Toxic Erythema In The Newborn
One of the skin peculiarities that can occur within a few hours of a baby’s life is toxic erythema in the newborn. These usually minor injuries are of great concern to parents, especially first timers.
It is very curious that this pathology is recognized with the word “toxic” when it has not been proven that it actually contains this characteristic. Besides this name, it is also known as newborn acne or hives; the latter is attributed to the slight itching it causes on the skin.
New parents should know that the skin of the newborn has very particular anatomical and physiological characteristics. Among them, the most important is that it is usually sensitive, so the care it deserves is much more intense and meticulous.
In general, the skin plays an important role in terms of water and temperature regulation. The variation of some factor can cause a strong imbalance and trigger the development of a disease.
In this sense, body temperature, water balance and defense against the attack of certain pathogens are some functions that are under strict control.
Although it is not known for sure if toxic erythema in the newborn can be caused by a pathogen or by an external variation, it can be described as a benign inflammatory rash that is much more common than is thought.
Origin of toxic erythema
Although this ailment was described in 1826, to this day it is not known where it comes from nor has it been possible to decipher the causes that cause it, despite the time that has elapsed.
There are doctors who affirm that this benign eruption usually appears in 90% of newborns as a response of extreme sensitivity to certain chemical or microbiological substances; however, no evidence confirms this hypothesis.
Characteristics of toxic erythema in the newborn
- It is one of the most common conditions in newborns, so do not despair and make the serious mistake of removing pimples.
- It is not very common in premature babies.
- The lesions or pimples appear on the skin with a hue ranging from yellow to white, surrounded by redness. They usually appear between the first and third day of life.
- There have been late cases in which the lesions are observed in the second week of life.
- The lesion may be very small (approximately four millimeters) or evolve into an erythematous pustule.
- It manifests itself with numerous granites that can come together in plates of several centimeters respectively.
- It generally occurs anywhere on the body, including the trunk, extremities, and face, with the exception of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
- The rash as such can last only a few days and, in certain cases, weeks.
- There is no specific cause that has been proven.
Treatment for toxic erythema in the newborn
This type of benign skin lesion does not require specific treatment. The application of creams or powders is not essential, since they tend to disappear spontaneously as long as they are not manipulated. Of course, we must always have the supervision of a doctor who specializes in the subject.
Yes, it is of the utmost importance, as part of the precautions that parents must adopt in the face of this ailment, to keep the hands sanitized when having contact with the newborn. The purpose of this is to avoid any type of complication or skin infection.
Likewise, the baby must be cleaned with a mild soap or bath gel suitable for delicate skin; must have pediatrician approval. For no reason should home remedies be used or recommended by people not specialized in the matter; in that case it could make the situation worse.
If a month passes and the skin rash persists in the same or greater proportion, we must consult the specialist again to rule out any stronger condition.
It is important to emphasize that, shortly after birth, babies are easy prey for infections and ailments due to their weak immune systems. Therefore, we should not take lightly any signal from your body that tells us that something is happening.
Without being too alarmed, we must be very attentive to the evolution of these annoying lesions in order to avoid major problems, such as persistent marks and spots on our baby’s skin.
