Common Skin Rashes in Children: 16 Types and Causes

Common skin rashes in children can be easily identifiable, such as those caused by diaper rash or an insect bite. Pictures of skin rashes can help you to recognize ringworm, measles, and more when you just aren’t sure or you haven’t seen a new rash pattern before.

Often, a child’s skin rash can be treated at home. However, it’s still a good idea to have your child evaluated by a healthcare provider so you can be certain about the cause and what the diagnosis means.

Bug Bite

No matter how careful you are about using insect repellents, it is likely that your child will occasionally get a bug bite. Bug bites can be scary for parents because even a normal reaction can include:

• Skin redness on light or medium skin tones or discoloration, such as violaceous, grey, brown or black on darker skin tones
• Swelling
• Warm skin

The majority of bug bites, whether by insects such as an ant, chigger, or wasp, aren’t dangerous. The only exception is if your child is allergic to the insect and having an allergic reaction. Even spider bites, which often resemble regular bug bites, aren’t that dangerous unless caused by a:

Regular use of insect repellents can help your kids avoid many bug bites.

How to Treat Bug Bites

General treatment for bug bites includes:

• Remove any stinger by scraping a straight-edged object across the stinger to dislodge it. Don’t use tweezers since you may end up squeezing the venom sac and releasing more venom
• Wash the bite or sting with soap and water. 
• Apply ice: 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off. 
• For itching, take an oral antihistamine or apply cream.

Watch for signs of infection in the following days (such as increasing redness, swelling, or pain). Keep in mind that discoloration or swelling may occur immediately. This isn’t a sign of infection, but if those symptoms don’t improve or come back, see your healthcare provider.

Chickenpox

The most notable symptom of chickenpox is a rash with itchy, fluid-filled blisters that eventually scab over. The chickenpox rash starts on the chest, back, and face before spreading to the rest of the body. 

Other symptoms of chickenpox typically include:

• Fever
• Malaise (general sense of feeling unwell)
• Fatigue
• Headache

Some kids also may experience mild abdominal pain or a lack of appetite.

Chickenpox is contagious from one to two days before the rash and up to six days after blisters form.

How to Treat Chickenpox

Most cases of chickenpox will resolve on their own within a few weeks. To manage symptoms, follow self care techniques such as these:

• Taking a non-aspirin fever reducer such acetaminophen
• Soaking in a colloidal oatmeal bath
• Applying calamine lotion, petroleum jelly, or a fragrance-free, anti-itch creams over the blisters
• Taking an oral antihistamine such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) or Zyrtec (cetrizine) to reduce itchiness
• Trimming your child’s nails or covering their hands so they can’t scratch and pick blisters (which could cause an infection).

If these remedies don’t help control fever or discomfort or if your there are signs of an infection, contact your healthcare provider.

Cold Sores

Some children get cold sores on a regular basis. These sores often occur on the same spot on the face or lip. Children will often feel some pain, burning, or itching at the site of the cold sore before it appears.

Symptoms of cold sores include:

• A group of vesicles (small, fluid-filled blisters) appearing on a red area of skin
• Vesicles that quickly develop a crust on them

How to Treat Cold Sores

Cold sores usually go away on their own in within two weeks.

To speed up healing, some pediatricians will prescribe the drug Zovirax (acyclovir). This cold sore medicine must be used four to five times a day and should be started as soon as the cold sore develops in order for it to be effective.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a long-term (chronic) skin condition that causes dry, itchy skin. AD is a common type of eczema and mostly affects children. 

AD rashes affect different parts of the body depending on age:  

• In infants and toddlers, the rash usually starts on the face, outside of the elbows, and on the knees. 
• In older children, the rash tends to be on the hands and feet, the arms, and on the back of the knees. 

The color of the rash can also vary from one child to another. Rashes tend to look purple, darker brown, or ashen grayish in darker skin tones, and red in lighter skin tones. 

How to Treat Atopic Dermatitis

AD can sometimes be hard to control, but there are ways to manage your child’s symptoms and reduce flare-ups.

• Apply a topical corticosteroid: These prescription medications come in many different strengths and forms. It’s important to use the lowest dose necessary to avoid side effects. Your healthcare provider will help you find the right combination.
• Avoid triggers: To reduce the risk of outbreaks, pay attention to environmental and lifestyle factors that can cause flare-ups such as harsh soaps, certain foods, products with fragrances, dry air, or cold temperatures.
• Moisturize: Use a moisturizer every day and within three minutes of getting out of the bath or shower.

Fifth Disease

Fifth disease (also called slapped cheek syndrome) is a viral infection that affects children ages 4 to 10 years. This common childhood illness got its name because it was the fifth disease on a historical list of six common skin rash illnesses in children. 

The first signs of fifth disease are mild flu-like symptoms, including:

• Headache
• Low-grade fever
• Runny nose
• Sore throat

After a few days of these symptoms, your child may develop a bright red rash on their face that makes them appear to have a slapped cheek. That’s why it is sometimes called “slapped cheek syndrome.” 

