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Rashes in babies and children

This page covers some of the common rashes in babies and children.

As a parent, you may know if your child seems seriously unwell and should trust your judgement.

Call 999 or go to A&E now if:

Your child is unwell with a rash and has any of these symptoms:

  • a stiff neck
  • bothered by light
  • they seem confused, agitated or they're not responding like they usually do
  • difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs), breathlessness, or they're breathing very fast
  • their skin, lips or tongue look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
  • sudden swelling of their lips, mouth, throat or tongue
  • their throat feels tight or they're struggling to swallow
  • the rash looks like small bruises or bleeding under the skin and does not fade when you press a glass against it

On brown and black skin, it may be easier to see the rash or colour changes on the soles of the feet, palms, lips, tongue and inside the eyelids.

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines your child takes with you.

How to take a temperature

Use a digital thermometer, if you have one, to check if your child has a high temperature.

For more information about how to do this, see:

If you do not have a thermometer, look for signs such as their back or chest feeling hotter than usual, sweatiness and shivering (chills).

High temperature is not always a symptom

You child might not have a high temperature but still be seriously unwell. Check for all the possible symptoms and get medical help if you’re worried.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

Your child:

  • has a rash you're worried about and you're not sure what to do
  • feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, feels sweaty or they’re shivering
  • is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C
  • is aged 3 months or older and has a temperature of 39C or higher
  • is aged 5 years or older and has a temperature below 36C

Check symptoms on 111 online (for anyone aged 5 and over) or call 111 (for children under 5).

Rash with a high temperature
Rash on cheeks with high temperature
Bright red, raised spots covering a child's cheeks. Many of the spots have joined together. Shown on white skin.

An example of the slapped cheek syndrome rash.

A rash on 1 or both cheeks plus a high temperature, runny nose, sore throat and headache may be slapped cheek syndrome.

Slapped cheek syndrome can usually be treated at home.

Slapped cheek symptoms and what to do

Symptoms of slapped cheek syndrome

The first sign of slapped cheek syndrome is usually feeling unwell for a few days.

Symptoms may include:

  • a high temperature
  • a runny nose and sore throat
  • a headache
A child's face with a red rash on both cheeks. Shown on white skin.
A red rash may appear on 1 or both cheeks. Adults do not usually get the rash on their face.
A purple-red rash on the face and nose of a child with medium brown skin.
The rash may be less obvious on brown and black skin.
A blotchy, pink rash all over the chest and upper arm of a child with white skin.
A few days later, a spotty rash may appear on the chest, back, arms and legs. The rash can be raised. It may be harder to see on brown and black skin.

How long it lasts

The rash usually fades within 1 to 3 weeks, but it can sometimes last for longer, especially if you're hot or stressed.

Adults might also have joint pain and stiffness. This can happen in children too, but it's rare. Joint pain can continue for many weeks, even after the other symptoms have gone.

How to treat slapped cheek syndrome yourself

You do not usually need to see a GP for slapped cheek syndrome.

There are some things you can do to ease the symptoms.

Do

Don’t

  • do not give aspirin to children under 16

Information:

Find out more

Slapped cheek syndrome

Blisters on hands and feet plus mouth ulcers
Small, round, pink blisters on a child's hand and wrist, from hand, foot and mouth disease. Shown on white skin.

An example of the hand, foot and mouth disease rash.

Blisters on the hands and feet, with ulcers in the mouth, could be hand, foot and mouth disease.

Hand, foot and mouth disease can usually be treated at home.

Hand, foot and mouth symptoms and what to do

Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease

The 1st symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease can be:

  • a sore throat
  • a high temperature
  • not wanting to eat

The 2nd stage usually starts a few days later and symptoms can include:

  • mouth ulcers, which can be painful
  • a raised rash of spots on the hands and feet, and sometimes the groin area and bottom

The rash of spots can look pink, red, or darker than the surrounding skin, depending on your skin tone.

The spots can turn into blisters, which might be grey or lighter than surrounding skin and can be painful.

Symptoms are usually mild and are the same in adults and children.

How to treat hand, foot and mouth disease yourself

Hand, foot and mouth disease usually gets better on its own in 7 to 10 days. You cannot take antibiotics or other medicines to cure it.

To help the symptoms:

  • drink cool fluids to soothe the mouth and prevent dehydration (but avoid acidic drinks, such as fruit juice)
  • eat soft foods like yoghurt and avoid hot, salty and spicy foods
  • take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help ease a sore mouth or throat

A pharmacist can help with hand, foot and mouth disease

Ask a pharmacist for advice about treatments, such as mouth ulcer gels, sprays and mouthwashes, to relieve pain.

