Younger children and infants may not understand when they have a skin concern or issue that can cause other problems, which is why it's up to you to keep a close eye on your child's skin and pay attention to anything new that may be popping up or differences in the skin that may be concerning or need medical attention. If you aren't sure what to look for or what things may be concerning to watch out for, read on for some things to keep an eye out for and what you may be able to do about it.

Rashes

Any type of rash on the body no matter if you are a child or an adult can be concerning. A rash may be caused by any number of things and could spread if you aren't careful. A rash may be caused by stress or something internal, or it could have been an external issue that caused the rash and something that may have been the result of an allergic reaction. If your child has a rash, you need to pay attention to it and keep a close eye on it. You should report it to the pediatric dermatologist and also report if your child ate anything different, wore anything new, or if you used any new type of detergent, lotion, or soap. Be sure to report any other health concerns that may have gone along with the rash, such as coughing, sneezing, or irritability.

Skin Infections

Sores, scratches or other types of injuries to the skin that are not healing properly or appear to be worsening may have an infection. A skin infection can be caused by not cleaning the wound properly, or if bacteria got into the wound. If your child has an area of the skin that is oozing, or if it has a hard bump and feels warm to the touch, it could be infected. An infection such as this may need to be aspirated by the pediatric dermatologist and then treated. You can try to use a wet, warm washcloth on the wound to see if it helps with the infection and keep it clean with an antiseptic to see if it helps as well.

If your child has any of these skin concerns, or you notice other things that may be concerning to you, such as a mole that has popped up and is getting larger, or a wound that doesn't appear to be healing, report it to the dermatologist and have it treated properly to prevent worsening issues.