The skin of a newborn baby is delicate and vulnerable, so at the slightest exposure to negative factors, irritation, peeling, rashes and purulent pimples appear on it. Also, all this can be a manifestation of certain diseases. Why do pustules appear in newborn children, how to cure them and prevent further occurrence?
Most often, purulent pimples appear on a child’s skin due to the following reasons:
- reduced immunity;
- staphylococcal infection;
- streptococcal infection;
- prematurity;
- dysbacteriosis;
- failure to comply with personal hygiene rules;
- intrauterine infection;
- prickly heat.
Most often, pustules appear after pathogenic organisms penetrate through microtraumas on the skin. Pimples often appear in premature babies whose skin is not mature enough.
Causes of pustules in newborns
A baby's skin is extremely thin and sensitive, lacking the dense layer of subcutaneous tissue that adults have. That is why skin rash is often a reaction of the child’s body to certain external factors. The main reasons for the appearance of pustules on the skin of a child:
- Decreased immunity in the baby.
- Diseases of the mother suffered during the period of bearing the child - dental caries, tonsillitis, cholecystitis, acute respiratory infections.
- The appearance of pustules on a child's body can be facilitated by intense temperature fluctuations - overheating or hypothermia, various microtraumas and diaper rash on children's skin.
- Pustules in newborns are often the result of insufficient hygiene of the baby's skin.
- Eczema and prickly heat are common causes of pustular rash in an infant.
Ulcers in infants
Babies have thin skin and imperfect functioning of the sebaceous glands, which can cause the appearance of purulent acne. Treatment of pustules in newborns is a very delicate and difficult process. They can be caused by congenital diseases of internal organs, insufficient care of the child’s skin or allergic reactions.
In medicine, pustular disease is called “pyoderma”; most often it affects premature babies and babies with weakened immune systems. The main reasons for the appearance and methods of control are set out in the reference book of the senior researcher at the Institute of Pediatrics (Scientific Center for Children's Health of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences) - O. A. Litseva.
Causes of pyoderma
Pustules in newborns that appear on the body are caused by factors such as:
- past infectious and viral diseases of the mother during pregnancy;
- weakened immunity in the baby;
- sensitive skin:
- heat rash of newborns;
- manifestations of dysbacteriosis;
- exposure to temperature (hypothermia or overheating);
- poor skin care;
- prematurity of the child;
- damage to streptococcal or staphylococcal infection.
Types of rashes
A purulent rash covers the body of a newborn if pathological microorganisms penetrate his body.
- Pathological. The main factor in their appearance is various kinds of infections that have entered the baby’s body. Purulent pimples appear on the newborn’s face, on the back and tummy, and under the arms. They are absent only on the child’s palms and feet. A pustular rash caused by pathogens is characterized by an increase in pimples and their transformation into blisters. Fluid-filled blisters often burst and develop into erosion. Such rashes need to be treated with medication.
- Toxic acne. Small red acne occurs in infants due to hormonal imbalances in mothers during pregnancy or due to increased oil production by the sebaceous glands. Red, white and yellowish small pimples appear on the baby's head, face, and palms. A white pimple resembles an abscess, like in adults and teenagers. Such pustules on the face go away without intervention, but with sufficient care they disappear on their own after a few days.
How to treat pustules?
If purulent acne appears due to the active functioning of the sebaceous glands or hormonal imbalances, the baby must be thoroughly cared for. In the morning and evening, the baby’s face should be washed with warm boiled water.
When bathing a child, potassium permanganate is added to the water, which disinfects the skin and kills pathogenic bacteria.
At the end of the procedure, the skin is delicately blotted with a soft towel, and pimples are lubricated with decoctions of string, calendula or chamomile.
If neoplasms are detected on the skin of a baby, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe a suitable ointment.
If you suspect a pathological cause for the rash, you need to consult a doctor who will prescribe antibacterial ointments suitable for infants. You can smear the pimples with sea buckthorn or Kalanchoe oil, aloe or plantain juice. Ulcers should be treated with chlorophyllipt or a solution of brilliant green.
If acne does not go away, you should stop bathing and lubricate the rash with zinc ointment. For pimples on the buttocks of a newborn, diapers are abandoned so that the skin on the bottom can breathe. If it is necessary to open an abscess, it is carried out exclusively in stationary conditions.
In the hospital, the child is treated with antibiotics, vitamin injections, and sulfonamides.
Children's pimples should not be squeezed or treated with alcohol or creams.
Preventive measures
Prevention consists of quality care for the newborn. Wash your face only with boiled water at a comfortable temperature and twice a day. Bed linen and baby clothes are washed only with hypoallergenic products intended for children.
After washing, iron everything. Children's clothes should only be made of cotton or flannelette fabric. It is recommended to give the baby air baths, if possible in the fresh air.
However, you should not keep your child in direct sunlight.
It is very useful to add decoctions of medicinal herbs to the water when bathing the baby. This perfectly tones the skin and disinfects it. When using disposable diapers, they are changed at least 4-5 times a day. The butt is washed, dried and the skin is allowed to breathe for about half an hour.
Pediatricians recommend taking off diapers at home and putting them on only when going for a walk or to visit the doctor. All toys are periodically washed with boiled hot water without adding detergents. Damage to the baby's skin should be treated with hydrogen peroxide.
