Childhood rashes, skin conditions and infections: photos

Athlete's foot is a type of fungal infection. If your baby has it, you may notice peeling skin between their toes. In more severe cases, the skin on their feet may crack and bleed. The skin can look red on white skin, but this may be less noticeable on brown or black skin. It can also be itchy for your little one, so you may notice them scratching their feet more than usual.

If you think your baby has athlete's foot, take them to your local pharmacist. They'll be able to prescribe a cream to clear up the infection.

Get tips on how to care for your child's feet to prevent athlete's foot.

If your baby has acne, they may have it at birth, but it usually shows up after a couple of weeks. On white skin it looks like small, red spots (pimples), and whiteheads may also develop, sometimes surrounded by reddish skin. On brown and black skin the spots may be harder to see but the skin surrounding them may go darker. The spots are likely to appear on your baby's cheeks, but may also appear on their forehead and nose.

Learn more about baby acne.

Your baby's spots will go away in a matter of weeks if you leave them alone. Avoid:

• touching or squeezing them.
• using any acne medication aimed at older children and adults

Get the lowdown on baby acne

A bee sting can be very painful. The area around a sting can quickly become swollen and itchy, which can be uncomfortable for your baby.

Read more about insect bites and stings and how to treat them.

Blepharitis is the name for swelling around the edges of your baby's eyelid. It's usually caused by a skin condition such as dermatitis, or a bacterial infection.

Blepharitis can make your baby's eyelashes appear crusty or greasy, and they may stick together. Your baby's eyelid may also burn or itch, and they may be upset and cry more than usual. However, blepharitis isn't normally serious, and it won't damage your baby's eye.

Find out how to treat blepharitis and other eye problems.

If your baby's eyelid looks like there's a bump under it, they may have a chalazion. This is a painless bump or cyst that can appear under the upper or lower eyelid. The cyst is caused by a blocked gland in your baby's eyelid.

A chalazion is usually more annoying than painful for your baby. It should go away on its own after a month or so, though it can sometimes take longer. If your baby still has a chalazion after a month, see your doctor.

Find out how to treat chalazions and other eye problems.

The first symptoms of chickenpox can include:

• fever
• aches and pains
• loss of appetite

A chickenpox rash starts as small spots that can appear anywhere on the body. They can be red, pink, darker or the same colour as surrounding skin. These then develop into tiny fluid-filled blisters, which are very itchy and may burst. They eventually scab over. There may be so many spots that they join up or there may be just a few.

Learn more about chickenpox.

You can help your baby through a chickenpox infection by:

• giving them plenty of fluids so they don't get dehydrated
• bathing your baby in cool or tepid water
• soothing your baby's skin with a moisturiser or cooling gel from a pharmacy

Discover how long it may take for your baby's chickenpox to clear up.

The first time your baby catches the cold sore virus, it will probably give them swollen gums and a sore mouth, which will make them drool. Your baby may also have a fever and swollen glands in their neck, and seem generally under the weather. Soon afterwards, you may notice painful blisters inside their mouth, which develop into ulcers. These can last for up to three weeks.

The next time your baby gets a cold sore, the symptoms are likely to be much milder. Your baby will probably develop one or more blisters on or near their lips, which should clear up within a couple of weeks. Cold sores are contagious so avoid kissing your baby on the lips.

Discover how to treat your baby's cold sore.

A pink watery eye may be a sign of conjunctivitis. You may also notice a discharge that makes your baby’s eyelashes stick together. Conjunctivitis can be caused by an allergy or an infection.

Infective conjunctivitis is caused by a bacterial or viral infection and it is very contagious. It often starts in one eye, but can easily spread to the other one, too. If your child is otherwise well they should be able to go to childcare or nursery as normal.

Find out how to treat your baby's conjunctivitis and when to take them to the doctor.

Cradle cap is common in newborns and can look like a bad case of dandruff. On white skin it can show up as large areas of white or yellow scaly patches. On black or brown skin, the affected area can look pink with white or grey scales.

