7wo with itchy pimply itchy rash on face

[notenoughsocks]

Help please...

I have a seven week old and in the last few days he has developed a pimply rash on his cheeks which extends back behind his ears. It is not too bad at all but he keeps rubbing and scratching at it and it is clearly doing his head in.

I looked up eczema in the NHS baby instruction manual which suggested if it was eczema there would be a rash in on the backs of his knees and elbows too - there is not, but he has very slightly pimply skin over most of his body (which doesn't cause him any problems).

My mum suggested teething rash. He does have a snotty nose which won't go away (despite the HV's promises) and he is dribbling a lot. However, he dribbles mostly in the evenings and seems rather too young too young to be teething.

The rash is irritaing my LO more and more and is starting to distrub his sleep. I have tried to mostiourse - and not to moisturise, have changed sheets and washing powders - all to no effect. Please help- or at least reassure me that it will get better.

[Mots]

Have you tried calamine lotion? My DD had a rash when she was about the same age. I took her to the doc, just to make sure that it was nothing serious and they suggested calamine lotion which dried it up and it soon went. It was described in various books and websites as "baby acne" which sounds harsh. If your seven week old has the same rash, it does go - apparently all part of our hormones coming out in them soon after being born. It does look very alarming to see their beautiful soft skin covered, but it goes and doesn't leave marks and the baby soft skin will return. Maybe your baby has the same rash? I would just go to the doc to be sure though.

[amidaiwish]

it is probably just a spotty rash which babies get at this age (hormones settling down i think) but i don't remember either of the dds being bothered by it.
i would get the doctor to check it. if it is infected moisturising will make it worse/spread it.

dd2 had terrible eczema on her face only. never anywhere else on her body. actually turned out to be a mild reaction to dairy and went in days when i changed her formula.

[TheOldestCat]

Could have written your post, OP, a few weeks ago about DS. But now at nearly nine weeks his rash is disappearing. He still has a snotty nose though.

Agree with mots and amidaiwish, it's probably hormonal and will settle down (health visitor said it's because I'm breastfeeding). But do go to the doc if you think it's getting infected.

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

Baby acne. Very common, very annoying as it happens just as you are venturing out to show them off but doesn't seem to bother them. In rare cases it can last for up to six months but it usually goes within a month to six weeks. No need to put anything on it, just keep clean (with plain water) and dry.

[ShowOfHands]

It's normal for them to have a spotty, pimply rash on their faces at this age. Looks worse when they're hot or cross. It's more pronounced in bfed babies I think so they have floated the idea that it's the mother's hormones but this is merely theory. Anyway, it's normal and in most cases goes on its own though can take a couple of weeks. It's best to put nothing on it, just wash with plain water. Baby acne is what it's usually called.

All that said, it can occasionally become infected. Your hv or gp will be able to tell you if it is and a cream can be prescribed.

[notenoughsocks]

Thank you all for advice and reassurance. It is my first post/cry for help on mumsnet and it has not let me down:-)

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

Just re-read and see that it sounds as though your son's may be bothering him (although he may just be scratching at random as they do that too at this age) so I would check with the doctor that it's not infected, but assuming it isn't then it should just go by itself.

[ShowOfHands]

Babies of that age do seem to claw at their faces. They're usually not in distress, it's normal. DD used to grab handfuls of her skin and drag her nails across it. I found it quite distressing, but she was just being a baby.

I do remember being a bit sad that my beautiful and peachy little dd was spotty as a lusty teen. Almost stopped me taking the requisite 78 photos an hour. Only almost.

[amidaiwish]

you can photoshop the pimples out... v easy

[ShowOfHands]

I have an slr camera and develop pics myself. Went for black and white pics for a while instead!

[notenoughsocks]

Sorry, should add - he is bf, so hormones could well be contributing factor. Also, showofhands, it does get impressively red when he gets cross - I just got a chance to check it out