Is the rash on your baby’s face due to teething?
Having a brand-new baby consist of many joys. Your little one will have many milestones to pass as they began to become familiar with the new world they have been born into. One of these milestones is the development of teeth. Infant teeth normally start to come in when they reach 6 months or as late as 12 months. Teething can cause some unpleasant symptoms like irritability, coughing and diarrhea. A rash due to teething can cause an infant to be uncomfortable to the point where they are unable to be consoled. It is not only teething infants that can develop a teething rash. Infants as young as 2 months can develop a rash due to excessive drool. It is the activation of the salivary gland that causes your infant to drool so much. This gland can be activated in infants as young as 2 months.
What does a rash due to teething look like?
Teething rashes can be mistaken for other types of skin irritations like yeast or Eczema. Teething rashes can develop in any place where drool is able to meet your baby’s skin. It is common to see a rash due to teething appear on your baby’s face, forehead, neck and even scalp. The rash can be splotchy, red and scale. A teething rash should turn white when pressed. If your baby’s rash stays red, this is a rash caused by burst blood vessels and is a serious medical condition that will need to be evaluated.
What causes a teething rash?
Teething produces a rash in some infants because saliva contains natural enzymes that aid in digestion. When these enzymes, along with possibly food and other particles, meet your baby’s skin for long periods irritation is caused.
How to treat a rash due to teething?
Drooling is a healthy part of your baby’s development while teething. Reducing the amount your baby drools to get rid of a teething rash will not work. There are a few things you can do to reduce the appearance or completely heal a teething rash.
Wiping your babies face more often
Attempting to keep your baby’s skin dry and free of saliva will remove irritants, allowing your baby’s skin to heal. If using wipes irritates your baby’s skin, you can use a cloth.
Using a Bib
Using a Bib will prevent saliva from meeting your baby’s body.
Using Lanolin, Petroleum Jelly or some other Barrier Cream
Using lanolin on your baby’s skin will prevent moisture from seating on the skin.
Changing your baby’s clothing when wet
Changing your baby’s clothing often will allow the skin to stay dry to prevent further irritation.
Using mild soap
Using a mild soap can help prevent further irritation to your baby’s skin.
Should you see your doctor?
If you notice your baby’s rash is getting worse, your baby is running a fever, your baby is refusing to eat or your baby is behaving in an unusual manner, you should take your baby to see your pediatrician or to your nearest hospital as soon as possible.