They can tell you which ones are suitable for children.

Find a pharmacy
Information:

Find out more

Hand, foot and mouth disease

Rash on the face and body
Red, spotty rash caused by scarlet fever on the chest, arms and neck of a child with white skin.

An example of the scarlet fever rash.

A rash of small, raised bumps that feels rough, like sandpaper, could be scarlet fever.

Speak to a GP if you think your child has scarlet fever.

Scarlet fever symptoms and what to do

Symptoms of scarlet fever

The first signs of scarlet fever can be flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature, a sore throat and swollen neck glands (a large lump on the side of your neck).

A rash appears 12 to 48 hours later. It looks like small, raised bumps and starts on the chest and tummy, then spreads. The rash makes your skin feel rough, like sandpaper.

A red, patchy rash on the chest, neck and upper arms caused by scarlet fever. The rash is shown on white skin.

On white skin the rash looks pink or red. On brown and black skin it might be harder to see a change in colour, but you can still feel the rash and see the raised bumps.

Rash of small, raised, pink spots spread across a child's chest. The spots are close together. The rash is shown on light brown skin.
Rash of small, raised bumps spread across the lower part of a child's arm. The rash is shown on medium brown skin.

A white coating also appears on the tongue. This peels, leaving the tongue red, swollen and covered in little bumps (called "strawberry tongue").

A swollen tongue with a reddish orange surface and a white coating at the back and along the centre. Shown on white skin.
A young child with light brown skin sticking their tongue out. The tongue is red and covered in little bumps like a strawberry.

The rash does not appear on the face, but the cheeks can look red. The redness may be harder to see on brown and black skin.

Lower half of a child's face with a bright red cheek. Skin is red from their jaw up to their eye. Shown on white skin.

Sometimes the skin peels, like sunburn, as the rash fades.

The symptoms are the same for children and adults, although scarlet fever is less common in adults.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if you or your child:

  • have scarlet fever symptoms
  • do not get better in a week (after seeing a GP)
  • have scarlet fever and chickenpox at the same time
  • are ill again, weeks after scarlet fever got better – this can be a sign of a complication, such as rheumatic fever
  • are feeling unwell and have been in contact with someone who has scarlet fever

Scarlet fever spreads very easily. Check with a GP before you go in. They may suggest a phone consultation.

Information:

Find out more

Scarlet fever

A red, spotty rash on a child's face and shoulder, caused by measles. Shown on white skin.

An example of the measles rash.

A spotty rash that appears on the head or neck and spreads to the rest of the body could be measles.

Speak to a GP if you think your child has measles.

Measles symptoms and what to do

Symptoms of measles

Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth.

Cold-like symptoms

The first symptoms of measles include:

  • a high temperature
  • a runny or blocked nose
  • sneezing
  • a cough
  • red, sore, watery eyes

Spots in the mouth

A number of very small white spots inside a person’s mouth.

Small white spots may appear inside the cheeks and on the back of the lips a few days later. These spots usually last a few days.

The measles rash

A rash usually appears a few days after the cold-like symptoms.

The rash starts on the face and behind the ears before spreading to the rest of the body.

The measles rash on the forehead of a child with light brown skin. The rash looks like pale red blotchy patches.
The measles rash on a person with white skin. The person’s arms, chest and tummy are almost completely covered with red, blotchy patches.

The spots of the measles rash are sometimes raised and join together to form blotchy patches. They're not usually itchy.

A close-up of the measles rash on someone with white skin, showing some raised red spots joined together to form blotchy patches.

The rash looks brown or red on white skin. It may be harder to see on brown and black skin.

The measles rash on a child with brown skin. The rash looks like pale red to brown blotchy patches covering the child's arm, chest and face.
The measles rash on the back of a child with dark brown skin. The rash looks like dark red to brown, slightly raised, blotchy patches covering the child’s back.

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

  • you think you or your child may have measles
  • your child is under 1 year old and has come into contact with someone who has measles
  • you've been in close contact with someone who has measles and you're pregnant or have a weakened immune system
  • you or your child have a high temperature that has not come down after taking paracetamol or ibuprofen
  • you or your child have difficulty breathing – you may feel more short of breath than usual
  • your baby or young child is not feeding well, or taking less feeds or fluids than usual
  • you or your child are peeing less than usual (or your baby has fewer wet nappies)
  • you or your child feels very unwell, or you're worried something is seriously wrong

Measles can spread to others easily. Call your GP surgery before you go in. They may suggest talking over the phone.