The rash may also spread to the arms, chest, stomach, and thighs. This rash often has a raised, lace-like appearance and may be itchy.

How to Treat Fifth Disease

Although the rash can look alarming, it usually clears up on its own in one to three weeks. If your child is feeling unwell, you can try the following to ease the symptoms:

• Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) for fever and headache
• Antihistamines to relieve itchiness
• Fluids to prevent dehydration

Lip Licker’s Dermatitis

During the winter, many kids have dry skin. They often also get red, irritated skin around their mouths.

As the skin around the mouth gets irritated, many children will begin to lick at it in an effort to relieve discomfort. This makes it even redder and more irritated. Eventually, children develop the classic lip licker’s dermatitis that many parents and pediatricians see in the winter.

How to Treat Lip Licker’s Dermatitis

Fortunately, this type of rash usually responds very well to petroleum jelly or shea butter.

The trick is to put the moisturizer around your child’s lips frequently. This helps break the cycle of irritation and lip licking.

Measles

Measles, also called rubeola, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by a virus.

Though a blotchy, red rash is the most characteristic symptom of measles, it is usually not the first symptom. Measles typically begins with:

• Cough
• Fever
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Runny nose
• Small, white spots in the mouth (known as Koplik spots)

The rash appears three to four days after these initial symptoms. It shows up as flat red spots near the hairline before spreading to the rest of the body. As the rash spreads, the spots often join to form larger, blotchy patches.

How to Treat Measles

There is no specific treatment for measles. The virus needs to run its course. You can take steps to manage symptoms though:

• Ensure your child gets a lot of rest
• Have them drink plenty of fluids
• Give them over-the-counter fever reducers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen

Molluscum Contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a viral skin disease that causes small clear or flesh-colored bumps with a dimple or pit in the center. It affects adults too, but more than 90% of cases occur in kids.

The wart-like bumps (alone, or in clusters) usually pop up on the face, arms, legs, and abdomen, but they can appear anywhere on the body. Although harmless, molluscum bumps are very contagious. Scratching them can cause them to spread from one part of the body to another, and from one person to another.

How to Treat Molluscum Contagiosum

Treating molluscum bumps is a lot like treating warts. They can be frozen, scraped, burned, or lasered off.

Some healthcare providers advise against treatment because the bumps clear up on their own (usually in two to three months). However, concerns over how long the disease lasts and its impact on quality of life have sparked a trend toward treatment.

Pityriasis Rosea

Pityriasis rosea is often seen in adolescents. It’s sometimes confused with ringworm because the rash can start with a large pink or tan oval area (sometimes called a herald patch) on the chest, stomach, or back that initially looks like ringworm.

The herald patch is then followed by multiple smaller patches that spread out across the back, neck, arms, and legs. These can be mildly itchy and can linger for several weeks or months, but your child will otherwise have no symptoms.

It is not known what causes pityriasis rosea. It may be caused by a virus or a reaction to a previous viral infection.

How to Treat Pityriasis Rosea

No treatment is usually required, but you can manage symptoms at home with these steps:

• Stay cool and avoid hot temperatures since becoming overheated can worsen the rash
• Take warm baths or showers
• Avoid exposing the rash to the sun
• Use gentle, fragrance-free skin products

Poison Ivy

It is usually not hard to identify a poison ivy rash, which occurs as an allergic reaction to the substance urushiol found in the plant. Your child may have symptoms within hours or a few days after coming in contact with the leaves, stems, or roots of poison ivy.

A classic case of poison ivy might appear after a camping trip, hike in the woods, or trip to the lake. The child then develops a red, itchy rash all over their body a few days later.

Typical symptoms of poison ivy rash include:

• Blisters
• Itching
• Skin redness on light or medium skin tones or discoloration, such as violaceous, grey, brown or black on darker skin tones
• Swelling

The rash can last for one to three weeks.

How to Treat Poison Ivy

Treat the poison ivy rash with home remedies. These will help reduce itching and irritation.

• Wash the affected skin with soap and water within 15 minutes of exposure, removing the substance that causes the rash
• Apply rubbing alcohol immediately after exposure to remove the oil from your skin
• Apply cold, wet compresses for 15 to 30 minutes several times a day
• Use steroid creams or ointments to reduce inflammation and itching
• Take oral steroids if needed for severe cases
• Soak in cool, colloidal oatmeal baths
• Apply calamine lotion (but avoid overusing since it can dry skin out)

To prevent this and similar rashes, learn to identify poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac.

Swimmer’s Itch

Swimmer’s itch (cercarial dermatitis) is a rash caused by a parasite in water. You’re more likely to see swimmer’s itch in kids during warm weather months, if they play or swim in lakes and streams. Aquatic birds, snails, and other species pass the parasites into the water.