Regular visits to the doctor will help avoid many problems associated with rashes.
Source: https://StopRodinkam.ru/pr/formy/gnojnichki-v-mladencev.html
Treatment of pustular rash in newborns
Regardless of the type of pustular rash, a visit to the pediatrician is mandatory. The doctor will determine the cause of the pustules and, if necessary, prescribe treatment. Toxic type blisters do not require treatment with any medications. It is enough just to carefully take care of the hygiene of the newborn - and after a few days the rash will go away on its own.
The child should be bathed at least twice a day, replacing soap with decoctions of medicinal herbs or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After bathing, the baby’s body is slightly blotted with a soft towel - it is strictly forbidden to rub the skin too hard, as this can lead to damage and bursting of pustules. Particular attention should be paid to careful hygiene of the umbilical wound. Before holding your baby, be sure to wash your hands with soap and treat your palms and nails with a special antiseptic.
If the number of pustules on the baby’s body continues to increase, you should completely stop bathing. As a hygienic procedure, use wiping with a warm, damp sponge. During the treatment period, you should stop using wet wipes or diapers if the purulent rash affects the genital area. Also take care of sufficient hygiene of your child’s clothes and underwear - it is best to give preference to things made from natural, “breathable” materials.
For bacterial abscesses, the doctor prescribes special antibacterial and antiseptic drugs, ointments and creams that contain zinc oxide, which need to be used to treat the affected areas of the skin. You can also use regular brilliant green to treat wounds and ulcers.
An indicator that the body is healthy is clean.
It serves to protect against the effects of negative environmental factors.
Many people are bothered by ulcers on the body; the reasons for their appearance can be different.
They can appear due to diseases that are systemic in nature.
In addition, their occurrence can be influenced by basic non-compliance with human hygiene standards, as well as exposure.
Cause of pyoderma in a newborn, prevention of pustular rashes
Baby health is an important topic for every loving mother. Mothers of newborn babies experience special experiences. Unusual symptoms make them nervous. A common occurrence is pustules on the face of a baby.
Premature children and infants with weak immunity, in whom the subcutaneous fat layer has not yet fully formed, are most susceptible to them.
Because of this, wounds appear on the epidermis, into which infection enters and causes an inflammatory process.
Most pediatricians attribute the rash to non-compliance with the diet by the nursing mother. But strict adherence to nutritional rules does not always solve the problem. An allergic reaction is only one of the reasons.
Reasons for the appearance of pustules on the face of a baby
There are several reasons for the appearance of inflammation on the baby’s face:
- Hormonal rash. Occurs in more than a third of babies. The medical name is neonatal pustulosis. Among the people - flowering of newborns, acne, whiteheads, milia. Pustules appear due to the formation of hormonal levels in the baby. Through breast milk, the baby receives maternal hormones. His body is not able to absorb them, red pimples appear that change the relief of the epidermis. Sometimes there are large ulcers with white dots. They are most often located on the baby's face - on the cheeks, nose, chin, around the eyes and occurs 2-3 weeks after birth.
- Allergic reaction. In breastfed children it appears due to poor nutrition of the mother. For example, a large number of children under one year of age suffer from an allergic reaction to the protein contained in cow's milk. It can enter the baby's body through breast milk. Be careful if your family has a history of allergies to any product or medication. An allergic rash looks like red spots with a rough surface; large pimples with white heads are possible.
- Prickly heat. The delicate skin of a baby reacts to overheating with rashes all over the body. They look like red pimples with blisters. Another reason for the appearance of prickly heat is unscrupulous adherence to the rules of hygiene for the baby.
- Too intense work of the sebaceous glands. This feature of the body does not pose a threat to health. Girls are mainly affected.
- Intestinal dysbiosis. Appears due to microflora disturbance.
- Staphylococcus, streptoderma are infectious diseases.
- Infections transmitted by airborne droplets - measles, chickenpox, rubella, scarlet fever.
Pustular rashes are divided into 2 types: pathological and toxic.
Pathological causes infection. There may be an increase in temperature, red pimples, and itching. Such skin diseases can only be treated by a doctor; independent treatment can threaten the baby’s life.
Toxic rashes are a consequence of hormonal imbalance or the functioning of the sebaceous glands. Most often, they do not require treatment and go away on their own with proper care.
If you find pustules on your baby's face, be sure to consult your pediatrician.
Types of rashes that do not require medical intervention
Medical intervention is not required for the following types of rashes:
- Neonatal pustulosis (hormonal acne) caused by yeast. It goes away on its own in the first months of a baby’s life with conscientious hygienic care.
- Miliaria is a small red rash. Localized in the groin folds, neck, armpits, and face. In this case, meticulous care is required: changing the diaper every 3 hours, washing with boiled water, air baths, regular washing, and not wiping with wet wipes. The main cause of prickly heat is overheating. Carefully monitor the compliance of your baby’s clothes with the temperature conditions.
- An allergy is a small rash that often weeps and causes itching. An allergic reaction is provoked by: improper nutrition of a nursing mother, hygiene and skin care products for the baby, synthetic fabric, medications prescribed to the newborn or his mother.
