From the first days or weeks of life, “pimples” or neonatal skin pustular rash can appear on baby’s skin. Often transient and benign, they must be differentiated from eruptions due to a genuine disease, sometimes serious, requiring specific treatment. Do not worry unnecessarily, but in any case, a medical opinion is necessary.
Physiological desquamation (neonatal skin pustular rash):
A fine desquamation (small dandruff on the surface of the skin) can appear from the second day of life in term infants.
It is more frequent, more precocious and more intense in babies born after the term has passed.
The doctor’s examination will make it possible to differentiate this normal phenomenon, and without gravity, from a dermatological disease called pustular rash.
The grains of milium:
These are small white and dry grains mostly located on the baby’s face, and more rarely in the genital area.
These are keratin microcysts (the main component of the skin, hair, hair and nails) that develop at the base of the small hairs of the down.
More commonly known as “heat pimples”, these rashes are common in infants.
They occur in the case of excessive sweating, if the infant has a fever, if it is too covered or if the outside temperature is high.
They can be in the form of translucent vesicles or small red dots, located on the face, neck or in folds.
After correction of the excess heat, they regress spontaneously in 24 to 48 hours.
The hyperplasia of the sebaceous glands
The sebaceous glands are small glands located at the base of the hairs.
The increase in volume, known as hyperplasia, is common in the first month of life.
This is manifested by small white or yellow spots on the nose, forehead, cheeks or upper lip.
No treatment is necessary, they will disappear spontaneously.
Toxic erythema of the newborn:
Of origin still unknown, it is the most frequent of the neonatal eruptions: the majority of newborns do not escape there!
These are red patches measuring 1 to 3 cm in diameter, with the appearance of urticaria, sometimes with a vesicle (a button containing a clear liquid) or a pustule (a button containing pus) in the center.
The face and body can be affected.
The rash appears in the first 4 days of life and dissipates spontaneously in about ten days, but sometimes relapses are possible.
When there are pustules, a collection of their contents is sometimes necessary to look for an infection (bacterial, viral, or mycotic) requiring a suitable treatment.
Transient pustular melanosis:
From birth, small pustules or any Neonatal skin pustular rash are seen, which then dries up to give place to small pigmented plaques, which may persist for several months before they dissipate spontaneously.
Some babies may have pigmented plaques without pustular lesions.
Of unknown cause, these lesions, appearing on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, are mainly observed in newborns of African origin.
Cephalic Pustulosis:
Rarely, this rash usually occurs after the 7th day of life and until the end of the first month.
It is presented in the form of red buttons, surmounted by a pustule, located on the face, neck and on the scalp.
Even if the regression can occur spontaneously, a local antimycotic treatment is often prescribed by the doctor for a faster healing.
Infant Acne:
It is due to the strong hormonal boost (androgens) in late pregnancy.
Localized at the level of the cheeks, it is manifested by comedones (blackheads), even inflammatory nodules or pustules (buttons containing pus).
Generally, moderate forms recover spontaneously in 2 to 3 months. But in some cases, a specific treatment is necessary: follow the prescription of your doctor!
Warning ! Rashes often look alike, and not all are benign. Some may reveal an infection (bacterial, viral, mycotic) or severe dermatological disease. For caution, it is best to consult your doctor … And do not apply any lotion or cream found in the medicine cabinet!
For caution, it is best to consult your doctor. And do not apply any lotion or cream found in the medicine cabinet!
Do not forget that the skin of the baby is fragile: the toilet and the care must be carried out with care and using the adapted products.
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