Symptoms of swimmer’s itch include:

• Tingling, itching, or burning skin
• Small discolored pimples
• Small blisters

Most people begin to develop a swimmer’s itch rash within a few hours of exposure.

How to Treat Swimmer’s Itch

The itchy rash should resolve in about a week. Using over-the-counter skin creams can reduce itching. In addition, you can use home remedies including colloidal oatmeal baths or baking soda pastes to find relief from symptoms.

Contact your healthcare provider if symptoms persist for more than two weeks.

Tinea Infections (Ringworm)

Contrary to what the name might suggest, ringworm is not caused by a worm. Also, known as tinea infection, ringworm is caused by a fungus. The infection causes red, ring-shaped rashes on the skin. 

Symptoms look different depending on the body part that’s infected, but include:

• Itchy skin
• Hair loss
• Red, flaky, cracked skin
• Ring-shaped rash

The rash often appears red on lighter skin, and brown, purple, or gray on darker skin.

Ringworm of the scalp and body (tinea corporis) are the most common type of ringworm in children. 

• Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis) often starts as a pimple-like bump or a scaly patch that looks like dandruff. As the bump or patch gets bigger, the hair in the infected area can break off.  
• Body ringworm (tinea corporis) causes a ring-shaped rash that can appear anywhere on the body or face. It starts out flat and scaly, and as the ring grows the edges become raised. 

How to Treat Ringworm

Ringworm is treated with an antifungal ointment or cream. These medications usually take several weeks to work. If the antifungal creams don’t work, or if your child has scalp ringworm, your healthcare provider may prescribe antifungal tablets.

Yeast Diaper Rash

Yeast infections can commonly complicate other diaper rashes. You should suspect that a diaper rash might be caused by yeast or candida when your baby’s regular diaper rash doesn’t improve with regular diaper rash ointments and creams.

Another sign of a yeast diaper rash is a rash that becomes bright red or that is ​surrounded by red bumps called satellite lesions.

How to Treat a Yeast Diaper Rash

Treatments for yeast diaper rashes typically include the use of over-the-counter topical antifungal skin creams, such as:

These medications are typically applied to a rash twice a day for seven to 10 days.

Impetigo

Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection that causes red sores or blisters. It occurs when bacteria enter the body through broken or irritated skin. 

Impetigo can look different depending on which bacteria caused it. It usually affects the skin that isn’t covered by clothes, such as around the mouth or nose. The rash can start as a cluster of itchy red bumps or blisters. Eventually, the blisters burst open and form a honey-colored scab. 

How to Treat Impetigo 

Although impetigo will go away on its own eventually, most healthcare providers recommend antibiotics to treat the lesions.

The topical antibiotic Altabax (retapamulin) is prescribed for children as young as 9 months old. Bactroban (mupirocin) is used to treat people 12 years and older.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious illness most commonly caused by a virus called coxsackievirus. It mainly affects children under age 10, but older kids and adults can catch it as well. 

The disease is easy to spot because of its telltale symptoms:

• Skin rash: As the name suggests, the rash tends to develop on the hands and soles of the feet. The rash usually looks like flat, red spots.
• Mouth sores: Small bright pink spots on the tongue and inside of the cheeks that turn into blisters. These can be painful and make it difficult to eat or drink.   

Hand, foot, and mouth disease usually starts with a fever and sore throat. Mouth sores develop within two to three days, and the rash appears shortly after that. 

How to Treat Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Since hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by a virus, antibiotics won’t work. The most you can do is treat the symptoms. Oral anesthetics such as oral lidocaine are also not recommended for painful mouth sores.

Focus on keeping children hydrated and using acetaminophen or Advil ibuprofen to relieve pain.

Heat Rash

A heat rash develops when sweat gets trapped under the skin. The rash looks like dots or tiny pimples and the skin often feels prickly to the touch. It is usually found on body areas covered by clothing, such as the neck, diaper area, armpits, upper back, and chest.

How to Treat Heat Rash

Heat rash is harmless and often goes away on its own in a few days. To help prevent it, dress your child in loose clothing that keeps their skin cool and dry.

Avoid applying topical medications; they may actually make the rash worse by causing the sweat glands to become even more blocked.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Contact your child’s healthcare provider immediately if your child has:

• Trouble breathing
• Swollen lips
• Trouble with swallowing
• Significant peeling of the skin
• Fever

Large blisters and bloody, crusty lips are symptoms that your provider should evaluate. Let them know if the child has painful urination with the rash.

If your child’s rash doesn’t get better after a few days or if you are concerned in any way, don’t hesitate to call their healthcare provider.

Summary

Children get skin rashes often. Knowing the different types of skin rashes can help you decide whether you should take your child to the pediatrician. While some skin rashes can be prevented, others may be caused by factors outside of your control.

You can treat some skin rashes with over-the-counter medication. Others may require prescription medication. Your child’s pediatrician can help you figure out what to do about a particular kind of skin rash.