Newborn · Skin

Newborn Skin Conditions

Common newborn skin: milia, ETN, baby acne, cradle cap, peeling — most harmless + self-resolving. When to be concerned (jaundice, central cyanosis, fever + rash). NHS / NICE.

Last reviewed 2 June 2026

Newborn skin condition identifier

What's this rash on my baby?

🚨 Call 999 / 911 immediately for:

  • Non-blanching rash — doesn't fade when you press a clear glass against it (possible meningococcal septicaemia)
  • Rash + fever + unwell-looking baby
  • Rash + breathing difficulty / swollen face / lips (anaphylaxis)
  • Rapidly spreading red, hot, painful area (possible cellulitis or necrotising fasciitis)
  • Blistering, peeling skin, or pus-filled blisters in newborn (possible neonatal HSV or staphylococcal scalded skin)
  • Milia
    Typical age: Birth to a few months
    Where: Nose, chin, cheeks
    What it looks like: Tiny pinhead white bumps (look like sand grains under the skin)
    Cause: Retained keratin in pores
    Treatment: None needed — resolves spontaneously in weeks. Never squeeze.
  • Erythema toxicum neonatorum (ETN)
    Typical age: Day 2 to 2 weeks
    Where: Trunk, face, limbs — moves around (comes and goes in hours)
    What it looks like: Flat red blotches with tiny white-yellow bump in the centre (looks like flea bites)
    Cause: Benign immune system response — affects ~50% of full-term babies
    Treatment: None needed — gone by 2 weeks. Photograph if you're worried; can confirm with the GP at the routine 6-8 week check.
  • Baby acne (neonatal cephalic pustulosis)
    Typical age: 2 weeks to 4 months
    Where: Cheeks, forehead, chin, scalp
    What it looks like: Small red bumps and pustules — looks like teenage acne
    Cause: Maternal hormones still circulating; may involve Malassezia yeast
    Treatment: None usually needed — clears by 4 months. Don't use teen acne products. Plain water cleansing. If severe / inflamed past 4 months, GP review (suspect infantile acne).
  • Cradle cap (infantile seborrheic dermatitis)
    Typical age: Weeks 2 to 12 months
    Where: Scalp (mainly), eyebrows, behind ears, sometimes face
    What it looks like: Yellow-brown, greasy, crusty patches or scales
    Cause: Maternal hormones + Malassezia yeast
    Treatment: Soft brush after bath; massage olive / coconut / mineral oil onto scalp 20 min before washing, then gently lift scales with soft brush. Mild antifungal shampoo (e.g. ketoconazole 2%) from GP if persistent. Resolves by 12 months in most.
  • Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
    Typical age: Usually from 2-3 months onwards
    Where: Cheeks, forehead, scalp, outer arms/legs (creases come later)
    What it looks like: Dry, red, scaly, itchy patches — can weep or crust; baby may rub face on bedding
    Cause: Atopic (allergic) skin barrier dysfunction; often family history
    Treatment: Liberal emollients (moisturisers) MULTIPLE times daily; bath emollients; mild topical steroids (1% hydrocortisone) for flares (NICE — short-term for face, longer for body). See GP for severe. Linked to food allergies, hay fever, asthma (atopic march).
  • Mongolian spot (dermal melanocytosis)
    Typical age: Birth
    Where: Lower back, buttocks, sometimes legs
    What it looks like: Bluish-grey flat patch, can look like a bruise — often quite large
    Cause: Normal pigmentation pattern; very common in Asian, Hispanic, Black, Mediterranean babies
    Treatment: None — fades by school age. Important to document at birth so it isn't mistaken for a bruise later (esp. in non-accidental injury reviews).
  • Salmon patch / 'stork bite' / 'angel kiss'
    Typical age: Birth
    Where: Nape of neck (stork bite) or forehead / eyelids (angel kiss)
    What it looks like: Flat pink-red patches that get redder when baby cries
    Cause: Dilated capillaries — most common newborn vascular birthmark
    Treatment: None — most facial ones fade by 18 months; back-of-neck ones can persist (hidden under hair).
  • Infantile haemangioma (strawberry mark)
    Typical age: First 2-4 weeks, may start as a pale patch
    Where: Anywhere — head/neck most common (60%)
    What it looks like: Starts as red/blue patch; grows into raised bright-red 'strawberry' over 3-6 months; flattens and fades over years
    Cause: Benign vascular tumour
    Treatment: Most need no treatment and resolve by age 5-10. Refer to dermatology if: in the airway/eye/nappy area, > 5% of body surface, multiple, ulcerated, or PHACE features suspected. Propranolol is first-line if treatment needed.
  • Heat rash (miliaria)
    Typical age: Any
    Where: Where baby gets sweaty — neck folds, back, chest, nappy area
    What it looks like: Tiny pink-red bumps; sometimes clear vesicles
    Cause: Sweat trapped in blocked sweat ducts; common in summer / overheating
    Treatment: Cool the baby; loose breathable cotton clothing; avoid heavy creams. Settles in days.
  • Nappy rash (irritant)
    Typical age: Any in nappies
    Where: Convex skin areas — buttocks, thighs, genitals (NOT in folds, which is the candida pattern)
    What it looks like: Red, sore, sometimes broken skin
    Cause: Wet/dirty nappy contact, friction, urine/stool enzymes
    Treatment: Nappy-off time, barrier cream (zinc oxide), frequent changes, fragrance-free wipes. Red shiny patches WITH satellite spots and creases involved = candida → antifungal cream from GP.