Home treatment in these cases requires careful care. Wash your baby's face with boiled water twice a day. The skin of the face cannot be wiped; it is allowed to blot with a soft towel. Lubricate pimples with a decoction of string or chamomile.
Attention! Medicinal herbs can cause an allergic reaction! First you need to conduct a test - apply a couple of drops of the decoction to a small area of skin. The absence of redness and itching indicates that the herbs can be used.
Mild pathological pimples can be treated at home after consultation with a pediatrician. Usually the pediatrician prescribes antibacterial ointment. Among traditional methods, the use of Kalanchoe, rose hip, and sea buckthorn oils is allowed. If the pustules spread quickly, stop bathing for a while.
Other causes of pustules require drug treatment. If the baby has lost weight, become lethargic, or has a fever, you should call a doctor immediately. You may need a course of antibiotics. In advanced cases, treatment in a hospital.
Probable pathological diseases
The following types of possible diseases are distinguished:
- Staphylococcus aureus causes blistering rashes from 1 to 2 weeks of life. Papules with liquid sometimes reach 1-2 centimeters. When they burst, erosion occurs. The little one becomes restless. The doctor prescribes antibiotics and anti-inflammatory ointments. Lack of treatment leads to pneumonia, otitis, and abscesses.
- Intestinal dysbiosis is characterized by large pimples on the face of a baby. When the disease is eliminated, the ulcers go away on their own.
- Airborne diseases occur in children in the same way as in older children. You don’t have to leave the house to become infected; anyone can bring the infection, including the baby’s mother or father.
Types of rashes
There are different types of rashes:
- Papules are raised red pimples without contents. They cannot be opened, otherwise scars will remain. Occurs during chickenpox, staphylococcal infection.
- Pustules are voluminous pimples with a white head, indicating the presence of pus. Appear due to staphylococcus or streptococcus, hypovitaminosis, allergies, and increased sweating.
- Nodules are inflammations under the skin that cause thickening and redness of the skin. The cause is infectious diseases.
- Small pimples appear with a hormonal rash, an allergic reaction, or prickly heat.
What to eat as a mother to avoid allergic reactions in the baby
When breastfeeding, many substances from the food received by the mother's body enter the milk and enter the baby's body. They can cause allergies. The sensitivity of children is individual, so each mother makes her own diet.
According to doctors' recommendations, the diet of a nursing mother includes:
- lean meat and lean fish - 200 g;
- cottage cheese – 150 g;
- cheese – 20-30 g;
- vegetables - 600 g;
- fruits – 300 g.
- butter – 20 g;
- vegetable oil – 25 g.
Attention! Vegetables and fruits should not contain red pigment.
Once every 2 days, a nursing mother tries a new product. If the baby has no allergies and is not bothered by gases, the product can be added to the diet. If the result is negative, this food should not be consumed. Re-introduction should be postponed until the baby is 5-6 months old. By that time, the gastrointestinal tract will be stronger.
Products that can be gradually added to the diet: milk, eggs, cocoa, honey, mushrooms, nuts, carrots; later - strawberries, raspberries, currants, pomegranates, persimmons, tomatoes.
List of foods that are most often well tolerated by children: kefir, cottage cheese, yogurt, cheese, potatoes, corn, buckwheat and oatmeal, rabbit meat, lean veal, apples.
List of foods that are most often poorly tolerated by children: beans, cabbage, coffee, sausages, smoked fish, canned food, sweet carbonated drinks.
To avoid the appearance of a rash in your baby, you need to know the triggering factors. These include using baby wipes even if they are labeled as safe for newborns. The composition with which the wipes are impregnated irritates sensitive children's skin. Buy clothes made from cotton and avoid synthetics. Do not apply creams or oils to your baby's delicate skin unnecessarily.
Prevention of a rash on a baby’s face consists of daily hygiene procedures and the comfort of the baby’s environment. Air baths are required. Wash your newborn's clothes exclusively with baby powder or soap and rinse thoroughly.
Then iron clothes, towels and bed linen with a hot iron to disinfect. Sterilize pacifiers, teethers, and rattles or wash them in boiled water. The baby can be bathed in herbal decoctions. They are good antiseptics.
These include chamomile, string, oregano, celandine, bay leaf. If a wound occurs, treat the skin with hydrogen peroxide and cover the damage with a band-aid. Cut your baby's nails every week.
Dirt accumulates underneath them - this is an excellent place for germs to multiply, and the baby often puts his hands in his mouth.
Cause of pyoderma in a newborn, prevention of pustular rashes Link to main publication
Source: https://dermatologiya.su/gnoynichkovye/na-litse-u-novorozhdennogo
Features of appearance
Such unpleasant formations on the body can have different sizes (from 1 to 1.5 cm). In their shape, the ulcers resemble an oblong ball or cone.
Pustules can be located both on the surface and inside the tissues. The former are located in the epidermis layer, and the latter are deep in the skin (in the inner layer).
Removing ulcers on your own may result in the appearance of a small scar on the body. In addition, pustules often form in hair follicles (follicular pustules).
Pimples can be located on many different parts of the body. Often this is a signal that a person has hidden secrets.
An abscess appears only if the body's immune cells interact with bacteria. This means that if such a formation appears on the skin, it does not need to be attributed to a viral or fungal disease.
