Babies often have spots, pimples or birthmarks at birth. It is something that worries parents a lot and is usually one of the first reasons for consulting the pediatrician. Most of these marks or rashes will disappear quickly without any treatment, but some may last longer or be permanent.
Next, we tell you what are the most frequent spots, pimples and birthmarks on the skin of newborns.
Kiss of the angel or "stork peck"
One of the most common brands in newborns, especially those with light skin, are bright pink spots, usually located on the bridge of the nose, the lower part of the forehead, the upper eyelids, the base of the head and neck.
They respond to areas where blood vessels are closer to the skin, more superficial, and therefore give color. They are also called salmon spots and, in a more scientific way, simple nevus.
It is a benign spot that does not require treatment and usually disappears as the weeks and months go by. By 18 months they have mostly disappeared, although in some cases they remain even in adulthood.
Mongolian stains
They are large and smooth areas of the skin that are very pigmented, which appear blue or green (like bruises) and usually appear on the buttocks or back. They are very common, especially in brown-skinned babies. They are benign and do not have any importance or need treatment.
The spots disappear with time and time is variable. Sometimes it disappears before and sometimes it takes longer to leave. In most cases the stain has disappeared when they reach school age.
In Babies and more Ten changes in the skin of the newbornPustular Melanosis
They are small blisters that dry quickly and peel, leaving dark spots very similar to freckles. Some babies only have these spots, which indicates that they had the rash before birth. The spots disappear after several weeks.
Miliary acne or "milia"
It is called neonatal acne, also known as miliary acne or more popularly as fattening or milk granites are white or yellow granites that appear on the tip of the nose or chin, caused by the secretions of the sebaceous glands of the skin.
These are accumulations of fat that seem to have volume, but are almost flat and soft to the touch. The granites are not painful, nor itchy. They are not contagious nor is it related to the mother's diet, although it is usually believed that they appear in breast milk.
It is possible that the baby also presents these pimples in the mouth and gums to what is known as Epstein pearls.
They disappear after 2 or 3 weeks, and as they came they leave. It is not recommended to apply any product, or scrub the baby's skin, much less tighten them as it could be left brand. Simply keep the skin clean to avoid infection.
In Babies and moreCare of the newborn: the skinMiliaria or Sudamina
Sudamine or miliaria is a skin reaction to the production of sweat, a rash, which appears in babies younger than one year. It consists of an obstruction of the sweat glands that, when generated and not having a way out, causes small grains that can be red or white.
The treatment involves doing exactly the same thing we do to prevent it: avoid heat and sweat, avoid moisture, light and cotton clothing, a refreshing bath, etc., and avoid using talcum powder or creams that can clog pores even more. .
Only in case the rash is important and affects the child in some way (itching, discomfort, restlessness) the pediatrician could prescribe some corticosteroid cream to relieve the rash more quickly.
Toxic erythema
Toxic erythema is also known as newborn hives, toxoallergic rash or "flea bite dermatitis", because the granites resemble those of this insect's bite.
It is a benign inflammatory skin disease that does not need treatment and usually disappears on its own. The skin lesion is a small papule 1 to 3 mm in diameter, which evolves into a pustule with a prominent erythematous halo. The lesions are presented in a variable number and can be joined in plates of several centimeters.
It appears between the first and the third day of life (although they can do it later even at three weeks of age), and its duration can be extended until the fourth week, although during this period, they may disappear and appear again.
It does not require treatment or antibiotics, just moisturize the skin of the newborn as part of their usual care.
Hemangioma or angioma
They are prominent red areas with rough texture. During the first week they may be white or pale, but later turn red.
Hemangiomas are caused by the dilation of blood vessels of the most superficial layers of the skin, which have grown more than normal and can form a kind of ball.
Many babies are born with these birthmarks, while sometimes they form in the first months of life. They have a first phase of rapid growth in which their volume and size increase rapidly, followed by a rest period, in which the hemangioma changes very little, and an involution phase in which it begins to disappear.
They require frequent control by the pediatrician, of the color and size of the stain in case it could change its appearance, but most are reduced over time until it disappears completely.
In Babies and more A very special gift: her mother creates a doll just like her to help her normalize her hemangiomaStains type "port wine"
A special type of angioma or flat hemangioma are "port wine" spots because of their particular dark red or purple color. They are large and smooth areas of the skin of irregular shapes caused by an excess of blood vessels under the skin. These spots do not disappear without treatment. They can be removed by a plastic surgeon or a pediatric dermatologist when the child is older.
If you have identified any of these spots or rashes on your baby's skin, we suggest you ask your pediatrician your questions and concerns, since it will be he who determines the appropriate treatment if appropriate.