Common newborn skin questions

  • "The glass test for meningitis rash — how do I do it?" Press a clear glass firmly against the rash. Most rashes will fade under pressure (blanching). If you can still see the rash through the glass clearly (non-blanching, looks like little dark spots), call 999 immediately — this can be meningococcal septicaemia. It takes 5 seconds and could save a life. Late rash sign — don't wait for it if your baby has fever + lethargy + other features.
  • "Baby acne or eczema?" Baby acne — small red bumps and pustules on cheeks/forehead/chin, ~2 weeks to 4 months, NOT itchy, clears spontaneously. Eczema — dry, red, scaly patches, itchy (baby rubs face), often from 2-3 months, family history of atopy.
  • "Cradle cap won't go away — what helps?" Massage olive, coconut, or mineral oil into the scalp 20 min before washing. Soft brush after bath to lift scales. Mild antifungal shampoo (ketoconazole 2%) from GP if persistent. Don't pick — risks infection.
  • "My baby has eczema — should we avoid foods?" Eczema in early infancy is linked to food allergies (atopic march). But avoiding allergens preventively isn’t recommended (LEAP / EAT trials). Manage the eczema aggressively with emollients; introduce common allergens (egg, peanut) at weaning unless already-known allergy.
  • "How often should I bathe my baby?" 2-3 times a week is plenty for most newborns. Daily isn’t needed and can dry out skin. Use water only or fragrance-free baby cleanser; lukewarm water; 5-10 minutes; pat dry; emollient on damp skin.
  • "Stork bite or angel kiss — will it stay?" Salmon patches on the face (angel kisses on forehead/eyelids) usually fade by 18 months. Back-of-neck stork bites often persist (hidden under hair).
  • "My baby has a Mongolian spot — should the doctor know?" Yes — important to document at birth so it’s not later mistaken for a bruise (relevant in non-accidental injury assessments). Common and harmless. Fades by school age.
  • "What about that strawberry mark?" Infantile haemangiomas grow over 3-6 months then plateau and fade. Most need no treatment. Refer to paediatric dermatology if: airway/eye/nappy area, > 5% body surface, multiple, ulcerated. Propranolol is first-line treatment when needed.
  • "Cradle cap on body — is that normal?" Seborrheic dermatitis can extend to creases (neck, armpits, nappy area). Same gentle approach. Persistent severe rash in creases + thrush in mouth — see GP (think candida or rare immunodeficiency).
  • "Should I use baby creams from the supermarket?" Plain water or fragrance-free emollient is best for newborn skin. Avoid scented products, talcum powder (inhalation risk), and adult products. For nappy area, simple barrier creams (zinc oxide).
  • "My baby’s skin is peeling all over." Newborn skin commonly peels in the first 1-2 weeks, especially in babies born late or post-term. Resolves on its own. Severe widespread blistering / peeling = emergency (think staphylococcal scalded skin or epidermolysis bullosa).
  • "Yellow skin / jaundice — is it serious?" Mild jaundice in the first week is very common (50% of newborns). See /calculators/newborn-bilirubin. Jaundice in the first 24 hours, jaundice + unwell baby, or prolonged jaundice past 2 weeks (term) or 3 weeks (preterm) = same-day review.
