The common spots and rashes in young babies that clear by themselves, how to do the glass test, and which signs need help at once.
In short
- Spots and rashes are very common in newborns.
- Most fade by themselves within a few weeks.
- A rash that does not fade under glass: emergency.
Common harmless spots
- Milia: tiny white or yellow spots, often on her nose, from a few days old. They usually go within a few weeks.
- Red, yellow and white raised spots in the first weeks. They appear on her face, body, upper arms and thighs. They come and go. They clear in a few weeks.
- Baby acne: pimples on her cheeks, forehead, chin, scalp or upper body, up to 6 weeks after birth. It clears by itself after a few weeks or months.
- Heat rash: small raised spots that feel prickly. It comes from sweating. Keep her cool, with loose cotton clothes and light bedding.
- Strawberry marks: dark red, slightly raised marks. They may appear days or weeks after birth and grow at first. They usually fade slowly.
Watch how she is
Spots in a newborn may come and go. Watch for changes in how she behaves.
If she has spots and is not feeding well, call your midwife or doctor now. Do the same if she is very sleepy or very irritable.
The glass test
Press the side of a clear glass firmly against the rash. If you can still see the spots through the glass, the rash does not fade. Call your emergency number now.
On brown or black skin, the rash can be harder to see. Check paler areas, like her palms, the soles of her feet, or inside her eyelids.