After all, the most common pathogens of purulent infections are Staphylococcus aureus, as well as epidermal streptococcus. But such bacteria do not cause any special problems for humans.
Causes
The appearance of ulcers on the body has the following:
- Poor personal hygiene standards. Since the human body constantly produces sebum and sweat, ulcers can easily appear in this case. The secretions that the body releases through the pores are mixed with dirt. As a result, ulcers form. Therefore, it is necessary to wash as often as possible to remove sweat and fat mixed with dirt.
- Severe stress. This condition very quickly provokes the appearance of acne with purulent contents on the body. Stress causes a sharp decrease in immunity. These same reasons include depression. This is a more general concept that includes the occurrence of chronic infections, constant stressful situations, as well as chronic fatigue syndrome. That is, these are any conditions due to which the body cannot normally cope with environmental influences that previously did not affect it in any way.
- Changed hormonal levels. It occurs during menopause or before the onset of menstruation (PMS). Hormones are no longer produced in normal quantities, resulting in a large amount of sebum. As a result, ulcers appear on the body.
- Eating sweet and fatty foods. Due to the increase in food substrate, acne appears as a result of eating such food. The reason here is that the more such food, the more bacteria. In addition, more sebum appears.
Contrary to popular belief about the involvement of antibiotics and glucocorticosteroids in the formation of pustules, this cannot happen. These drugs do not cause the development of bacteria, but, on the contrary, suppress them.
As for glucocosteroids, they cause the growth of fungal microorganisms, which do not in any way affect the occurrence of acne.
Face, head and back
If ulcers suddenly appear on the body, their causes and treatment can be completely different.
For example, on the face they arise due to the fact that the sebaceous ducts of the skin are clogged with subcutaneous fat.
In this case, pus is a product that appears after decay.
Those who have had such acne note that they are extremely painful.
They appear suddenly and grow from small, barely visible lumps. The result is a large blackhead that has a core of pus in the center.
Ulcers on the head are always accompanied by itching, discomfort when scratching, as well as peeling. Such formations appear due to the fact that the hair retains heat from.
In addition, fat production is associated with this condition. All this creates good soil for bacteria to multiply and penetrate the skin on the head.
Pimples on the surface of the back look like red inflammation. Essentially, these are edematous tissues, under which there is purulent content. Abscesses on the back have their own varieties:
- Reddish balls called papules. They represent the mildest form of such inflammation.
- Balls with purulent contents and red color are called pustules.
- Nodes - in which the inflammatory process affects the deep layers of the skin.
- , which give strong pain when touched, are called cysts. This inflammation has a bluish tint.
- Around the lips and on intimate parts of the body.
Pimples on the lips appear when bacteria enter the pores of the skin. They are not very large in size and white in color.
If the abscesses are fully mature, then their head is clearly visible. The reasons for the occurrence of these formations may be as follows:
- The skin was taken care of incorrectly or insufficiently (for example, a cream was used that was not suitable for its type).
- The habit of holding a pencil or pen in the mouth. These items can be very dirty.
- Using expired cosmetics. This also includes products with low quality.
- Poor compliance with hygiene rules. This refers to the frequent habit of some people to touch the area with dirty hands.
Acne on intimate places can be of different types. They can be serious, for example, with venereal or skin diseases, or completely harmless, which appear during puberty.
Diseases that form white and purulent pimples on the face of a child
Milia is a skin disease, the symptoms of which are the appearance of white and purulent pimples, which most often appear in a child from a month to a year. Pimples appear due to the poorly developed process of the sebaceous glands, as a result of which white and, with inflammatory reactions, purulent pimples are formed. On their own they do not cause any harm, since after the sebaceous ducts are finally formed, the white pimples on the child’s face will disappear.
Diathesis - almost every second child under 10 years old could have suffered from this disease once, or even twice, and all because of parents and grandparents pampering their children with sweets and candies. There are often cases when, with diathesis, a child may be susceptible to developing body and face, both red and white, containing pus pimples.
Diaper rash is a skin disease characteristic of children with delicate skin, due to a damp environment, overheating of the baby in the sun and excessive wrapping of the child. Poor drying of the child after bathing can also lead to diaper rash. Children with a body weight exceeding the norm for their body may also be considered at risk. age As a result, a child’s skin may be periodically susceptible to the appearance of purulent and white pimples.
Purulent acne in children
On the legs, forehead and chin
Purulent formations on the legs may appear due to inflammation, which is caused by exposure to a viral infection in the human body. In addition, mechanical injuries are involved in their occurrence (for example, during unsuccessful hair removal on the legs).
Also, experts note that very often the appearance of acne on the legs can be caused by defects associated with the ingrowth of hairs into the surface of the skin. A very common cause of ulcers is varicose veins or problems with blood vessels.
Pimples on the forehead can occur due to problems associated with the gastrointestinal tract, or abuse of low-quality and unhealthy food. If ulcers appear on the body, the reasons for children will be exactly the same as for adults.
Also, the formation of such ulcers is influenced by changes in hormonal levels, a decrease in the body’s immune forces and allergies to certain cosmetics.
In this case, you should always conduct a small test after purchasing such products. This also includes constantly washing your face with soap or gel, which serves as an irritant. In addition, they can dry out the surface of the skin.