  • "Heat rash in summer?" Tiny pink-red bumps where baby gets sweaty (neck folds, back, chest). Cool baby, loose breathable cotton, avoid overheating, no heavy creams. Settles in days.
Educational tool only — not medical advice. Non-blanching rash, rash + fever + unwell baby, blistering / peeling, or rapidly spreading red area need same-day medical assessment.
What does this mean?
Newborn skin throws up a remarkable variety of normal-but-startling patterns in the first weeks. The most reassuring fact is that most newborn rashes are benign and self-resolving. The common ones every parent should recognise: milia (pinhead-white sand-grain bumps on nose / cheeks — gone in weeks); erythema toxicum neonatorum (50% of full-term babies; flea-bite-like red blotches with tiny white centres that come and go in hours over days 2–14, completely harmless); baby acne (small red bumps on cheeks/forehead/chin from 2 weeks to 4 months — maternal hormones, no treatment needed); cradle cap (yellow-greasy scalp scales — oil + soft brush technique); salmon patches / stork bites (capillary marks that fade with time); Mongolian spots (bluish-grey lower-back patches in babies with darker skin tones — important to document at birth so they’re not mistaken for bruises later). The conditions that benefit from action: eczema (atopic dermatitis — manage aggressively with emollients multiple times daily; mild topical steroids per NICE for flares; linked to food allergies and the atopic march); infantile haemangiomas (strawberry marks — most resolve by age 5-10 but specialist referral if airway/eye/nappy area, multiple, large, or ulcerated; propranolol is first-line treatment); nappy rash (irritant on convex skin; if in folds + satellite spots, think candida). The signs that genuinely need emergency assessment, regardless of cause, are non-blanching rash (do the glass test — if the rash stays visible through a glass pressed against it, call 999 for possible meningococcal septicaemia), rash + fever + unwell-looking baby, blistering or peeling skin (think staphylococcal scalded skin or rare conditions), and rapidly spreading red, hot, painful skin (cellulitis or worse). Newborn skin is delicate — bathe 2–3 times a week, fragrance-free, water or mild emollient, lukewarm water, 5–10 minutes, emollient on damp skin. Avoid talc, scented products, and adult skincare. Most of what you see in the first weeks is normal.

Common newborn skin findings

  • Milia — pinhead white bumps; harmless; resolve weeks.
  • ETN (erythema toxicum) — migratory flat red blotches with white centres; benign; gone by 2 weeks.
  • Baby acne — small red bumps + pustules; weeks 2-16; clears on own.
  • Cradle cap — yellow greasy scalp scales; resolves by 12 months.
  • Peeling — especially hands/feet; first weeks normal.

Birthmarks

  • Stork bites (salmon patches) — pink/red on eyelids, forehead, nape; fade by age 1-2.
  • Mongolian spots — bluish-grey on lower back/bottom; common in Asian/African/Hispanic; fade over years.
  • Port-wine stain — permanent dark red/purple; face = Sturge-Weber rule-out.

