In children after birth, rashes are often physiological; they should not cause much concern to parents. The skin adapts to its new habitat - without water, which is often accompanied by some problems. As a result, the influence of any negative factors can cause a skin rash.
The first children's medical center offers the services of qualified pediatric dermatologists in Saratov. The Center’s specialists aim not only to rid your child of the external symptoms of the disease, but also to find and eliminate the cause that caused it. This is very important, because if the cause of the disease is not eliminated, it can recur again and again, taking a chronic course.
Molluscum contagiosum in children
Molluscum contagiosum is more common in children than in adults. Children up to one year old practically do not get sick with molluscum contagiosum. This is due to the fact that in the first year of life the child’s circle of contacts is small: the child moves in a limited space, often specially prepared for him and under the strict supervision of adults, without trying to come into contact with other children. But as soon as a child begins to actively communicate and independently explore the world, the threat of becoming infected with molluscum contagiosum increases sharply.
The peak incidence of molluscum contagiosum in children occurs between the ages of 2 and 6 years. Immunity at this age is still weak. Children become infected through toys or dirty hands. The virus penetrates the skin in the place where the integrity of the skin is damaged - through wounds, abrasions, cracks. Children's skin is delicate and sensitive, and the activity of a preschool child is great. As a result, numerous microtraumas occur, opening the way for infection. Cases of infection with molluscum contagiosum while swimming in the pool have also been described.
From 6 to 10 years, the incidence of molluscum contagiosum decreases. Instilling household hygiene skills is of great importance. The sooner your child starts taking care of clean hands, the better.
Features of children's skin
At birth, babies have very thin skin. The skin of a newborn is almost half as thick as the skin of an adult. The outer layer thickens with age.
The skin of newborns is red or purple in color due to the close proximity to the upper layer of blood vessels and an insufficient layer of subcutaneous cellular tissue, as a result, the skin appears “transparent”. This phenomenon is especially pronounced if the baby is frozen - the appearance of a marbled vascular network on the body is observed.
Moisture evaporates faster from the skin of newborns. Children are more susceptible to bacteria, viruses, fungi and mechanical influences. Thickening of the skin begins at 2-3 years of age and ends by 7 years.
Symptoms of molluscum contagiosum
The incubation period of the disease ranges from two weeks to several months, but most often the rash appears on the 14-15th day.
At first, single rashes appear, then there are more of them. Molluscum contagiosum can affect any area of the skin except the palms and soles. In children, exposed areas of the arms and legs, as well as the face and neck are most often affected. In adults, the genital area and the inner thighs are most often affected.
In the typical form of the disease, the rashes are located only in one anatomical area; in the generalized form, they spread throughout the body.
Rash
The elements of the rash look like protrusions (papules), firm and painless to the touch, pink or flesh-colored, with a pearlescent top. In the center of the papule there is a small depression, from which, when pressed, a white pasty mass is squeezed out. Papules have a round or oval shape, the size usually varies in the range of 2-5 mm, but sometimes the nodules merge, and then such formations can reach a diameter of 1 cm or more.
More about the symptom
Itching
In some cases, the rash is accompanied by itching, which intensifies when scratching. Under no circumstances should papules be scratched, as this can lead to a bacterial infection. The presence of a bacterial infection is indicated by redness of the skin around the papules, swelling, and suppuration.
More about the symptom
Causes
Milia occur in patients with a thick form of oily seborrhea, characterized by hyperfunction of the sebaceous glands and changes in the chemical composition of sebum and creating a favorable background for the development of acne.
There are closed comedones - whiteheads (milia) and open comedones - blackheads (blackheads). Thick seborrhea is also characterized by the appearance of deep cysts of the sebaceous glands - atheromas and acne vulgaris. Milia have the appearance of small rounded dense nodules of a white-yellowish hue, 0.5-3 mm in size with clear boundaries, protruding above the surface of the skin and resembling millet grains (popular name - “millet”). Milium is characterized by an uninflamed head, since the whitehead does not have a natural outlet and contact with the environment. Milia do not change in size for a long time. When microorganisms enter the milium, inflammation may develop with the formation of an abscess. Milia (milia) can often be found on the wings of the nose in recently born babies; they are considered borderline conditions in newborns and soon disappear spontaneously without any treatment.
Milia are recognized based on an examination of the skin by a dermatologist-cosmetologist based on characteristic external signs.
