Visual guide to children's rashes and skin conditions

From diaper rash and cradle cap to eczema and baby acne, here are some of the most common children's rashes and skin problems.

Where it appears: Usually on the cheeks; sometimes on the forehead, chin, and even the back of a newborn.

What it looks like: Small white pimples that may be surrounded by reddish skin. Can be present at birth or develop between 2 and 4 weeks of age.

Baby acne is not contagious. Learn more about baby acne causes and treatments.

Where it appears: Often on the scalp, face, or torso first, then spreading to the entire body.

What it looks like: Small red bumps at first, which quickly become clear, fluid-filled blisters on a pink base; these eventually become dry brown crusts or scabs. New waves of itchy blisters often emerge as the illness progresses. Children usually get between 250 and 500 blisters, although it's possible to have just a few, especially if the child has had the chicken pox vaccine. Child may have a slight fever. Uncommon before the first birthday.

Chicken pox is very contagious. Learn more about chicken pox causes and treatment.

Where it appears: Often on the scalp, face, or trunk first, then spreads to the entire body.

What it looks like: Clear, fluid-filled blisters on a pink base, which eventually become dry brown crusts or scabs.

Where it appears: On or near the lips.

What it looks like: Small, fluid-filled blisters that may get bigger, burst, or crust over. They can appear individually or in clusters. Uncommon before age 2.

Cold sores are contagious. Learn more about cold sore causes and treatment.

Where it appears: On the scalp, around the ears, eyebrows, armpits, and in neck creases.

What it looks like: Flaky, dry skin or yellowish crusty patches; may cause some hair loss. Usually clears up in the first year.

Cradle cap is not contagious. Learn more about cradle cap causes and treatments.

Where it appears: In the diaper area and in skin folds on boys and girls.

What it looks like: Inflamed red skin; rash may be flat or raised. Causes discomfort during diaper changes. Most common in babies under 1 year.

Diaper rash is not contagious. Learn more about diaper rash causes and treatments.

Where it appears: In the diaper area and in skin folds, with some isolated bumps around the main rash.

What it looks like: Small red bumps that may be pus-filled. Lasts more than two days and doesn't respond to diaper cream. More common in children who have recently taken antibiotics.

Yeast diaper rash is not contagious. Learn more about yeast diaper rash causes and treatment.

Where it appears: Typically in the creases of the elbows or knees and on the cheeks, chin, scalp, chest, and back.

What it looks like: Dry, thickened, scaly red skin or tiny red bumps that may ooze or crust. Very itchy. Most common in families with a history of allergies or asthma. Typically shows up in the first year of life and often is gone by age 2 but can persist through adulthood.

Eczema is not contagious. Learn about eczema causes and treatment.

Where it appears: Typically in the creases of the elbows or knees; on the cheeks, chin, scalp, chest, and back

What it looks like: Itchy rash that appears as dry, thickened, scaly red skin, or tiny red bumps that may ooze or crust. Most common in families with a history of allergies or asthma. Typically shows up in the first year of life and often is gone by age 2, but can persist through adulthood.

Where it appears: Anywhere on the body.

What it looks like: Small yellow or white bumps surrounded by red skin. Very common in newborns, usually showing up two to five days after birth. Usually disappears on its own in about two weeks; may linger for a few months.

Erythema toxicum is not contagious. Learn more about erythema toxicum causes and treatments.

Where it appears: Cheeks, torso, and feet.

What it looks like: Bright red cheeks and a lacy, red, and sometimes itchy rash following a slight fever, achiness, and cold symptoms. Also called “slapped cheeks disease,” or erythema infectiosum. Most common in preschool and school-age children.

Fifth disease is contagious.

Where it appears: Neck, underarm, and groin.

What it looks like: Pimples or pustules around hair follicles that may crust over. Uncommon before age 2.

Folliculitis is not contagious. Learn more about folliculitis causes and treatments.

Where it appears: In the mouth, on the palms of hands and soles of feet, sometimes on the buttocks.

What it looks like: Blisterlike sores in the mouth; rash on palms, soles, and buttocks. The rash starts as small, flat red dots that may turn into bumps or blisters; blisters are painful. Most common in preschoolers but can occur at any age.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is contagious. Learn more about hand, foot, and mouth disease causes and treatment.

Where it appears: In the mouth, on the palms of hands and soles of feet, sometimes on the buttocks.

What it looks like: Blisterlike sores in the mouth; rash on palms, soles, and buttocks. The rash starts as small, flat red dots that may turn into bumps or blisters; blisters are painful. Most common in preschoolers but can occur at any age.

Where it appears: Body, face, and hands.

What it looks like: Red bumps on skin that are often itchy. May come and go. Usually lasts from a few hours to a few days but can persist for weeks or even months. Can occur at any age.

Hives are not contagious. Learn more about hive causes and treatments for your baby, toddler, preschooler, or big kid.