Colour changes

  • Acrocyanosis — bluish hands/feet first 24-48h; normal.
  • Central cyanosis (lips, tongue) — ABNORMAL, immediate assessment.
  • Jaundice — yellow skin/eyes; peaks day 3-5; press forehead test.

Cradle cap care

  • Gentle oil (olive, coconut) 15 min then comb out + gentle shampoo.
  • Don’t pick.
  • Persistent / spreading / infected: GP.

Heat rash (miliaria)

Red/clear bumps on covered areas. Cool baby, lighter clothing, room 16-20°C, cotton fabrics.

Eczema

  • ~15-20% of children.
  • Dry, red, itchy patches.
  • Emollients twice daily.
  • Hydrocortisone 1% for flares.
  • Avoid soap; cotton clothing.
  • Identify triggers.

When to see GP

  • Rapidly spreading rash + fever.
  • Non-blanching rash (glass test).
  • Severe eczema + infection signs.
  • Suspected allergic reaction.
  • Skin infection.
  • Persistent / worsening conditions.

Different scenarios

Scenario 1: White bumps on nose week 1

Milia. No treatment.

Scenario 2: Migrating red blotches with centres day 5

ETN. Benign. Resolves 2 weeks.

Scenario 3: Yellow greasy scalp scales 6-wk-old

Cradle cap. Oil + gentle shampoo. Resolves by 12 mo.

Scenario 4: Red dry itchy cheeks + family history

Eczema. Emollients twice daily. Hydrocortisone for flares.

Scenario 5: Fever + non-blanching rash

999 / A&E. Meningococcal sepsis until proven otherwise.

Care guidance

  • Most newborn skin findings benign + self-resolving.
  • Don’t pick / squeeze milia or cradle cap.
  • Plain water + gentle wash usually enough.
  • Emollients twice daily if dry.
  • Avoid fragranced products.
  • Red flags: fever + rash = same-day.

Sources

  • NICE NG145. Eczema in children.
  • NHS. Newborn skin conditions.
  • BAD (British Association of Dermatologists).