Acne in the chin area indicates that a person has problems that are associated with the condition of the internal organs. This usually indicates that the endocrine system is disrupted. Therefore, in case of such problems, urgent consultation with a doctor is required.
On the arms, chest and buttocks
Formations with purulent contents on the hands occur due to too much dryness of the skin.
They appear due to excessive friction against clothing.
Also, the culprit in the formation of these ulcers is increased hormonal levels.
If a pustule has already formed on the skin, it should be treated immediately. Only in this case, carbuncles, phlegmons and abscesses will not appear.
To treat this condition, you should consult a dermatologist. This rule especially applies to situations where pimples with purulent contents are on the surface of the head, under the hair, and the patient does not know where they could have come from.
It should be remembered that self-medication in this case is fraught with serious consequences. In addition, you should not pierce the ulcers, much less squeeze them out. This can lead to germs getting inside the pimple.
Although they should still be present in small quantities, because without them the normal functioning of the body is impossible. For those who suffer from frequent acne breakouts on the body, experts recommend consuming plenty of vegetables and fruits.
In addition, you should thoroughly cleanse the skin on your body. It is very important not to overdo it, so as not to irritate her.
An excellent remedy would be decoctions based on medicinal herbs (for example, chamomile or). If, after all the recommendations have been followed, the disease remains, you should immediately contact a dermatologist.
The doctor will determine where exactly the acne came from and prescribe the correct treatment that will help cope with this condition. If the cause of acne is hormonal imbalances, the patient will be advised to take special normalizing medications. Also, the specialist will cleanse the skin and eliminate its imbalance.
Features of treatment
Some types of rashes go away on their own without targeted treatment, but in order to understand whether acne is dangerous or not, you need to consult a pediatrician. Only a qualified doctor can accurately diagnose and prescribe effective treatment, especially if an infectious disease is detected. Folk remedies can only be used as additional therapy.
In newborns and infants up to one year
Most often, small rashes do not cause discomfort in infants. If the appearance of acne is not accompanied by additional symptoms, it will soon disappear. You should pay more attention to hygiene - bathe your child regularly (you can add a decoction of chamomile or oak bark to the water), change bedding more often, disinfect toys and trim your child’s nails on time. After bathing, you can treat pimples with hydrogen peroxide or brilliant green. Fragrance-free baby cream will help with dryness.
READ ALSO: Hormonal acne: how to identify and treat - AcneInfo
When bathing infants with skin rashes, you can add “helper” herbs to the water to relieve irritation and inflammation
Therapy methods
Ultrasound therapy is widely used to treat body acne. The essence of this procedure is that with the help of high-frequency vibrations, the specialist acts on the pores of the skin.
As a result, they open up, which allows them to be thoroughly cleaned and excess sebum accumulations removed. This procedure removes dead dead cells and dirt well.
Among other things, ultrasound removes all bacteria. Thanks to this effect, areas of the skin that are inflamed and damaged heal much faster.
Another fairly common type of acne treatment is chemical peeling. To carry out this procedure, glycolic, salicylic or phenolic acid is used.
Their active substances remove the source of inflammation deep under the skin. At home you can use the following:
- Lotions made from cotton pads soaked in a salt solution. The only downside is that this component is very drying to the skin.
- Iodine lotions. This component is a chemical element that has an aggressive effect on the skin. It removes any microflora. The downside is exactly the same as in the previous case - iodine dries out the skin too much.
- Peroxide. This remedy is even more aggressive, but it can only work if the contents of the eel are removed after opening it.
- Ichthyol ointment. Some people mistakenly believe that such a remedy instantly copes with the problem. But this is not so, because ichthyol ointment has a softening effect on the surface layer of the skin. This helps the purulent contents come to the surface. It is very good to treat acne at home according to the following scheme: first wipe the abscess with a cotton pad mixed with hydrogen peroxide. Then the place of the abscess should be lubricated with a small amount of ichthyol.
Pimples on the face of a newborn are a fairly common occurrence, which terrifies young mothers.
The fact is that the skin of a recently born newborn baby is very sensitive to various external and internal influences. Therefore, white or red pimples, small acne or various purulent rashes are often observed on the baby’s face.
In most cases, this is a natural phenomenon; acne in a baby does not need to be treated, and the irritation will go away on its own. But sometimes such symptoms in a child can be caused by herpes, staphylococcus and other dangerous pathologies. Their treatment, as the famous pediatrician Komarovsky says, should begin as soon as possible, which will prevent serious harm to the body of newborns.
The condition of the skin often reflects internal pathologies present in the body. This property of human skin has long been known and is widely used in the diagnosis of a large number of different diseases.
The same applies to a newborn. In the first year of life, a baby often exhibits redness, peeling, swelling and pimples on the face, the causes of which can be very diverse.
For example, white or red small pimples that appear on the face of a baby indicate a violation of the natural feeding regime. Irritation that causes a rash often appears when the young mother does not comply with the rules of personal hygiene. Dr. Komarovsky, for example, advises paying special attention to such causes of rash.
Very often, acne in infants is a consequence of hormonal fluctuations. In this case, treatment is not required, since after stabilization of the endocrine system, the described symptoms disappear on their own.
