Dear Doctor,

My baby is only about 12 days old but I’m worried about the small bumps on her head that I noticed a day ago. They are about four of them in different spots on the head and are soft, like they have water in them. I asked friends who’ve had babies but most of them do not recognise them and can’t tell me what it is. One told me that I should start bathing my baby in local herbs for the skin.

My baby has also developed a nasty rash around her forehead and neck that I presumed started as a result of the Johnson’s baby oil I use on her. So I stopped. But it hasn’t gone away. Is there anything you can recommend for this? And should I be worried about the bumps?

Faith N

Dear Faith,

It is natural to get upset over finding anything even supposedly abnormal in a new born. Babies often get acne over their forehead, cheeks and nose. These disappear spontaneously over a few weeks.

During the first day or two of life, many babies get harmless red blotches with tiny bumps that sometimes contain pus. This is called erythema toxicum and may occur on one part or more than one part of the body. Though they look scary, they are harmless and vanish without any treatment within a week or so.

Pustular melanosis is a kind of rash said to be more common among black infants. It appears as pus filled pimples which may burst leaving a dark spot with loose skin around it. The spots may persist for weeks or months or resolve early. No treatment is required for it. The baby may develop red blotches after exposure to cold. After putting her in a warm atmosphere, these blotches disappear.

Red or pink rashes with itching can appear over the body parts which are very well covered or in very hot weather. These occur due to heat and are as such, harmless. Keeping the baby dressed in loose cotton clothes prevents this condition. In hot weather, it is advisable to keep the baby in a cool environment.

Many babies can have rash intermittently on the mouth or around the chin. This occurs due to drooling or spitting of saliva. This can be prevented by cleaning the mouth, and around it, very well and keeping it dry by cleaning saliva as soon as it is brought out. Small red spots may appear on a new born baby’s body. These are caused due to oozing of blood from tiny blood vessels that occurs subsequent to the trauma caused by squeezing out from the birth canal.

These disappear spontaneously after a week or two after birth. A baby may have birth marks or hemangiomas which he may outgrow while growing up.

Mosquito bites in a very small baby (if not protected in a mosquito net) may appear as red blotches or raised spots

Regarding rashes due to supposed allergy to Johnson baby cream, body care products can cause allergy when used locally. However in this case, along with rash, there would be itching, blisters and in severe cases, there may be breathing trouble.

One needs to consult a doctor and seek intervention only if the rash or bumps in a baby are painful to touch, there are associated blisters, itching and redness. If there is fever followed by a rash it needs medical treatment.

Dr. Rachna is a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital.