Newborn Skin: Part I. Common Rashes and Skin Changes. 2024

Katherine A M Snyder, and Adam D Voelckers
Mosaic Community Health-Madras Health Center, Madras, Oregon.

Rashes in the newborn period are common and most are benign. Infections should be suspected in newborns with pustules or vesicles, especially in those who are not well-appearing or have risk factors for congenital infection. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection can cause sensorineural hearing loss and neurodevelopmental delay. Skin manifestations of cytomegalovirus may include petechiae due to thrombocytopenia. The most common skin manifestations of early congenital syphilis are small, copper-red, maculopapular lesions located primarily on the hands and feet that peel and crust over three weeks. Erythema toxicum neonatorum and neonatal pustular melanosis are transient pustular rashes with characteristic appearance and distribution. Neonatal acne is self-limited, whereas infantile acne may benefit from treatment. Milia can be differentiated from neonatal acne by their presence at birth. Cutis marmorata and harlequin color change are transient vascular phenomena resulting from inappropriate or exaggerated dilation of capillaries and venules in response to stimuli.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D001768 Blister Visible accumulations of fluid within or beneath the epidermis. Bulla,Vesication,Bleb,Bullae,Bullous Lesion,Blebs,Blisters,Bullous Lesions,Lesion, Bullous,Lesions, Bullous,Vesications
D003873 Dermatitis, Exfoliative The widespread involvement of the skin by a scaly, erythematous dermatitis occurring either as a secondary or reactive process to an underlying cutaneous disorder (e.g., atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, etc.), or as a primary or idiopathic disease. It is often associated with the loss of hair and nails, hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles, and pruritus. (From Dorland, 27th ed) Dermatitis Exfoliative,Dermatitis Exfoliative Generalised,Dermatitis Exfoliative Generalized,Erythroderma,Dermatitis Exfoliativa,Dermatitis Exfoliative Generaliseds,Dermatitis Exfoliatives,Erythrodermas,Exfoliative Dermatitides,Exfoliative Dermatitis,Exfoliative Generalised, Dermatitis,Exfoliative Generalized, Dermatitis,Exfoliative, Dermatitis,Exfoliatives, Dermatitis,Generalised, Dermatitis Exfoliative
D005076 Exanthema Diseases in which skin eruptions or rashes are a prominent manifestation. Classically, six such diseases were described with similar rashes; they were numbered in the order in which they were reported. Only the fourth (Duke's disease), fifth (ERYTHEMA INFECTIOSUM), and sixth (EXANTHEMA SUBITUM) numeric designations survive as occasional synonyms in current terminology. Rash,Skin Rash,Exanthem,Rash, Skin
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000152 Acne Vulgaris A chronic disorder of the pilosebaceous apparatus associated with an increase in sebum secretion. It is characterized by open comedones (blackheads), closed comedones (whiteheads), and pustular nodules. The cause is unknown, but heredity and age are predisposing factors. Acne
D012867 Skin The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.

Related Publications

Katherine A M Snyder, and Adam D Voelckers
January 2008, American family physician,
Katherine A M Snyder, and Adam D Voelckers
August 2023, Pediatrics in review,
Katherine A M Snyder, and Adam D Voelckers
August 2015, American family physician,
Katherine A M Snyder, and Adam D Voelckers
April 2013, FP essentials,
Katherine A M Snyder, and Adam D Voelckers
February 2017, FP essentials,
Katherine A M Snyder, and Adam D Voelckers
January 2000, Acta paediatrica Taiwanica = Taiwan er ke yi xue hui za zhi,
Katherine A M Snyder, and Adam D Voelckers
June 1953, A.M.A. American journal of diseases of children,
Katherine A M Snyder, and Adam D Voelckers
March 2014, Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992),
Katherine A M Snyder, and Adam D Voelckers
December 1978, Australian family physician,
Katherine A M Snyder, and Adam D Voelckers
October 1999, Australian family physician,
Copied contents to your clipboard!