First Aid: Rashesenparentshttps://kidshealth.org/EN/images/headers/P-FA-Rashes-enHD.jpgSometimes rashes are only a minor annoyance. Other times, they are more serious and require medical treatment. Here's what to do if your child has a rash.rash, rashes, redness, spots, scaly, scales, skin, itchy, itchiness, bumps, bumpy, blisters, pimples, scratch, scratching, fever, red, dots, allergy, allergic, hives, eczema, flare-up10/20/200906/28/201809/02/2019Kate M. Cronan, MD06/15/2018b20f177c-afbf-49de-b9ea-2ad76cf5d132https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/rashes-sheet.html/<p><a href="https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/first-aid-guides.html/"><img class="right" title="Parents image" src="https://kidshealth.org/EN/images/buttons/P-firstaid-enBT.jpg" alt="First Aid" name="4990-P_FIRSTAID_ENBT.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Rashes can be caused by
viruses
,
bacteria
, medicines, heat, <a href="https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/center/allergies-center.html/">allergies</a>, and many other things. Many are only a minor annoyance. But some can be serious and need medical treatment.</p>
<h3>Signs and Symptoms</h3>
<ul>
<li>redness</li>
<li>spots on the skin</li>
<li>scaly skin</li>
<li>itchiness</li>
<li>swelling</li>
<li>bumps</li>
<li>blisters</li>
<li>pimples</li>
</ul>
<h3>What to Do</h3>
<h4>To ease discomfort:</h4>
<ul>
<li>add a few cups of oatmeal to the bath</li>
<li>pat the skin dry (instead of rubbing) after a bath or shower</li>
<li>don't scrub or scratch the affected skin</li>
<li>leave the rash exposed to the air as much as possible</li>
</ul>
<h3>Get Medical Care if:</h3>
<ul>
<li>your child also has a <a href="https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/fever.html/">fever</a></li>
<li>your child looks sick</li>
<li>there are tiny red dots that can't be felt when touched and don't fade when pressed</li>
<li>there are bruises not related to injuries</li>
<li>there is no improvement after a week</li>
</ul>
<h3>Think Prevention!</h3>
<p>Rashes can be hard to avoid. But some types can be prevented:</p>
<ul class="kh_longline_list">
<li>Have kids avoid people with contagious skin rashes.</li>
<li>For allergic rashes, try to avoid the substance that causes the reaction.</li>
<li>Use sunscreen to avoid <a href="https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/sunburn-sheet.html/">sunburn</a>.</li>
<li>If your child gets <a href="https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/eczema-atopic-dermatitis.html/">eczema</a> flare-ups, avoid harsh soaps.</li>
</ul>Chigger BitesChiggers are tiny red mites whose bites aren't painful but do cause intense itching. Home care can help the itchiness.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/chiggers.html/b240b529-25e0-495c-a7f0-1ac0d129b80bDiaper RashDiaper rash is a very common infection that can cause a baby's skin to become sore, red, scaly, and tender. In most cases, it clears up with simple changes in diapering.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/diaper-rash.html/4e56cce8-b9cd-4679-8625-8504e7ada219EczemaEczema is a common skin problem among teens. If you have eczema, read this article to find out more about it and how you can deal with the skin stress.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/teens/eczema.html/75e74a08-afa8-468c-b699-b3399bd4f0cdEczema (Atopic Dermatitis)Eczema can be an itchy nuisance and cause scratching that makes the problem worse. Many kids who have eczema today will be over it by the time they're teens.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/eczema-atopic-dermatitis.html/085769a4-1f01-4f26-9de9-24cb82c71c30Erythema MultiformeBy the looks of the "bulls-eye" marks this rash leaves on the skin, you might think it's cause for concern. But erythema multiforme clears up on its own within a few weeks.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/erythema-multiforme.html/db4a728e-f899-4989-a6cd-16b20f698866Erythema ToxicumErythema toxicum is a common rash seen in full-term newborns. No treatment is needed and it goes away on its own.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/erythema-toxicum.html/7909189e-4070-48f4-a843-af7124c3d7f6Fifth DiseaseEspecially common in kids between the ages of 5 and 15, fifth disease is a viral illness that produces a distinctive red rash on the face, body, arms, and legs.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/fifth.html/080f20dd-04cd-42e2-8859-7cf7a61dadcfFirst Aid: Diaper RashDiaper rash is a common skin condition in babies. In most cases, the condition clears up quickly with a few simple changes.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/diaper-rash-sheet.html/e08bb97b-d0af-4401-a06c-1efe43e35c82Hives (Urticaria)Hives cause raised red bumps or welts on the skin. They're pretty common and usually not serious. Find out what to do about hives in this article for teens.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/teens/hives.html/9ec00c5c-10d5-4e20-85ab-8ea267cf5389ImpetigoImpetigo is a skin infection caused by fairly common bacteria. Read this article to learn how to recognize it and what to do about it.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/teens/impetigo.html/441158a7-f32f-4a91-80bb-f7273effb343Molluscum ContagiosumThe skin rash molluscum contagiosum isn't a big deal. Find out what to do about it in this article for teens.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/teens/molluscum-contagiosum.html/83b462c1-7103-472c-8ddb-615a3a23d822Pityriasis RoseaThis harmless rash often forms a telltale "Christmas tree" pattern on the back that makes it easy to identify.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/pityriasis-rosea.html/d0c373f7-f75c-41cc-a0e2-32e6ee165c1aPoison IvyPoison ivy can give you a nasty rash. Find out more about it - and the other plants that can make you itch - in this article for kids.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/kids/poison-ivy.html/34db4066-1c64-4eb2-8527-e25dcd27520aRashesLearn about rashes in a flash. Check out our article just for kids!https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/kids/rashes.html/93106f15-27f0-427c-8e51-130efc8cb8c4RingwormRingworm isn't a worm at all - it's the name for a type of fungal skin infection. The good news is that ringworm is easy to treat.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/kids/ringworm-infection.html/a4b29b76-1ce8-4c9c-9f62-8ccc7a601397ScabiesScabies is an infestation that affects the skin, and is caused by a mite that burrows into the top layer of skin. It causes itching and bumps or blisters.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/scabies.html/372ce667-2026-470a-aa53-df3ef25259a0Scarlet FeverScarlet fever is an illness caused by a strep infection. It causes a red, bumpy rash that spreads over most of the body, and is treated with antibiotics.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/scarlet-fever.html/0efc7920-0a3c-4f87-bf52-408d7ffafa0dShinglesShingles isn't very common in kids - it mostly affects older people. Find out what causes shingles, symptoms to watch for, and what to do if your child has it.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/shingles.html/029a000a-c0c2-4975-a3c0-c63bb70ca164Word Find: SkinFind the hidden words related to skin.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/kids/bfs-skinwordsearch.html/6a4138dc-2459-4415-8e2c-da9c8de46393Your SkinNo matter how you think of it, your skin is very important. It covers and protects everything inside your body.https://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/kids/skin.html/deaf6875-ead5-4bf2-b19c-2c7c3baec96dkh:age-allAgesOrAgeAgnostickh:clinicalDesignation-generalPediatricskh:genre-printablekh:primaryClinicalDesignation-generalPediatricsPrintable Safety Guideshttps://kidshealth.org/ws/RadyChildrens/en/parents/firstaid-safe/sheets/693dcca2-3462-4fa1-b94f-229a1072c7adhttps://kidshealth.org/EN/images/buttons/P-firstaid-enBT.jpg