Top 11 Rashes in Kids (With Pictures)

Rashes and children go together like summer and sunshine. There are a lot of different types, they are super common, and they can look different from child to child. Though they may seem scary, most rashes get better without much help. If they don’t, that’s helpful information for your pediatrician. Trust your instincts. You know your child, and even though you may not be able to diagnose the rash, you know if your child is well or not. 

Here, we’ll cover some of the most common causes of a new rash in babies and children. Remember that rashes look different on different skin colors. For example, in lighter skin, a rash can look pink or red. In darker skin tones, the same rash may appear purple or brown. 

1. Roseola

Roseola is a virus that’s more common in babies and younger children (under 2 years old). It first causes a high fever and then a skin rash. It usually goes away on its own and doesn’t cause any problems. 

Pink patches on the torso and arms in an infant with roseola.

Roseola can also cause pink bumps and patches on the face and ears.

2. Impetigo

Impetigo is a common and very contagious skin infection. Mild cases may go away on their own, but most children will need treatment with antibiotic creams or pills. It usually goes away with antibiotic cream.

Red, round, crusty sores near the mouth in a child with impetigo.

Impetigo can cause many open sores on the back and arm.

3. Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common childhood illness that spreads quickly because it’s so contagious. It usually isn’t serious, but that doesn’t make it any easier for the little ones experiencing it.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease can cause tiny sores inside the mouth and on the lips.

Small, red bumps and some white blisters on the foot in hand, foot, and mouth disease.

4. Scabies

Scabies are tiny mites (similar to bugs) that cause a very itchy rash. The mites live in the skin and cause an allergic reaction. They are very contagious and can spread through person-to-person contact.

Scabies causes clusters and lines of crusty, pink, and brown bumps on the feet.

Many pink and red bumps and patches on the hand and foot that have been scratched in scabies.

5. Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a common skin infection caused by a virus. It’s annoying and hard to get rid of, but it isn’t actually dangerous. It spreads by touching another person’s rash or items contaminated with the virus.

Molluscum causes many small, smooth, pink bumps on the skin.

Molluscum bumps can become red, irritated and crusty.

6. Ringworm

Ringworm (tinea corporis) is a fungal skin infection. Ringworm has different names, depending on the part of the body it affects. For example, on the feet it’s called “athlete’s foot.” And in the groin it may be called “jock itch.” The rash often comes up as an itchy, red ring on the skin or scalp. The infection spreads by skin-to-skin contact or from contact with objects (like towels or clothing) that carry the fungus. Ringworm can infect anyone who comes into contact with it.

Ringworm causes a round, brown rash surrounded by a reddish, raised border.

Ringworm can cause multiple, round, scaly spots.

7. Fifth disease

The cause of fifth disease — also known as erythema infectiosum — is a respiratory virus that infects both adults and children. Though this illness is relatively harmless in children, it can be dangerous for an unborn baby. That’s why you should let your pregnancy care team know if you’re pregnant and you’ve been exposed. Fifth disease can also be dangerous for children with certain medical conditions like sickle cell anemia, HIV, cancer, and a weakened immune system.

Fifth disease is called the “slapped cheek” rash because it causes pink patches on the cheek.

Reddish-purple bumps and patches on the cheeks, chest, and arm in a child with fifth disease.

8. Heat rash

Heat rash goes by a lot of names: miliaria, prickly heat, or sweat rash. It can affect any age, but it’s most common in children and babies. Heat rash isn’t serious or contagious.

Many tiny reddish and skin-colored bumps on the cheek in miliaria.

Many small, pink skin bumps and patches on the lower back in miliaria.

9. Hives

Hives, also known as urticaria, cause an intensely itchy skin rash that appears suddenly. It usually happens in response to an allergen — a harmless substance in the environment that triggers an allergy.

Many ring-shaped red patches on an infant’s chest caused by hives.

Reddish-brown round and raised patches caused by hives.

10. Poison oak and poison ivy

“Leaves of three, let it be!” The itchy rash caused by touching or coming into contact with poison oak and poison ivy is very common, especially in the summer months. 

Tiny blisters and purple and red, round, and linear patches caused by poison ivy.

Small, red bumps and blisters, many arranged in lines, caused by poison ivy.

11. Swimmer’s itch

Swimmer’s itch (also called cercarial dermatitis) is an itchy rash that can happen after swimming in freshwater lakes and ponds. It can happen in saltwater, too, but that’s less common. It’s not contagious.

Many tiny, faint, pink papules on the torso caused by swimmer’s itch.

Many scattered, small, round, and red bumps on the leg caused by swimmer’s itch.

Tips for managing childhood rashes

Thankfully, most childhood rashes will go away on their own. But, here are a few tips for making your child more comfortable:

• Use scent-free soaps and lotions. Scented skin products can irritate the skin. Use scent-free soaps like Dove for bathing and avoid bubble baths. 

• Don’t rub the skin after bathing. Pat the skin dry to avoid aggravating the rash.

• Avoid hot water. Higher-temperature water can irritate rashes. Stick to cool baths or use cool compresses to relieve any discomfort.

• Try an oatmeal bath. Oatmeal baths can soothe irritated skin. Dermatologists recommend colloidal oatmeal because it reduces inflammation and itch. 

• Wear loose clothing. Tight clothing can rub against the skin and bother the rash. Have your child wear loose clothing to help air out the rash. 

• Give an antihistamine. If your child’s rash is itchy, give an antihistamine like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec). 

• Stay out of the sun. UV radiation from the sun can aggravate a rash. Practice sun safety tips to prevent further irritation.  

When a child with a rash needs urgent medical care

There are some signs that a child with a rash needs to be seen urgently by your pediatrician or in the emergency room. 

Signs that your child is unwell

If your child has a rash and is unwell, they need medical attention. Some signs that your child is unwell include: 

• High temperature

• Lack of interest in playing, or they aren’t acting like themselves

• Being unusually sleepy 

• Stiff neck

• Sensitivity to light

• Confusion 

• Not eating, drinking, or urinating

• Abdominal pain

• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

• Red, cracked lips

• Red eyes

• Swollen hands or feet

• Difficulty breathing or fast breathing

• Difficulty swallowing

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Written by:

Lauren Geoffrion, MD

Lauren Geoffrion, MD, is a current medical writer at GoodRx and MedicineX. She has written several articles on Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, a website that publishes CME-accredited podcasts and accompanying articles on mental health. She has also contributed to articles in the Investigative Journal of Medicine.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

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Images used with permission from VisualDx (www.visualdx.com).