After the first bath your newborn will normally have a ruddy
complexion due to the extra high count of red blood cells.
He can quickly change to a pale- or mottled-blue color if he
becomes cold, so keep him warm. During the second week of
life, your baby's skin will normally become dry and flaky.
Many babies also get rashes or have birthmarks. In this
handout, seven kinds of rashes and birthmarks are covered.
- Acne of newborn
More than 30% of newborns develop acne of the face:
mainly small, red bumps. This neonatal acne begins at 3
to 4 weeks of age and lasts until 4 to 6 months of age.
The cause appears to be the transfer of maternal
androgens (hormones) just prior to birth. Since it is
temporary, no treatment is necessary. Baby oil or
ointments will just make it worse.
- Drooling rash
Most babies have a rash on the chin or cheeks that comes
and goes. Often, this rash is caused by contact with
food and acid that have been spit up from the stomach.
Rinse your baby's face with water after all feedings or
spitting up.
Other temporary rashes on the face are heat rashes in
areas held against the mother's skin during nursing
(especially in the summertime). Change your baby's
position more frequently and put a cool washcloth on the
area that has a rash.
No baby has perfect skin. The babies in advertisements
wear makeup.
- Erythema toxicum
More than 50% of babies get a rash called erythema
toxicum on the second or third day of life. The rash is
composed of 1/2- to 1-inch-size red blotches with a
small white lump in the center. They look like insect
bites. They can be numerous, keep occurring, and be
anywhere on the body surface (except palms and soles).
The cause of this rash is unknown and it is harmless.
The rash usually disappears by the time an infant is 2
weeks old, but sometimes not until a child is 4 weeks
old.
- Forceps or birth canal trauma
If your baby's delivery was difficult, a forceps may
have been used to help him through the birth canal. The
pressure of the forceps on the skin can leave bruises or
scrapes or can even damage fat tissue anywhere on the
head or face.
Pressure from the birth canal can damage the skin
overlying bony prominences (such as the sides of the
skull) even without a forceps delivery. Fetal monitors
can also cause scrapes and scabs on the scalp.
You will notice the bruises and scrapes 1 or 2 days
after birth. They will disappear in 1 to 2 weeks.
Injury to fat tissue won't be apparent until the fifth
or sixth day after birth. A thickened lump of skin with
an overlying scab is what you usually see. This may
take 3 or 4 weeks to heal. For any breaks in the skin,
apply an antibiotic ointment (OTC) until healed. If it
becomes tender to the touch or soft in the center or
shows other signs of infection, call your physician.
- Milia
Milia are tiny white bumps that occur on the faces of
40% of newborn babies. The nose and cheeks are most
often involved, but milia are also seen on the forehead
and chin. Although they look like pimples, they are
smaller and not infected. They are blocked-off skin
pores and will open up and disappear by 1 to 2 months of
age. Do not apply ointments or creams to them.
Any true blisters (little bumps containing clear fluid)
or pimples (little bumps containing pus) that occur
during the first month of life (especially on the scalp)
must be examined and diagnosed quickly. If they are
caused by the herpesvirus, they must be treated right
away. If you suspect blisters or pimples, call your
child's physician immediately.
- Mongolian spots
A Mongolian spot is a bluish-gray, flat birthmark that
is found in more than 90% of American Indian, Oriental,
Hispanic, and black babies. They occur most commonly
over the back and buttocks, although they can be present
on any part of the body. They vary greatly in size and
shape. Most fade away by 2 or 3 years of age, although
a trace may persist into adult life.
- Stork bites (pink birthmarks)
Flat pink birthmarks (also called capillary hemangiomas)
occur over the bridge of the nose, the eyelids, or the
back of the neck in more than 50% of newborns. Most
of these spots fade and disappear, but some can persist
into adult life. Those on the forehead that run from the
bridge of the nose up to the hairline usually persist
into adult life. Laser treatment during infancy should
be considered.