Over time, the scales can become flaky so they rub off easily, just like dandruff, but often with bits of your baby's hair attached.

Cradle cap can cover the whole of your baby's scalp. It can also appear on your baby's face, and other places like their nappy area.

Discover more about cradle cap.

Your baby's cradle cap should disappear on its own within six to 12 months. In the meantime, you can lightly massage a moisturiser on to your baby's scalp to help loosen the scales. You can then gently brush your baby’s scalp with a soft brush and wash with a baby shampoo.

Get more tips on treating your baby's cradle cap.

Pus coming out of your baby's ear is a sure sign of an ear infection. Your baby will probably also have a fever and be generally unwell.

Discover what causes ear infections and how to treat them.

If your baby has eczema, they may have dry, itchy and cracked areas of skin. On white skin eczema can look red. On brown and black skin eczema is ashen brown, purple or grey. It can appear anywhere on the body, but it's most likely to crop up on your baby’s face and hands, and in skin creases, such as around your baby's elbows and knees.

There may be times when your baby doesn't have any symptoms at all, and other times when their symptoms are more noticeable (flare-ups).

Learn more about your baby's eczema.

Speak to your GP if you think your baby has eczema. Treatments include:

• emollients to moisturise your baby's skin
• corticosteroid cream to reduce swelling during flare-ups

Find out more about your baby's eczema.

If your baby has erythema toxicum, it will appear as a red, blotchy rash on white skin, sometimes with little spots or small yellow-white pustules. On brown or black skin the rash can be harder to see. It can appear anywhere on your baby's body, apart from the palms of their hands or the soles of their feet.

In spite of the name, erythema toxicum isn't toxic, and shouldn't bother your baby. The rash will usually disappear on its own within a few days or weeks.

Learn more about erythema toxicum.

Folliculitis happens when your baby's hair follicles become infected. If your baby has it, you'll notice little pus-filled spots around some of their hair follicles. These spots can appear anywhere on your baby's body that grows hair, most likely on their arms, legs, armpits or bottom. Red spots may be less obvious on brown or black skin but they can also look like white-filled bumps.

Most cases of folliculitis will get better on their own within 10 days. Warm cloths (compresses) may help ease symptoms and may help it clear up faster. If your baby's folliculitis doesn't seem to be clearing up within a few days, see your GP. They may prescribe an antibiotic cream to help it clear up faster.

Check out these seven tips for caring for your baby’s skin.

Giant hogweed grows wild in the UK. It can grow over three metres tall, and has white flowers that grow in umbrella-shaped clusters. If your baby touches the sap of this plant, it can make their skin extra-sensitive to the sun, which can cause serious burns.

If you think your baby has touched sap from a giant hogweed plant, wash the sap off their skin as soon as possible using mild soap and cold water, and keep the area covered up and out of the sun. If you're concerned about your baby's burn, or if it covers a large area of skin, see your GP.

Learn which other house and garden plants aren't safe for babies and children.

The symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) include:

• small blister-like sores
• sore throat
• fever

The sores will appear in your baby's mouth and on their hands and feet. They may also spread up your baby's legs and on to their bottom. They can look pink, red, or darker than surrounding skin, depending on your baby’s skin colour. They may be more obvious inside your baby's mouth and on the palms of their hands and soles of their feet. The blisters may be extremely sore.

Get the lowdown on hand, foot and mouth disease.

There are things you can do to help your baby through hand, foot and mouth disease:

• If it hurts for your baby to eat or drink, offer smaller but more frequent feeds of their usual milk.
• If your baby has started solid foods, give them soft, easy-to-eat meals.
• Baby teething gel may relieve your baby's mouth blisters.
• Infant paracetamol or infant ibuprofen may help to relieve their pain and reduce their fever.

Learn more about hand, foot and mouth disease and when to take your baby to a doctor.

Heat rash (also known as prickly heat, sweat rash or miliaria) is usually completely harmless. It happens because your baby's sweat glands aren't mature yet, so sweat can build up just under their skin, causing a rash. The rash often looks red on white skin, but may be less obvious on brown or black skin.

