Face rash/spots in a 2 year old

[Dinamit]

Hello lovely mummies,

I wonder whether you can help. 4 days ago my lovely DS developed red spots across the apples of his both cheeks. If I didn't know better, I would think it's acne, cos that's what it looks like. It doesn't itch, or appears to be sore when I wipe his face (which I do ever so gently).

I am waiting for an appointment with the doctor, but it seems to be getting worse and not better, so I am getting a bit worried. He appears well otherwise.

Anyone experience this or have any idea what it might be? We thought it might be some sort of food allergy, but no new foods have been introduced, and I imagine it would wear off after a few days.

Thanks.

Hi Dina :) How old is your Ds? What are you wiping his face with?

Hi bubbleymummy,

He will be 2 in a couple weeks time. I usually wipe his face with a very soft cloth dampeded with warm water, and then wipe dry. I did wonder if this caused the problem, although I've been wiping his face that way for about a year now with no probs. The only difference is that my hubby was looking after him for about a week, and leaving the little cloth here and there, whereas I always leave it to dry, and change daily. However, surely the skin around his mouth would be affected, and that's not the case

Does he have a fever? Have you checked his hands and feet for a rash?

Rashes on the face which do not present elsewhere are rarely serious. Most are caused by localised skin reactions to something he's touched and then wiped on his face (kids like to touch themselves a lot).

Suggest you try a little sudocrem to calm it down overnight - it'll probably be gone by morning. :)

Try giving him some Piriton to see if that helps. If it does you know it's some type of allergic reaction.

Thank you whomovedmychocolate (great name, btw ), that is very reassuring.

He has no rash anywhere else on his body, no fever. I thought about sudocrem- will give it a go. Initially I wasn't very worried but since it's getting a bit redder, and not clearing after 4 days, I now am.

Good tip ledodgy; it's funny how you don't think of obvious things when you are worrying.

What are the spots like? Are they red dots or more like raised bumps like a nettle rash? Is he getting molars?

Also, has the temperature changed considerably where you are - sudden cold spells can cause skin to become more sensitive.

In any event sudocrem should help.

The spots are bright red and they are raised (but I don't know what nettle rash looks like).

Hmmm, he only has 4 molars, one on each side, up and down, so he could be.

The temperature really dropped but that was the week before last, so I don't think it's that, even though hubby thinks it might be a possiblity.

I just looked at some pics of nettle rash, and the spots aren't that raised. As I say, they look more like acne then anything else.

I'm going to go with teething then. Molars can cause cracking cheek rashes. Sudocrem will help.

DS (also 2) has had a run of facial rashes, each more interesting than the previous one. You wait till he comes down with hand, foot and mouth - that ones a cracker

, whoa, something to look forward to then.

I had no idea teething can cause such rashes, I thought they would be confined to the area around the mouth.

It's good to hear that sudocren worked in your experince, I'll give it a go as of tom.

Thanks so much for all your wisdom, you've really helped calm me down. I am pregnant so my hormones are all over the place...

Ah well pregnancy does make one more suspicious of rashes lest they be contagious :)

It's actually a really good sign that his immune system is ramping up. If they don't react to anything you have to worry!