The crying, the screaming, the pain…
Not only do teething babies have achy gums and want to gnaw on everything,
but they also may be plagued with a host of other unpleasant side effects.
You might be wondering whether it’s normal for teething to cause a rash.
A teething rash is caused by the digestive enzymes in saliva irritating your baby’s skin.
The rash can appear on your little one’s mouth, chin, lips and even all the way down to his neck and chest.
If they are prone to touching their hands and arms to their teething mouth, then a rash might appear there.
Correctly Identifying A Teething Rash
A rash can be a bit scary to a new parent, especially if they are not familiar with the different types of rashes and skin conditions babies can get, and if your infant has just started to teeth.As with all signs and symptoms of teething, it’s important to correctly identify the rash and treat it separately from teething. The outbreak will look like small red bumps with raised patches of skin and will appear right around the same time as other signs and symptoms of teething. If the rash only appears around the mouth and neck area, and you can see or feel that your child’s gums are swollen, chances are you are dealing with a teething rash.
A teething diaper rash is not common and should not be treated as a symptom of teething, just as vomiting, diarrhea, and fever are not teething symptoms. Diaper rashes are a common occurrence in babies and can be avoided by preventing skin irritation and frequently changing your baby’s diaper. Common treatments for diaper rash include air exposure, extra bathing in warm water, and application of topical barriers, such as petroleum jelly and zinc oxide.
Remedies For Teething Rashes
Keep a Bib On
Not letting drool dry on baby’s skin can help prevent a rash from forming. A teething rash is more likely to develop when saliva dries on their skin and irritates it. The best way to avoid a teething rash is to keep a bib on them and have a towel readily available for wiping.Lanolin
Lanolin cream is made from the wax in a sheep’s wool; it provides barrier protection between your baby’s saliva and his skin. Lanolin is safe to use on nipples while breastfeeding, so there is no limit to its use on your baby’s face, neck and chest. Placing a barrier between your baby’s skin and their saliva is a great way to prevent baby teething rash.
Waxelene
Waxelene is not only good for a teething rash, but it also helps with diaper rashes, dry skin, and too much sun. Considered a petroleum jelly alternative, it is made from beeswax and natural plant-based oils. It is one of those great products that you will initially buy for your baby but end up using for yourself and your entire family.
Angel Baby Bottom Balm
Another great product for a teething rash is marketed as an herbal diaper rash cream, but it is safe and effective when used on a teething rash and can help prevent infection. This balm uses a blend of shea butter and essential oils, combined with antifungal and antibacterial organic herbs. It works on teething rashes, scrapes, chicken pox, bug bites, and minor burns.
Oatmeal Bath
Helpful for any rash or skin condition, adding a couple of scoops of colloidal oatmeal to your baby’s bath will help soothe redness, itching, and inflammation. Tip: colloidal oatmeal is just old-fashioned rolled oats (not steel cut) that have been ground to a fine powder. You can make it at home in your blender or food processor to save money and skip the added ingredients found in many store-bought products.Remember That Teething Rashes Are Temporary
While a teething rash is no fun for your baby, it is temporary and will clear up when the drooling subsides and based on how long teething will last per tooth for your toddler.As long as you are diligent with quickly wiping up saliva and applying some sort of barrier protection, you should see improvement quickly.
If you have any doubt that the rash is something more serious, it is better to err on the side of caution and make an appointment with your pediatrician or dermatologist.
Published from the Blog of Kute Keiki