The rash is unlikely to bother your baby, though it can sometimes be a bit itchy and uncomfortable.

Learn more about heat rash.

The rash should go away on its own once your baby cools down. If it’s bothering your baby, speak to your pharmacist. They may recommend calamine lotion or a moisturiser (emollient) to soothe your baby's skin.

Get tips on how to keep your baby's bedroom cool.

If your baby has hives (also known as urticaria or nettle rash), they'll have raised, swollen patches on their skin, which will be very itchy. They can be the same colour as the surrounding skin or have a red tinge, which may not appear on brown and black skin.

Hives often appear in response to some kind of trigger, such as an allergen or a mild infection.

Learn about other common triggers for hives.

Hives are very common, and they're not contagious. They usually go away on their own within a few minutes or days, though they can come back. In the meantime, it may help to give your baby a cool bath to soothe any itching. If your baby's hives are still bothering them, see your pharmacist. They may recommend an antihistamine cream or tablets that can soothe your baby's symptoms.

Read more tips on making your baby comfortable if they have hives.

Your baby's impetigo will probably first appear as blisters on their face and hands, but it can spread to other parts of their body. The blisters may be reddish at first, although the redness might not appear on brown or black skin.

Once the blisters have burst and dried, a scabby golden brown crust will form. The crusts will gradually heal and won't leave scars.

Impetigo can be itchy and can sometimes be painful. Your baby may also have a temperature and swollen lymph glands in their face or neck.

Discover more about impetigo.

If you think your baby could have impetigo, see your GP. In most cases, they'll prescribe an antibiotic cream to speed up the healing process. Because impetigo is so infectious, you'll need to keep your baby home from nursery or childcare. They can usually go back after they’ve been treated with antibiotics for 48 hours. If your baby isn't able to take antibiotics, they'll need to stay home until all the sores or blisters have dried out and crusted over.

Find out more about how to treat impetigo.

A toenail becomes ingrown when it starts to grow into the skin of the toe around it. This is most likely to affect your baby's big toe, but can happen on any toe. It can be uncomfortable for your baby, but there are things you can do at home to help.

Try soaking your baby's foot in warm, salty water three or four times a day, and keep it dry the rest of the time. Let them go barefoot as much as possible. If they're walking, make sure their shoes are wide enough for their feet. Don't try to cut your baby's toenail, or pick at it, as these can make the problem worse.

If your baby's ingrowing toenail is really bothering them, you can give them the appropriate dose of infant paracetamol or ibuprofen. See your GP if:

• There are signs of infection, such as swelling or pus, which don't get better within a few days.
• Your baby develops a fever, which can be another sign of infection.
• Your baby has diabetes.

If the toenail is infected, your GP can prescribe antibiotics to clear it up. In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a specialist, who may recommend a minor procedure to remove part or all of the nail.

Get tips on how to care for your child's feet to prevent ingrowing toenails.

More than half of all babies develop a yellowish tinge to their skin in the first few days after birth. If your baby has brown or black skin, you are more likely to notice a yellow tinge to the white of their eyes, or on the palms of their hands or soles of their feet.

If your baby was born full term, it will usually take a week or two for their skin and eye colour to return to normal. It may take a bit longer if they were born early.

Learn more about jaundice.

Jaundice happens when too much of a natural chemical called bilirubin builds up in your baby's body. Whether or not your baby needs hospital treatment will depend on your baby's bilirubin levels.

Find out when your baby's jaundice might need treatment.

Sometimes, a tick bite can lead to lyme disease. This is a serious bacterial infection that needs prompt treatment. If your baby is bitten by a tick, look out for a spreading rash or ring around the site of the bite. The rash may be flat, or slightly raised. It may look pink or red on white skin and brown, black or purple on brown and black skin, similar to a bruise.

If you spot this, take your baby to your GP.

Find out how to remove a tick on your baby.

If your GP thinks your baby has lyme disease, they'll prescribe a course of antibiotics.