You can also call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Information:

Find out more

Measles

Rash with itching
Rash caused by heat

A rash of small, raised spots that feels itchy or prickly could be heat rash (prickly heat).

Heat rash can usually be treated at home.

Heat rash symptoms and what to do

Check if you have heat rash

The symptoms of heat rash are:

  • small, raised spots
  • an itchy, prickly feeling
  • mild swelling

The rash looks red on white skin. It may be harder to see or look grey or white on brown or black skin.

The symptoms of heat rash are often the same in adults and children.

It can appear anywhere on the body and spread, but it cannot be passed on to other people.

A red, patchy rash with some small, raised bumps, on the side of a child's chest. Shown on white skin
Heat rash appears as raised spots that are 2mm to 4mm across. Some spots may be filled with fluid.
A rash with many small, raised bumps, on a child's tummy. Shown on black skin.
Heat rash may be harder to see on brown or black skin. The spots may look grey or white.

How you can treat heat rash yourself

If you have heat rash the main thing to do is keep your skin cool so you do not sweat and irritate the rash.

To keep your skin cool

  • Wear loose cotton clothing.
  • Use lightweight bedding.
  • Take cool baths or showers.
  • Drink plenty of fluid to avoid dehydration.

To calm the itching or prickly feeling

  • Apply something cold, such as a damp cloth or ice pack (wrapped in a tea towel), for up to 20 minutes.
  • Tap or pat the rash instead of scratching it.
  • Do not use perfumed shower gels or creams.

A pharmacist can help with heat rash

Speak to a pharmacist about heat rash. They can give advice and suggest the best treatment to use.

A pharmacist might recommend:

  • calamine lotion
  • antihistamine tablets
  • hydrocortisone cream – though not for children under 10 as you'll need to get advice from a doctor before giving them this treatment
Find a pharmacy
Information:

Find out more

Heat rash (prickly heat)

Scaly or cracked skin
Patches of red, scaly skin on the back of the knees, caused by eczema. Shown on white skin.

An example of eczema.

Patches of grey, scaly skin on a child's ankles and feet, caused by eczema. Shown on dark brown skin.

An example of eczema.

Skin that's itchy, dry and cracked may be atopic eczema. It's common behind the knees, elbows and neck, but it can appear anywhere.

Speak to a GP if you think your child has eczema.

Find out more about atopic eczema

Raised, itchy spots or patches

Raised, itchy patches or spots could be caused by an allergic reaction (hives).

Hives can usually be treated at home. But call 999 if there's swelling around your child's mouth or they're struggling to breathe.

Hives symptoms and what to do

Symptoms of hives

The main symptom of hives is an itchy rash.

The rash can:

  • be raised bumps or patches in many shapes and sizes
  • appear anywhere on the body
  • be on 1 area or spread across the body
  • feel itchy, sting or burn
  • look pink or red when affecting someone with white skin; the colour of the rash can be harder to see on brown and black skin

A pharmacist can help with hives

A pharmacist can give you advice about antihistamine treatment to help a hives rash.

Tell the pharmacist if you have a long-term condition, because you might not be able to take antihistamines.

This treatment might not be suitable for young children.

Find a pharmacy

Immediate action required: Call 999 if:

  • your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
  • you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
  • your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
  • your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
  • you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
  • someone faints and cannot be woken up
  • a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised or itchy.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

Find your nearest A&E
Information:

Find out more

Hives

Itchy round rash
An oval-shaped patch of scaly, reddish-brown skin on a child's cheek, caused by ringworm. Shown on medium brown skin.

An example of the ringworm rash.

An itchy, dry, ring-shaped patch of skin may be ringworm. The patch may look red, pink, silver, or darker than surrounding skin.

Ringworm can usually be treated at home.

Ringworm symptoms and what to do

Symptoms of ringworm

The main symptom of ringworm is a rash. It may look red or darker than the surrounding skin, depending on your skin tone.

The rash may be scaly, dry, swollen or itchy.

Ringworm can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp (tinea capitis) and groin (jock itch).