Methods for diagnosing molluscum contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum can be confused with manifestations of other diseases, including serious ones such as syphilis or cancer. Also, the activity of the molluscum contagiosum virus increases with a decrease in immunity, so in 20% of cases molluscum contagiosum accompanies HIV infection. This means that when rashes appear that correspond to the description of molluscum contagiosum, a medical examination is required to rule out such options.
When contacting a dermatologist, the doctor will examine the patient, make a diagnosis and suggest a treatment method.
Inspection
In most cases, the diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum is made by a dermatologist based on the results of an examination of the patient.
PCR diagnostics
Since HIV often accompanies molluscum contagiosum, PCR diagnostics for HIV can be prescribed.
More information about the diagnostic method
Serological blood test
When molluscum contagiosum is detected in adults, a serological blood test is prescribed to identify sexually transmitted infections (hepatitis B and C, HIV, syphilis, etc.).
More information about the diagnostic method
Sign up for diagnostics To accurately diagnose the disease, make an appointment with specialists from the Family Doctor network.
Prevention of milia
To prevent the appearance of milia, careful facial skin care is required using cleansers and moisturizers appropriate to the skin type, scrubs, peels, cosmetic masks that normalize the activity of the sebaceous glands; elimination of provoking factors, proper and rational nutrition, healthy lifestyle. Salon cosmetic procedures, including mechanical, ultrasonic, vacuum facial cleansing, peelings (chemical, mechanical - microdermabrasion), laser resurfacing, are quite effective in preventing the appearance of milia.
Treatment methods for molluscum contagiosum
Molluscum contagiosum should be treated by a doctor. You should not try to remove papules yourself - this can lead to bacterial infection.
Treatment of molluscum contagiosum depends on a number of factors, primarily on the stage of development of the disease, the severity of symptoms and the state of the patient’s immunity. The following methods can be used:
Instrumental removal
Papules can be removed instrumentally, followed by treating the wound with antibacterial agents.
Credestruction
Cryodestruction is the removal of papules using exposure to low temperatures. Papules are treated with liquid nitrogen. Tissues treated in this way freeze and die.
Radio wave removal
Molluscum contagiosum papules can be removed using the radio wave method (using the Surgitron apparatus) and using a laser.
Electrocoagulation
Electrocoagulation is the effect of high-frequency current on papules. It is popularly described as “cauterization with electricity.” At the moment of discharge, a local strong thermal effect occurs, the tissues coagulate, which virtually eliminates the risk of infection at the treatment site.
Conservative treatment
The course of treatment for molluscum contagiosum may include conservative treatment with ointments and creams, as well as taking antiviral drugs (if the affected area is large).
Make an appointment Do not self-medicate. Contact our specialists who will correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment.
Rate how useful the material was
thank you for rating
How to distinguish heat rash from allergies in a child
An itchy rash, extensive redness on the skin, whiteheads on the face, small pimples on the body - babies are prone to diathesis and various rashes. How to distinguish heat rash from allergies in a baby just by examining the skin? Together with pediatrician Polina Aleksandrovna Kizino, we will learn to identify different types of rashes in babies in order to respond to them as quickly as possible and protect the health of your baby. But home diagnostics are not enough - in the article we will also talk about treatment options for rashes in children and situations that require a doctor’s assessment.
— Polina Aleksandrovna, rashes in newborns and infants are widespread, and it can be quite difficult to distinguish one type of skin rash from another. Miliaria and allergies in infants - what is the fundamental difference and how do they affect health?
Allergic rash
- manifestation of a pathological reaction to food, which is based on immune mechanisms. They are different and can be combined, but, in essence, the body reacts to the ingestion of a food allergen.
Miliaria in newborns
- skin irritation, which is associated with the functioning of the sweat glands. When increased sweating and slow evaporation of moisture from the surface of the skin occurs, the sweat glands become clogged and cannot empty - a rash appears.
Allergy or prickly heat: how to determine
Causes of allergies
| Features of the manifestation of allergic rashes The skin has areas of redness, dryness and excessive peeling:
Hives are hardened areas of skin that hang over healthy skin like blisters. These manifestations:
| How to help your child with food allergies
|
What causes clogged sweat glands?
| Types of prickly heat in infants and features of prickly heat rash Miliaria rubra
Pupulous miliaria
Crystal prickly heat
| How to get rid of prickly heat in a child
|
Miliaria or allergies in infants - what to treat
— Polina Aleksandrovna, we discussed how and where prickly heat/allergies most often manifest themselves. Let's now talk about the treatment of these diseases. How can they be resisted?