But you should not completely neglect the signs that appear. Sometimes purulent acne on the face, as mentioned above, can be caused by serious diseases such as staphylococcus or herpes. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor accompanying symptoms and, at the slightest doubt, immediately seek medical help from a medical facility.
A doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment for the following disorders:
- chickenpox;
- scarlet fever;
- rubella;
- measles.
In addition, it is important to know and carry out preventive measures, which in the vast majority of cases can prevent pimples and purulent rashes on the face of newborns. For example, white or red pimples in a child indicate banal heat rash, which causes irritation in the baby, which could easily be avoided by following some simple rules.
Purulent pimples on the face, various red or white rashes also appear when there is an excess of sex hormones that enter the baby’s body during the period of intrauterine development. As Dr. Komarovsky mentions in his programs, there is no need to treat such conditions. If it is not herpes and staphylococcus, as well as a number of other infections, the symptoms will disappear.
The reasons that cause acne on the face of newborns may also be due to the stressful state of the baby (often happens immediately after childbirth). In this case, the rash in the child appears on the cheeks and chin.
Let us dwell in more detail on some of the conditions discussed above.
How to treat acne in babies
Rashes should be dealt with correctly. The child should be shown to a doctor so as not to confuse acne with an allergy or a manifestation of an infectious disease.
- Hormonal rash
A temporary phenomenon that goes away on its own without special therapy.
- Allergy
Medicinal ointments and a strict mother’s diet will help with allergic rashes. It is important to determine the source of the allergen. If it is a plant, it needs to be removed from the nursery. The baby's clothes are washed with baby powders, the room is ventilated, and regular wet cleaning is done without using chlorine-containing detergents.
- Prickly heat
When treating prickly heat, babies are bathed in herbal decoctions of string, chamomile, and calendula. Afterwards, dry the skin with a diaper and sprinkle with talcum powder. An excellent method of treatment is air baths.
- Infectious rash
Treatment is under the supervision of a specialist. High temperatures are brought down with antipyretic drugs and medications prescribed by the doctor are used. These are bacterial ointments, Kalanchoe or rosehip oil, camphor alcohol. Purulent pimples are lubricated with chlorophyllipt. Bathing is temporarily stopped. The affected areas of the body are treated with zinc ointments, the baby is dressed in clothes made from natural fabrics, and the use of wet wipes and disposable diapers is avoided. If the child’s condition worsens, he is placed in a hospital, where antibiotic therapy is administered, sulfonamides and vitamin injections are prescribed. Ultraviolet irradiation can help the baby. A timely visit to a doctor will help identify the disease and completely eliminate its symptoms in the form of ulcers.
Milia
It happens when the rash and purulent pimples look like small wen on the face of a newborn. They come in white, red and yellowish tints.
The reasons for their appearance are disruption of the sebaceous gland located in the child’s skin. Similar symptoms occur when the gland has already begun to secrete secretions, but the duct has not yet opened. This condition in newborns is observed for 3-4 weeks before the operation of this system returns to normal.
In this case, Komarovsky, for example, strongly does not recommend piercing, squeezing or cleaning off the rash that appears, as this can cause irritation. Treatment is not required (it is not herpes or staphylococcus), pimples in a newborn will go away on their own.
Kinds
Pimples with purulent contents are divided into two categories. If the cause of the rash is the active work of the sebaceous glands or a hormonal surge, pimples are considered toxic. Pustules of this origin are localized on the child’s face. They do not require treatment. The child is provided with proper skin care, after which the problem disappears on its own.
Pathological purulent pimples appear when an infection enters the body. Pimples contain pus, and the skin around them becomes noticeably red. In some cases, the baby’s body temperature rises and itching appears. You cannot cope with this problem on your own, since pimples are of infectious origin. If the child's skin is covered with such rashes, the child should immediately call a pediatrician.
Prickly heat
Small pimples on the face of a newborn, irritation, as well as rashes and small purulent eruptions are well-known signs of prickly heat. They appear not only on the baby’s face, but also in other areas of the child’s case:
- in the folds of the neck;
- in the groin area;
- armpits.
The described symptoms often occur during the warm season, as well as in cases where newborns are wrapped too tightly. The fact is that the work of the sweat glands has not yet been established.
Purulent rashes indicate an advanced state of prickly heat. If treatment is not started, it can cause an infection. Komarovsky, for example, advises treating rashes in newborns with special powdered powders, and purulent rashes and pimples with ointments and creams that relieve irritation and relieve symptoms.
But the main thing is to observe the rules of newborn hygiene.
Please note that dangerous infectious diseases such as herpes, staphylococcus and chickenpox have similar external symptoms. Their treatment can only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.
Causes
The skin of the baby is quite delicate and sensitive, easily vulnerable to any infection; the slightest exposure to negative factors and failure to maintain maximum hygiene lead to irritation, peeling, and the appearance of rashes. Sometimes such rashes may indicate certain diseases in the baby’s body; sometimes they appear as a result of injury to the skin or overheating and hypothermia. In medicine, pustular disease is called “pyoderma”; most often it affects premature babies and babies with weakened immune systems. In such children, the subcutaneous fat layer is not yet sufficiently formed; the imperfect state of the epidermis and dermis contributes to the formation of wounds, which, when contaminants enter, quickly develop an inflammatory process and form an abscess.
