Rashes in babies and children
This page covers some of the common rashes in babies and children.
As a parent, you may know if your child seems seriously unwell and should trust your judgement.
Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
Your child is unwell with a rash and has any of these symptoms:
- a stiff neck
- bothered by light
- they seem confused, agitated or they're not responding like they usually do
- difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs), breathlessness, or they're breathing very fast
- their skin, lips or tongue look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
- sudden swelling of their lips, mouth, throat or tongue
- their throat feels tight or they're struggling to swallow
- the rash looks like small bruises or bleeding under the skin and does not fade when you press a glass against it
On brown and black skin, it may be easier to see the rash or colour changes on the soles of the feet, palms, lips, tongue and inside the eyelids.
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring any medicines your child takes with you.
Use a digital thermometer, if you have one, to check if your child has a high temperature.
For more information about how to do this, see:
If you do not have a thermometer, look for signs such as their back or chest feeling hotter than usual, sweatiness and shivering (chills).
High temperature is not always a symptom
You child might not have a high temperature but still be seriously unwell. Check for all the possible symptoms and get medical help if you’re worried.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
Your child:
- has a rash you're worried about and you're not sure what to do
- feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, feels sweaty or they’re shivering
- is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C
- is aged 3 months or older and has a temperature of 39C or higher
- is aged 5 years or older and has a temperature below 36C
Check symptoms on 111 online (for anyone aged 5 and over) or call 111 (for children under 5).
Rash with a high temperature
A rash on 1 or both cheeks plus a high temperature, runny nose, sore throat and headache may be slapped cheek syndrome.
Slapped cheek syndrome can usually be treated at home.
Blisters on the hands and feet, with ulcers in the mouth, could be hand, foot and mouth disease.
Hand, foot and mouth disease can usually be treated at home.
A rash of small, raised bumps that feels rough, like sandpaper, could be scarlet fever.
Speak to a GP if you think your child has scarlet fever.
A spotty rash that appears on the head or neck and spreads to the rest of the body could be measles.
Speak to a GP if you think your child has measles.
Rash with itching
A rash of small, raised spots that feels itchy or prickly could be heat rash (prickly heat).
Heat rash can usually be treated at home.
Skin that's itchy, dry and cracked may be atopic eczema. It's common behind the knees, elbows and neck, but it can appear anywhere.
Speak to a GP if you think your child has eczema.
Find out more about atopic eczema
Raised, itchy patches or spots could be caused by an allergic reaction (hives).
Hives can usually be treated at home. But call 999 if there's swelling around your child's mouth or they're struggling to breathe.
An itchy, dry, ring-shaped patch of skin may be ringworm. The patch may look red, pink, silver, or darker than surrounding skin.
Ringworm can usually be treated at home.
Small, itchy spots that turn into blisters and scabs could be chickenpox.
Chickenpox can usually be treated at home.
Sores or blisters that burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches could be impetigo. The sores or blisters can be itchy, get bigger or spread to other parts of the body.
Speak to a GP if you think your child may have impetigo.
Very itchy raised spots could be caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin (scabies). There may be raised lines with a dot at one end, often first appearing between the fingers.
Scabies can usually be treated at home.
Rash without fever or itching
Very small spots, called milia, often appear on a baby's face when they're a few days old. The spots usually appear on their nose but can also be on other parts of the face, inside their mouth, or on their scalp or chest.
Milia can also affect older babies and children, with spots on their eyelids, forehead or nappy area.
The spots may appear white or yellow, depending on your child's skin colour.
In young babies, they usually go away within a few weeks and do not need treatment. In older children milia might last longer.
Raised red, yellow and white spots (erythema toxicum) are common on babies in the first few weeks after birth. They usually appear on the face, body, upper arms and thighs.
The rash can disappear and reappear. It should get better in a few weeks without treatment.
Small, firm, raised spots could be molluscum contagiosum. The spots can be the same colour as surrounding skin, darker than surrounding skin, or pink.
You can usually treat molluscum contagiosum at home.
If your baby has a red and sore bottom, it could be nappy rash.
Nappy rash can usually be treated at home.
Spots that appear on a baby's upper body, scalp, cheeks, forehead and chin up to 6 weeks after birth could be baby acne (neonatal acne).
You do not need to treat baby acne. It usually gets better after a few weeks or months.
Yellow or white, greasy, scaly patches on your baby's scalp could be cradle cap.
Cradle cap can usually be treated at home.