Food allergies
- It is almost impossible to cure allergies, but remission can be achieved if the child does not come into contact with allergens.
- If you have isolated reactions, you don’t have to worry, but if there are severe rashes that bother your child, you should consult a doctor.
Prickly heat
- No special treatment is required, just adequate hygiene is required.
- It is necessary to consult a doctor to differentiate prickly heat from an infectious rash and to care for the child, being sure that “bad” diseases have not been missed.
— How are children with allergies usually treated? Where does treatment begin and what do parents need to prepare for?
— If the allergy is in an acute phase and the skin rashes are very pronounced, and the child is worried, the doctor may prescribe antiallergic drugs that will conditionally extinguish the reaction and relieve external manifestations. Parents need to be prepared to analyze their child's diet to identify the allergen and then prevent the child from exposing that allergen.
Depending on the severity of the reaction, the nature of the clinical manifestations and the number of identified allergens, on the advice of a doctor at a certain time, it will be possible to reintroduce allergenic foods into the diet in microdoses and monitor the child’s reaction to them.
- If the child no longer reacts to the allergen, food restrictions become less strict and may then be lifted completely.
- In case of recurrence of allergic reactions, the diet is maintained for life. But in any case, you can live with it. Even in kindergartens and schools, the characteristics of little allergy sufferers are taken into account, and food intolerance does not in any way affect their quality of life.
— How to treat prickly heat in a newborn with folk remedies: what is effective and what only masks the problem?
— I do not recommend using folk remedies, since their effectiveness in blocking the sweat glands is unproven. It is enough to carry out hygiene procedures and prevent even more severe clogging of the ducts.
- Bathing in antiseptics
is not very beneficial for the skin. Antiseptics are very drying and kill all flora, including normal flora, which is a protective factor of the skin. Without it, pathogenic flora can spread and lead to inflammation and rash. - Herbal infusions
are a natural product of plant origin, but you cannot be sure that it will not lead to an allergic reaction. Allergies to herbs develop quite often, and it is better not to risk it.
— What will happen if you treat allergies with prickly heat medications or prickly heat with allergy medications?
— Antihistamines for prickly heat will not work, because this condition has a different, non-allergic etiology. If a mother mistakes an allergy for heat rash, she simply cannot trace the connection between skin manifestations and the consumption of certain products - accordingly, the allergen will not be removed from the child’s diet in time and will continue to fuel the allergic reaction. It will only get worse. Therefore, it is better not to self-medicate and make sure at a doctor’s appointment that the child actually has heat rash or an allergy.
Prickly heat
Miliaria can also cause various bright red rashes to appear on the delicate skin of babies. Usually this pathology occurs in children aged 1-2 years. In this case, severe overheating of the baby leads to the development of unfavorable symptoms. Excessively wrapping a child and wearing a jacket or woolen blouse that is too warm can cause characteristic rashes to develop on the hands or inside of the arms.
READ ALSO: HIV rash in men and women: what it looks like in the photo
Symptoms of heat rash, which develops mainly in infants, can be not only in the area of the palms. They also appear in children on their legs, arms and back. Localization depends on what caused the development of prickly heat in children. These manifestations are formed in places of direct contact with warm clothing.
Acne18
Acne is also a chronic inflammatory disease that is prone to recurrence. As with atopic dermatitis, there is a genetic predisposition to acne. But acne is a disease of the pilosebaceous follicles.
Childhood acne has its own characteristics depending on age:
- Infant. They are represented by closed comedones, localized on the chin, forehead, and cheeks. Papules and pustules are much less common.
- Acne in early childhood. Rash in the form of comedones, papules, pustules, nodes rarely appear. The location is mainly on the face.
- Middle aged acne. Mostly comedones and inflammatory elements appear on the face.
- Preteen. At 7-12 years old, acne on the face may indicate early puberty. The first to appear during this period are, as a rule, black dots in various areas.
Scabies
The appearance of a rash between the fingers is often a consequence of scabies. In this case, scabies mites lead to the development of this unfavorable symptom in children. These skin parasites settle in the skin and cause the development of various small rashes on it. It should be noted that scabies is also highly contagious. Every year a huge number of different outbreaks of this disease are recorded within organized children's groups.
Scabies mites require oxygen to function. To do this, they crawl out from the deep layers of the skin to more superficial ones. This is manifested by the appearance on the skin of multiple small spots that appear at the places where parasites enter and exit to the surface. This clinical sign can also appear on the hands and flexures of the arms.
