as you can.
  • Pull gently up from where the tick sticks into the skin.
  • Try not to crush the tick. Poison from the tick can spread the sickness.
  • Wash the bite and your hands with soap and water after.
  • Save the tick in a closed jar with alcohol. Show it to your child’s doctor if your child gets sick.