Read more about the symptoms of lyme disease.

If your baby has measles, their first symptoms can include:

• fever
• runny nose
• sneezing
• cough
• sore, red, swollen eyes
• small white spots in their mouth

Two to four days after these symptoms start, a blotchy rash will develop on your baby's face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.

The rash looks brown or red on white skin. On brown and black skin, the rash can be harder to see, although it may appear as darker than the skin.

While most babies and children recover from measles without any complications, measles can lead to serious problems if it spreads to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or brain.

This is why it’s important to get your child immunised with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Discover what to do if you think your baby has measles.

Find out more about the MMR vaccineOpens a new window.

Meningitis is a serious infection that can develop very quickly. The most distinctive feature is a rash that doesn't disappear when a glass is rolled over it.

On white skin the rash usually starts as small, red pinpricks before spreading quickly and turning into red or purple blotches. The rash may not be as obvious on brown and black skin. Check paler areas of your baby's body, such as the soles of the feet, the palms and the tummy. The rash doesn't always appear, and when it does, the infection is usually already advanced.

Earlier symptoms may include:

• fever
• cold hands and feet
• vomiting
• confusion
• breathing quickly
• muscle and joint pain
• Pale, mottled or blotchy skin
• headache
• a stiff neck

If you suspect your baby may have meningitis, see a doctor straight away: don't wait.

Learn more about how to tell if your baby has meningitis.

Milia are tiny, slightly raised spots that may appear on your baby's face, usually across their nose, cheeks, chin, forehead, or around their eyes. They can also crop up on your baby's chest.

Milia are very common in newborn babies. They're caused by blocked pores, and are completely harmless for your baby.

Discover how long it may take for your baby's milia to clear up.

Molluscum contagiosum appears as small, raised, dome-shaped spots. They're typically pink or red on white skin or a beige colour on brown and black skin. Each spot has a dimple in the middle.

The spots can appear anywhere on your child's body, often in the armpits, behind the knees or around their nappy area. They shouldn't be painful for your little one, though they can sometimes be uncomfortably itchy.

Discover what to do if you think your child may have molluscum contagiosum.

The spots almost always clear up by themselves so treatment isn't usually recommended.

Find out more about molluscum contagiosum.

A mosquito bite can leave an itchy, raised bump on your baby's skin which looks red on white skin but may look more purple on black or brown skin. Use a cold compress, such as a flannel with cold water, to soothe the itching, and then try to stop your baby from scratching the bite. Keep your baby's nails short so that they can't scratch too hard.

Find out what to expect from the most common types of insect bites and stings.

If the mosquito bite seems to be bothering your baby, ask your pharmacist for a soothing cream.

Discover how to treat insect bites and stings.

Mouth ulcers are sores that can appear anywhere in the mouth, most often on the inside of the cheek or lips. They usually look white or pale yellow, though the area around them may look red or swollen.

Your baby may just get the one ulcer, or several at once. They're not usually very painful, though they can be uncomfortable for your little one.

Your baby may have got an ulcer from accidently biting their cheek or lip, or perhaps a sharp piece of food cut your baby's mouth a little. Tiredness can also trigger ulcers.

Mouth ulcers aren't contagious, and they usually clear up on their own within a week or two. In the meantime, a mouth ulcer can make eating uncomfortable for your baby, so try feeding them softer foods.

Brushing your baby's teeth extra carefully with a soft toothbrush will also help. See your GP if the ulcer lasts for more than three weeks, keeps coming back, or seems to be very painful for your baby.

Find out about other baby mouth and teeth problems, including thrush and teething

Nappy rash causes a puffy rash around your baby's genitals, bottom, and the folds of their thighs. The rash can sometimes look pimply, and may feel warm to the touch. Your baby may often get nappy rash during their first year, and wetness is the main cause, though thrush can also contribute. On black or brown skin, the affected area may lighten. This usually clears up within a few weeks, but in severe cases it can take months or sometimes years to return to the usual skin colour.

Discover the best ways to prevent and treat nappy rash.