Where it appears: Often develops around the nose and mouth; may spread to other parts of the body.

What it looks like: Small red bumps that may be itchy. Bumps become pus-filled blisters that may burst and develop a soft yellowish-brown crust. Child may have a fever and swollen lymph glands in the neck. Most common in children between 2 and 6 years old.

Impetigo is very contagious. Learn more about impetigo causes and treatment.

Where it appears: Throughout entire body.

What it looks like: A yellow tinge to the skin. In dark-skinned babies, yellowness may be seen in whites of eyes, palms of hands, and soles of feet. Common during the first week or two of life. Most common in premature babies.

Jaundice is not contagious. Learn more about jaundice causes and treatments.

Where it appears: Throughout entire body.

What it looks like: Red bumps with tiny white dots on the inside of cheeks a few days after a fever and runny eyes and nose. Next, a rash appears on the face and progresses down the back and torso to the arms and hands, and finally to the legs and feet. The rash starts as flat red patches but eventually develops bumps and may be itchy. Lasts about five days then fades to a brownish color, leaving skin dry and flaky. Rare due to vaccinations; most likely to occur in unvaccinated children.

Measles is very contagious.

Where it appears: Most common on the face, but can appear anywhere on the body.

What it looks like: Tiny white or yellow pearly bumps. Common in newborns. They are harmless and go away in a few weeks.

Milia are not contagious. Learn more about milia causes and treatment.

Where it appears: Typically on the face, neck, and arms but can pop up anywhere.

What it looks like: Dome-shaped lesions that can be pearly in appearance and have a dimpled center. May be itchy. Uncommon before the first birthday.

Molloscum contagiosum are contagious.

Where it appears: In clusters on the face, neck, arms, and legs.

What it looks like: Small bumps that become firm and reddish-brown at the site of old insect bites. Bumps are usually very itchy. Can appear at any age.

Papular urticaria is not contagious. Learn more about papular urticaria causes and treatment.

Where it appears: Wherever skin made contact with the plant; typically on hands, feet, arms and legs.

What it looks like: Swollen red bumps that may appear in streaks or lines at first. Usually shows up 12 to 48 hours after contact but can take up to a week to appear. Rash is itchy; blisters follow and become crusty within a few days. Uncommon before the first birthday.

Poison ivy, oak and sumac are allergic reactions and not contagious. Learn more about poison ivy, oak, or sumac causes and treatment.

Where it appears: On the body or scalp.

What it looks like: One or several red rings that can be very small or very large. Usually crusty or scaly on the outside, smooth in the center; may get larger over time. On the scalp, may appear as dandruff or bald spots. Most common in children 2 and older.

Ringworm is contagious. Learn more about ringworm causes and treatments.

Where it appears: On the torso and neck; may spread to arms, legs, and face.

What it looks like: A pink rash on torso and neck usually following three to five days of a sudden, relatively high fever that's often greater than 103 degrees Fahrenheit. May spread to the arms, legs, and face. Child may be irritable and have diarrhea or vomiting. Most common in children between 6 months and 3 years old.

Roseola is contagious. Learn more about roseola causes and treatment.

Where it appears: Starts on the face; spreads all over the body.

What it looks like: Pink-red rash lasting two to three days; may accompany a mild fever, swollen lymph nodes behind the ears, runny or stuffy nose, headache, and sore throat. Rare due to vaccinations; most likely to occur in unvaccinated children.

Rubella is contagious.

Where it appears: Between fingers, around wrists and elbows, in armpit and diaper area. May also show up on kneecaps, palms, soles, scalp, or face.

What it looks like: Scattered red bumps that are severely itchy. May leave curvy white or thin red lines or little blisters on nearby skin. Itching is most intense after a hot bath or at night and may keep the child awake. May occur at any age.

Scabies is very contagious.

Where it appears: Armpits, neck, chest, and groin; rapidly spreads over the entire body.

What it looks like: Begins as a mass of tiny red bumps that feel like fine sandpaper and may itch. Child may have a fever and a red sore throat. Early in the infection, the tongue may have a white or yellowish coating that later turns red. Bumps on the tongue may appear larger than normal, a condition called strawberry tongue. Tonsils may be swollen and red. As the rash fades, the skin may peel, especially on the hands and feet and in the groin. Uncommon before age 2.

Scarlet fever is very contagious.

Where it appears: Usually on hands but can occur anywhere on the body.

What it looks like: A small grainy bump or cluster of bumps. Usually skin-toned but may be lighter or darker in color and can contain black dots. Flat warts, which are smaller and smoother, can also appear anywhere on the body, but in children they most often show up on the face. Plantar warts show up on the soles of the feet. Most warts disappear on their own in a few months to a few years. Uncommon before age 2.

Warts are mildly contagious. Learn more about wart causes and treatment.