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Frequently asked questions

What are the white bumps on my newborn?
MILIA — tiny pinhead white bumps that look like sand grains; mainly on nose, chin, cheeks. RETAINED keratin in pores. VERY common (50% newborns). HARMLESS. Resolve on their own in WEEKS. NEVER squeeze — infection + scarring risk. NO TREATMENT needed.
What's the red rash that comes and goes?
ERYTHEMA TOXICUM NEONATORUM (ETN). Affects ~50% full-term babies days 2-14. Flat red blotches with tiny white-yellow centre bump (looks like flea bites). MIGRATORY — appear, disappear, reappear elsewhere over hours. COMPLETELY BENIGN. Resolves by 2 weeks without treatment. Don't scrub / treat.
Is baby acne the same as teenage acne?
DIFFERENT cause, similar look. BABY ACNE (2 wk-4 mo): lingering maternal hormones + Malassezia yeast on skin. SMALL red bumps + pustules on cheeks, forehead, chin. NOT itchy. CLEARS on own. DON'T use teenage acne products — too harsh. PLAIN WATER cleansing enough; avoid lotions / oils in affected area.
What's cradle cap?
Yellowish, greasy, flaky scalp scales. ~50% babies in first months. Cause: overactive sebaceous glands + Malassezia yeast. NOT painful / itchy. RESOLVES on its own by 12 months in most. TREATMENT (if bothersome): (1) GENTLE oil (olive, coconut, vegetable) 15 min then comb out + gentle shampoo; (2) DENNO SHAMPOO if recommended; (3) AVOID picking — can cause bleeding/infection. SEE GP if spreading or infected.
Is baby's skin peeling normal?
YES — VERY common first few weeks. NEWBORN skin sheds protective vernix coat + adjusts to air. PEELING typically on hands, feet, ankles. RESOLVES days-weeks. KEEP MOISTURISED with simple emollient (cetraben, aveeno baby, vaseline) IF dry. OVER-the-counter creams + lotions usually fine + fragrance-free best. POST-TERM (>40 weeks) babies often more peeling.
Yellow skin in newborn — jaundice?
VERY common (~60% term babies). Bilirubin from breakdown of fetal red cells. Peaks day 3-5; resolves 1-2 weeks. PRESS forehead gently — release: if yellow under, jaundice. SPREADS head to toe; feet involvement = more severe. RED FLAGS: jaundice WITHIN first 24h; rapidly darkening; baby lethargic / poor feeding; pale stool + dark urine. /calculators/newborn-bilirubin.
Blue hands and feet — should I worry?
ACROCYANOSIS — bluish hands + feet first 24-48 hours. NORMAL — immature circulation. RESOLVES naturally. PERSISTENT or CENTRAL CYANOSIS (lips, tongue, face, gums) = ABNORMAL — needs immediate assessment (heart, lung). Pulse oximetry screening at 24h checks for critical CHD.
What about stork bites and angel kisses?
Salmon patches (nevus simplex): flat pink/red marks on EYELIDS, FOREHEAD, NAPE OF NECK. Caused by dilated capillaries. AFFECT 30-50% newborns. FACIAL ones usually fade by age 1-2 (sometimes earlier); NECK ones may persist. NO treatment needed. DIFFERENT from port-wine stains (Sturge-Weber).
Mongolian blue spots (congenital dermal melanocytosis)
Bluish-grey patches on LOWER BACK / BOTTOM / sometimes shoulders. COMMON in Asian, African, Hispanic, Middle Eastern babies. PRESENT from birth; harmless; fade over months-years. NOT BRUISES. NOTED in baby's medical record to avoid misinterpretation as bruise / abuse signs.
What's a port-wine stain?
FLAT, DARK RED/PURPLE birthmark; PERMANENT (doesn't fade). Caused by abnormal blood vessels. ON FACE: rule out SUFFICIENT-SYNDROME (Sturge-Weber — neurological + glaucoma risk if covers eye/forehead). DERMATOLOGY assessment + sometimes laser treatment in childhood. NOT all need treatment.
Heat rash (miliaria) in babies?
Tiny red/clear bumps on covered areas (neck, chest, skin folds) — overheated skin + sweat glands. COMMON in summer / warm rooms. MANAGEMENT: cool baby; lighter clothing; cooler environment; gentle calamine. RESOLVES within days. PREVENT: don't overdress; keep room 16-20°C; cotton fabrics.
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) in babies?
~15-20% of children. DRY, RED, ITCHY patches especially on CHEEKS, SCALP, behind knees, elbow creases. ATOPIC (linked with asthma, hayfever, food allergies). MANAGEMENT: regular EMOLLIENTS (cetraben, aveeno, doublebase) twice daily; STEROIDS (hydrocortisone 1% mild) for flares; avoid soap (replace with emollient washes); cotton clothing; identify triggers (dairy / egg sometimes). NICE NG145.
When to see GP about skin?
(1) RAPIDLY spreading rash + fever; (2) Non-blanching rash (glass test); (3) Severe eczema with infection signs (oozing, crusts, fever); (4) Suspected severe allergic reaction (swelling, breathing difficulty); (5) BIRTHMARKS large / on face / changing; (6) Skin infections (pus, redness, warmth, fever); (7) Persistent / worsening any skin condition. SAME-DAY review for fever + rash.
How does this relate to other calculators on BumpBites?
Companion: /calculators/newborn-bilirubin; /calculators/baby-fever; /calculators/baby-teething; /calculators/oral-thrush; /calculators/newborn-diaper-output; /calculators/diaper-calculator (rash); /calculators/breastfeeding-latch.

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