White spots or patches in your baby's mouth may be a sign of thrush. These patches will look a little like cottage cheese or milk curds. Your baby's mouth may be quite sore and they might be reluctant to feed.

Discover what to do if you think your baby may have thrush.

Papular urticaria is a mild allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting, often from fleas, mites or bed bugs. It causes itchy bumps around the site of a bite, which can sometimes develop into fluid-filled blisters. Papular urticaria usually looks red on white skin. On black or brown skin the colour difference may be less obvious, with the main sign being a raised area.

Find out how to prevent your baby from getting stung or bitten.

Papular urticaria usually clears up by itself, though it can sometimes come back if your child gets another bite or sting. In most cases, it stops coming back, or becomes milder, as your child grows. If the spots or blisters are bothering your baby, or there's any sign of infection, see your GP.

Learn more about treating insect bites and stings.

Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are plants that usually grow in the US, but are sometimes imported to the UK. If your baby comes into contact with one of these plants, they may have an allergic reaction that will cause a rash. If your baby has white skin this will appear as swollen, red patches. On black or brown skin, the rash may appear purple, gray, black, or darker than the surrounding area of skin. This will develop into blisters a day or two later. The blisters will crust over after few days, but they will be very itchy in the meantime.

Discover which other house and garden plants aren't safe for your baby.

Poison ivy, oak, and sumac rashes usually get better on their own within about two weeks, though severe cases can last for up to a month. If you're worried about your baby's rash, or if it covers large areas of skin, see your GP.

Find out what to do if your child swallows a poisonous plant.

In spite of the name, ringworm is caused by a fungal infection, and has nothing to do with worms. If your baby has it, they'll have a rash that looks like one or several rings, which can appear anywhere on the body. On white skin the rash will look red. On brown and black skin it will be a less obvious grey or brown. The rings will be crusty or scaly on the outside and smooth in the middle. They may also feel itchy. As the fungus grows, the rings get larger, ranging in size from about 1-5cm.

Ringworm can also affect your little one's scalp, though this is less common in young babies. Scalp ringworm can be dry and crusty, or moist and filled with pus. It is easy to confuse ringworm with dandruff or cradle cap.

Discover what causes ringworm.

Get a diagnosis from your doctor or pharmacist before attempting to treat ringworm. Ringworm on the body is treated with an antifungal cream. This will get rid of ringworm after between two weeks and four weeks, depending which cream you're using.

Discover how to prevent a ringworm infection happening again.

The first symptoms of roseola include:

• sudden fever
• runny nose, cough or sore throat
• puffy eyes
• swollen glands in your baby's neck

Your baby may also seem generally under the weather and not feel like eating much. Their fever may last for three days to five days before suddenly disappearing. Once the fever subsides a spotty rash will appears. On white skin the rash looks pinkish-red which may be less obvious on brown and black skin. It's most likely to start on your baby's chest, and tummy or back, before spreading to the face, neck and arms. It usually fades within a few days.

Discover what to do if you think your baby has roseola.

Because roseola is a virus it probably just needs to run its course until your baby is better. Antibiotics won't help, because it's not a bacterial infection. However, call your GP if you’re worried about your baby’s symptoms.

Read more tips on treating your baby’s roseola.

The first sign of rubella is small spots that first appear on your baby's face and neck, and then spread elsewhere on their body. The rash looks red or pink on white skin. If your baby has brown or black skin, it can be harder to see the spots, like in the image above, but you may notice that your baby’s skin feels rough or bumpy.

Some children feel totally fine while they have rubella, but your little one may develop other symptoms, such as:

• aching fingers, wrists or knees
• fever
• a cough
• sneezing and a runny nose
• headache
• sore throat
• sore, red eyes

Find out how rubella is spread.

See your doctor if you think your child has rubella. Give the surgery a call first though, and let them know why you're booking the appointment. Rubella is very infectious, and can be dangerous for pregnant women.

Find out more about treating rubella.