A large, circular rash on a person with white skin. There is a red outer ring and a paler inner circle that is slightly darker than their normal skin tone.
The rash is usually ring-shaped, but it may look different on your face, neck or scalp.
An oval-shaped patch of scaly, reddish-brown skin on a child’s cheek, caused by ringworm. Shown on medium brown skin.
The colour of the ringworm rash may be less noticeable on brown and black skin.
The upper back of a person with white skin. There is a large, pale pink patch of skin in the middle and several smaller patches around the outside.
Sometimes the rash grows, spreads, or there's more than 1 rash.
Close-up of the top of a person’s head. They have brown hair and there is a patch of dark pink, scaly skin (a ringworm rash) on their scalp.
Ringworm on the face or scalp may also cause patchy hair loss.

A pharmacist can help with ringworm

Speak to a pharmacist first if you think you have ringworm.

They can look at the rash and recommend the best antifungal medicine. This might be tablets, cream, gel or spray depending on where the rash is.

You may need to use an antifungal medicine every day for up to 4 weeks. It's important to use it for the right amount of time, even if the rash has gone away.

A pharmacist will tell you if they think you should see a GP.

Find a pharmacy
Information:

Find out more

Ringworm

Small spots and blisters
About 80 pink chickenpox spots and blisters on the chest and arms. Some blisters are shiny. Shown on light brown skin.

An example of the chickenpox rash.

Small, itchy spots that turn into blisters and scabs could be chickenpox.

Chickenpox can usually be treated at home.

Chickenpox symptoms and what to do

Symptoms of chickenpox

The main symptom of chickenpox is an itchy, spotty rash. It can be anywhere on the body.

Before or after the rash appears, you might also have:

  • a high temperature
  • aches and pains, and generally feel unwell
  • loss of appetite

Chickenpox happens in 3 stages, but new spots can appear while others are becoming blisters or forming a scab.

Stage 1: small spots appear

The spots can:

  • be anywhere on the body, including inside the mouth and around the genitals, which can be painful
  • spread or stay in a small area
  • be red, pink, darker or the same colour as surrounding skin, depending on your skin tone
  • be harder to see on brown and black skin

Stage 2: the spots become blisters

The spots fill with fluid and become blisters. The blisters are very itchy and may burst.

Stage 3: the blisters become scabs

The spots form a scab. Some scabs are flaky, while others leak fluid.

How you can treat chickenpox yourself

If you have chickenpox, you'll need to stay off school, nursery or work until all the spots have formed a scab. This is usually 5 days after the spots first appeared.

There are things you can do to treat chickenpox yourself at home without needing to see a GP.

Do

  • drink plenty of fluids (try ice lollies if your child is not drinking)

  • take paracetamol to help with any pain and discomfort

  • cut your child's fingernails and put socks on their hands at night to stop them scratching

  • use cooling creams or gels from a pharmacy

  • speak to a pharmacist about using antihistamine medicine to help itching

  • bathe in cool water and pat the skin dry (do not rub)

  • dress in loose clothes

Don’t

  • do not use ibuprofen unless you're told to by a doctor, as it may cause serious skin infections

  • do not give aspirin to children under 16 years

  • do not scratch the spots, as scratching can cause scarring

Important

Do not go near newborn babies or anyone who's pregnant or has a weakened immune system, as chickenpox can be dangerous for them.

Information:

Find out more

Chickenpox

Itchy sores or blisters
The lower half of a child's face with red and yellow weepy sores on the nose and around the mouth caused by impetigo. Shown on white skin.

An example of the impetigo rash.

Impetigo on the chin. The patches are about 2cm wide, red and slightly orange, with darker scabs in the middle. Shown on brown skin.

An example of the impetigo rash.

Sores or blisters that burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches could be impetigo. The sores or blisters can be itchy, get bigger or spread to other parts of the body.

Speak to a GP if you think your child may have impetigo.

Impetigo symptoms and what to do

Symptoms of impetigo

Impetigo starts with red sores or blisters, but the redness may be harder to see on brown and black skin.

The sores or blisters quickly burst and often leave crusty, golden-brown patches.

The patches can:

  • look a bit like cornflakes stuck to your skin
  • get bigger and spread to other parts of your body
  • be itchy and are sometimes painful
The lower half of a child's face with red and yellow weepy impetigo sores on their nose and around their mouth. Shown on white skin.
The sores and blisters of impetigo commonly affect the face (around the nose and mouth) and hands.
3 patches of crusty, light-brown skin on a person’s chin from impetigo. They have a large, crusty patch underneath their lower lip. Shown on white skin.
After the blisters burst, you often have golden-brown crusty patches on your skin.
Impetigo on the chin. There a 2 patches that have dark brown scabs in the middle surrounded by lighter areas of weeping skin. Shown on medium brown skin.
Sometimes yellow liquid oozes from the blisters and hardens to leave a scaly border around a scab. This is called bullous impetigo.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if you or your child:

  • might have impetigo
  • has had treatment for impetigo but the symptoms have changed or become worse
  • had impetigo before and it keeps coming back

Impetigo is very infectious. Check with the GP before you go into the surgery. They may suggest a phone consultation.