Sometimes pyoderma can be caused by staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria, which enter the child’s body during the first days of his life. Such ulcers are very deep, affect the ducts of the sweat glands and, as a consequence, cause furunculosis. Dysbacteriosis and intrauterine infection can also cause ulcers to appear on the face of a newborn, subsequently spreading throughout the entire body.
Allergic reactions
Breastfeeding usually does not cause allergy symptoms. But sometimes, even when breastfeeding, pimples, irritation, and, in rare cases, purulent abscesses and rashes appear on the newborn’s face.
The cause of such symptoms is the mother’s poor diet. It is necessary to immediately exclude spicy foods, sweet tea, vegetables and red fruits (apples, beets, strawberries) from the foods consumed.
When a newborn is fed with an artificial formula and the child develops acne, you should change the brand or manufacturer of complementary foods.
Treatment must be carried out as quickly as possible, since the irritation that accompanies the allergy greatly worries the baby, interfering with normal development.
Preventing acne in newborns
Often, pimples on the face of infants are not dangerous. You can prevent their occurrence by following simple recommendations:
- a nursing mother needs to strictly monitor her diet, abstaining from prohibited foods;
- when artificial feeding, it is necessary to monitor the newborn’s reaction to the selected formula;
- observe the temperature regime in the room and the child’s personal hygiene;
- allow the baby to remain undressed in the air every day for 15 minutes;
- wash children's clothes and bedding with special hypoallergenic powders;
- Don’t miss visits to your local pediatrician. If you have any rashes, contact him for advice.
Additional causes of rashes
In addition to prickly heat, allergies, infections (herpes, staphylococcus, rubella, measles) and other reasons listed above, pimples can appear in some other cases.
- Dermatitis.
- Reaction to cold air temperature.
- Allergy to cosmetic creams, powders or scented baby hygiene products.
- Irritation caused by rubbing with a rough towel or napkin.
- Insect bites that lead to pimple-like bumps.
Why do rashes appear on the body?
There are many reasons for the appearance of lumps on a baby’s body. The main cause is irritation (if the rash is visible on the back, face or arms or pimples on the baby's bottom), followed by dermatitis or an allergic reaction. In the summer, red rashes on the body may appear as a result of insect bites or prolonged exposure to the sun.
It’s interesting, but the evidence of sun intolerance and skin reactions to sun rays has recently become more and more numerous. But the appearance of a rash in the mouth or tongue will be a sign of an infectious or fungal disease.
Pimples on the face, mouth, tongue or head of a baby may indicate that the mother ate something not quite suitable for the baby, and the allergen entered the baby’s body through breast milk. This reaction usually occurs at the baby’s “first acquaintance” with strawberries, raspberries or grapes. The same can be said if acne appears on a child’s stomach or elbows. The reaction to food in children is most often individual.
Red pimples on a child's body or head may be a result of overheating. Try not to wrap the baby up or dress him too warmly in the hot season, and after bathing, dry the baby thoroughly and treat the folds on the legs and arms with powder.
Of particular concern to parents of infants are white pimples on the face and head. You shouldn't pay much attention to this. This is a certain type of blockage of the baby’s sebaceous glands, called milia in cosmetology. If the baby is active, sleeps and eats normally, then there is no reason to worry. Milia is a completely normal manifestation for children under one year of age. It’s another matter if the rash appears in the baby’s mouth or tongue. These are symptoms of fungal diseases.
Also read:
The same can be said if parents find red pimples on their child’s butt, back, elbows or arms. Recommendations for getting rid of this phenomenon are also very simple. Leave your baby longer without panties or diapers. The child’s skin must breathe, and air baths will quickly clear it of unpleasant red spots.
Very often at a doctor’s appointment you can hear the question: “why does a month-old baby have acne on the face and head.” In most cases, this phenomenon occurs if, after feeding, the baby’s face is not wiped with wet swabs, and breast milk residues accumulate on it.
If you notice pimples in your child’s mouth or tongue, this may be a signal of a disease such as stomatitis. Wipe the affected area with a cotton swab dipped in chamomile infusion and observe to see if the infection spreads further. If purulent or watery pimples rapidly increase in number and a white coating begins to form on them, consult a doctor.
Treatment
If the baby's skin is covered with pustules due to the active functioning of the sebaceous glands, he is provided with high-quality care. Twice a day, wash the baby’s face with warm boiled water. Bathing in a weak solution of potassium permanganate will help disinfect the skin. After bathing, the baby's skin should be gently blotted with a terry towel. Locally, pimples are wiped with a cotton swab soaked in a decoction of chamomile or chamomile.
Pimples should not be lubricated with alcohol and baby oil. It is forbidden to squeeze out purulent contents, as this can cause infection.
Pathological pimples of mild severity require treatment prescribed by a doctor. Children are usually prescribed antibacterial ointment. Folk remedies are also used:
- rosehip oil;
- Kalanchoe oil;
- sea buckthorn oil;
- camphor alcohol.
Pimples with purulent contents are treated with brilliant green or chlorophyllipt. If the newborn has more pustules, stop bathing. Apply ointment with zinc oxide to the affected areas, making sure that the product does not get on a healthy area of the skin.