If your baby gets scabies, they'll develop an extremely itchy, bumpy rash. The redness of the rash may be less obvious on brown and black skin but you should be able to feel it.

The rash often starts around the hands or feet, and can spread to the whole body. You may also notice little lines on your baby's skin.

Learn more about scabies.

See your doctor if you think your baby has scabies. They will prescribe a cream that you'll need to spread over your baby's body. Even parts of their body that don't seem to be infected must be treated. Everyone who lives in the household will need treatment. It may take up to four weeks after treatment for the symptoms to disappear. If your baby is under two months old, your doctor will refer them to a specialist.

Find out more about treating scabies.

If your baby has scarlet fever, their first symptoms will probably be:

• fever
• sore throat
• swollen neck glands

Up to two days after your little one starts feeling under the weather, they'll develop the scarlet fever rash. This looks like small, raised bumps and starts on the chest and tummy, then spreads to the rest of the body. This makes your baby’s skin feel rough, like sandpaper.

The rash takes its name from its red appearance on white skin. While it may not appear red on brown and black skin, you'll still be able to see and feel the rough sandpaper texture.

Find out more about scarlet fever.

See your GP if you think your little one has scarlet fever. They may want to swab your child’s throat to check if it’s scarlet fever. If it is, they will prescribe antibiotics.

Read how to keep your child comfortable as they recover from scarlet fever.

If your baby has slapped cheek syndrome, they may have a blotchy rash on one or both cheeks. A few days later, a rash may also appear on their chest, arms and legs. The rash can be raised and itchy. The redness that gives the rash its name may be less obvious on brown and black skin. Your baby may have a fever, runny nose and sore throat.

Discover what causes slapped cheek syndrome.

Slapped cheek syndrome is a virus, so it can't be treated with antibiotics. You can treat your baby at home by making sure they get plenty of rest and encouraging them to have their usual breastfeeds and formula feeds.

Read more about treating your baby’s slapped cheek syndrome.

If your baby has a stye, you'll notice a small red or yellow bump, on or in their eyelid. Any redness may be less obvious on brown or black skin although you’ll still be able to see a swelling. A stye can be uncomfortable for your baby, particularly when they touch it. Their eyes may also water more than usual.

Discover what causes styes and how to treat them.

Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils, the almond-shaped glands that bulge out on both sides of the back of your child's throat. You may be able to see it by looking into their mouth. Their tonsils may look swollen, and there may be white spots on them.

Other signs of tonsillitis include:

• a sore throat, which can make it hard for your little one to swallow.
• general cold and flu symptoms, such as a cough, headache, earache, or seeming generally under the weather
• fever
• swollen glands in their neck
• bad breath

Take your little one to your GP if you think they could have tonsillitis so they can double check what’s causing the symptoms. In most cases though, your GP will probably recommend that you take your child home and let them rest up until they feel better.

Find out more about treating your child’s tonsillitis.

A hernia is a lump under the skin, in the tummy or groin. A hernia happens because your baby’s muscles haven’t developed fully. An umbilical hernia occurs around the tummy button and is very common in babies and young children. Hernias usually go away on their own by the time your child is two years old. If it hasn’t gone away, your doctor will recommend surgery to repair the hernia.

Learn more about how to tell if your baby has a hernia and when hernias need treatment.

If your baby has common warts, they're most likely to appear on their hands, though they can appear elsewhere. They look like raised, grainy bumps. The bumps will probably be the same colour as your baby's skin, but they may also be lighter or darker. The warts often contain one or more little black dots.

There are other types of warts, too:

• Flat warts are smaller and smoother than common warts. They are most likely to appear on your baby's face.
• Verrucas (plantar warts). These are likely to appear on the soles of your baby's feet and can be quite painful.

Most warts will go away without treatment within a couple of months, although some can take several years. Warts can sometimes be treated if they bother your baby so talk to your pharmacist if you're worried.

Find out more about caring for your child’s feet.

More information:

• Check out our photo gallery of common birthmarks.
• Learn more about when to take your baby to the doctor.
• Find out when to keep your little one home from childcare.