Information:

Find out more

Impetigo

Small and very itchy spots

Very itchy raised spots could be caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin (scabies). There may be raised lines with a dot at one end, often first appearing between the fingers.

Scabies can usually be treated at home.

Scabies symptoms and what to do
Rash without fever or itching
Tiny spots on a baby's face

Very small spots, called milia, often appear on a baby's face when they're a few days old. The spots usually appear on their nose but can also be on other parts of the face, inside their mouth, or on their scalp or chest.

Milia can also affect older babies and children, with spots on their eyelids, forehead or nappy area.

The spots may appear white or yellow, depending on your child's skin colour.

In young babies, they usually go away within a few weeks and do not need treatment. In older children milia might last longer.

Red, yellow and white spots in babies

Raised red, yellow and white spots (erythema toxicum) are common on babies in the first few weeks after birth. They usually appear on the face, body, upper arms and thighs.

The rash can disappear and reappear. It should get better in a few weeks without treatment.

Skin-coloured or pink spots
Raised, skin-coloured, fluid-filled spots from molluscum contagiosum. They’re 1mm to 5mm. Shown on medium brown skin.

An example of the molluscum contagiosum rash.

About 20 raised, pink to brown spots caused by molluscum contagiosum. Shown on white skin.

An example of the molluscum contagiosum rash.

Small, firm, raised spots could be molluscum contagiosum. The spots can be the same colour as surrounding skin, darker than surrounding skin, or pink.

You can usually treat molluscum contagiosum at home.

Molluscum contagiosum symptoms and what to do

Symptoms of molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is more common in children, but anyone can get it.

Usually, the only symptom of molluscum contagiosum is spots.

A close-up of circular, red spots up to 5mm wide on white skin. Some spots are raised with a shiny white centre and some have a small hole or dimple in the middle.
The spots are about 2 to 5mm wide and usually appear together. They are raised and dome-shaped with a shiny white dimple in the middle.
A child’s neck and torso showing many raised red spots, especially in the folds of the neck (shown on light brown skin).
Children with the infection often get spots on their body and in or around folds of skin (groin, behind the knee and armpits).
A close-up of the pubic area with small red spots (shown on white skin).
In adults where the infection is spread through sexual contact, spots may be around the lower tummy, genital area and thighs.
A close-up of the side of a person’s face showing raised spots near the eye (shown on dark brown skin).
Someone with a weakened immune system may get spots on the face, around the eyes or have many or bigger spots.

How to look after yourself or your child

The spots caused by molluscum contagiosum are usually harmless and should clear up within 18 months without needing treatment.

Molluscum contagiosum is contagious. It is usually passed on by direct skin to skin contact.

The chance of passing it on to other people during normal activities is small so you or your child should be able to carry on with your normal activities. If you are not sure, check with a GP.

There are some things you can do to help reduce the risk of the infection spreading and help ease any symptoms.

Do

  • try things to help with dryness and itchy skin, such as holding a damp towel against the skin, having cool baths or using an unperfumed moisturiser regularly

  • keep the affected area covered, including using waterproof bandages if you go swimming

  • use a condom while having sex if you are infected

Don’t

  • do not squeeze or scratch the spots, as it could cause an infection or scarring

  • do not share baths or things such as towels, bedding or clothes

Information:

Find out more

Molluscum contagiosum

Red patches on a baby's bottom

If your baby has a red and sore bottom, it could be nappy rash.

Nappy rash can usually be treated at home.

Nappy rash symptoms and what to do
Pimples on the cheeks and forehead

Spots that appear on a baby's upper body, scalp, cheeks, forehead and chin up to 6 weeks after birth could be baby acne (neonatal acne).

You do not need to treat baby acne. It usually gets better after a few weeks or months.

Yellow, scaly patches on the scalp
Yellow crusty patches on a baby's head. Some are larger than others. Shown on light brown skin.

An example of cradle cap.

Yellow or white, greasy, scaly patches on your baby's scalp could be cradle cap.

Cradle cap can usually be treated at home.

Cradle cap symptoms and what to do
Last Reviewed
16 April 2025
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