During treatment, the baby is dressed in clothes made from natural, breathable materials. If pimples appear on the butt, it is recommended to stop using disposable diapers. You should also not use industrially produced wet wipes.
If home treatment for pimples is ineffective, the child needs medical help. If the situation worsens, treatment is prescribed in a hospital setting, since an increase in the number of purulent pimples, intoxication and lethargy are signs of an infectious disease.
In a medical facility, the child is treated with antibiotics, sulfonamides, and vitamin injections. Often the baby is prescribed skin irradiation under ultraviolet light. Timely treatment quickly and effectively eliminates pustules and the disease that caused their appearance.
If pustules appear due to dysbiosis, the underlying disease is treated first.
Diseases with skin rashes
The first signal that you should be wary is the appearance of acne all over your body - on the back, head, legs, elbows and arms, on the face, and in the mouth on the tongue. If small pimples suddenly begin to multiply very quickly and cover the entire skin, turning into watery or purulent, then this indicates that the baby is infected and you need to call a doctor at home. District pediatricians do not recommend bringing the baby to the clinic in such cases to avoid transmission of infection to healthy children. Here is the main category of childhood diseases that are necessarily accompanied by rashes on the body:
- Watery rashes on the stomach, back, head, face, arms, elbows are the first symptom of chickenpox. Over time, the blisters burst, leaving scars where they are located. The disease may be accompanied by high temperature, or may occur without it. The danger is that the rash is very itchy, and by scratching it, the child spreads the infection throughout the body.
- Has your child developed rashes on his stomach or back? Have you noticed swelling of the cervical lymph nodes? Your baby has rubella. Pink, small, watery spots quickly develop and spread throughout the body without causing fever or fever.
- Does your child have a runny nose, a fever, and then pimples appear on the head, face, and behind the ears? This is how measles begins. The disease proceeds like a common cold, with the only difference - the rash quickly spreads throughout the body, and after a day the rash is already visible on the baby’s arms and elbows, and then pimples appear on the child’s legs.
- Acne on the back, high temperature - this is scarlet fever. The first signals that the baby is sick are small watery rashes on the hands and armpits, on the elbows, nausea and vomiting. Scarlet fever is a disease of a wet body, and therefore, for prevention purposes, it is necessary to thoroughly dry the baby after bathing, make sure that he does not overheat and does not sweat.
- Pimples on a child's stomach and back are a clear sign of an allergic reaction or measles. A variety of things and food products can act as an allergen. Pay attention to what exactly the baby was covered with, purulent or dry rashes. Perhaps he played with the kitten for a long time, or the powder in which you wash your clothes is not suitable for his skin, or maybe he drank a glass of milk with a slightly higher fat content than usual at night. If you suspect measles infection, call a doctor immediately.
Parents should pay special attention to white pimples in their child’s mouth. Thrush and herpes may form in the mouth. If you find pimples in your mouth and tongue, you should contact your dentist. This is often how the body reacts to dental damage.
What to do if your baby occasionally develops pimples on his elbows or legs: to prevent the appearance of a rash, use baby cream. This is not a panacea for inflammatory processes expressed in the form of rashes on a child’s body, but this cream can increase the protective properties of the skin. In addition, this well-known children's cream nourishes the skin well.
Purulent pimples on the tongue or body, if they are solitary and do not spread, most often indicate that an infection has gotten under the damaged skin in this area along with dirt. In these cases, it is enough to use medical alcohol or brilliant green.
The main thing in ridding your baby of acne is attention. If you are consistent, you can prevent allergic pimples or rashes caused by heat rash. Cleanliness and regular skin care are the first things every mother needs to pay attention to, and then there will be much less reason to worry!
Prevention
High-quality hygiene procedures and comfortable environmental conditions minimize the risk of a purulent rash on the baby’s skin. A baby in his first year of life is given spacious clothes made from natural fabric. Several times a day, the child is given air baths, which ventilate the skin well and prevent the occurrence of prickly heat.
The child’s bedding, towels and clothes are washed with baby powder or soap. After drying, everything is carefully ironed with a hot iron. Baby's pacifiers and rattles are washed in boiled water.
The baby is washed daily with boiled water. Bathing in herbal infusions is also considered an excellent preventive measure against the appearance of rashes. The child's nails are trimmed weekly, under which dirt and germs accumulate.
Newborn disposable diapers are changed every three hours. To prevent diaper rash, the baby is left without a diaper for at least twenty minutes a day.
If a scratch or wound appears on the baby’s skin, it is immediately treated with hydrogen peroxide. The treated skin lesion is sealed with a band-aid.
Every mother carefully monitors the health of her child, paying attention to any, even the most minor, deviations in his health. The appearance of pustules on a child’s body is a fairly common phenomenon that causes parents to worry about the baby.
It is worth noting that a pustular rash is not always a signal of the development of any disease in a child’s body. Most often, this phenomenon becomes a baby’s reaction to various negative environmental factors. The “favorite” places for pustules are the neck, armpits, folds of skin and scalp. Externally, the rashes resemble blisters of various sizes filled with purulent fluid. Such bubbles can be single or multiple.