Red Bumps On Baby’s Face And Legs

Red bumps on a baby’s face and legs – what can it be?

This baby gets bumbs that turn into sores and the mom and doctor have different opinions on what the bumps may actually be. We look at a few  possibilities to check further.

Mom’s Question:

My 11-month-old has red bumps on her face and legs. After a couple of days, they turn into sores. I took her to the doctor, he thinks they’re mosquito bites, but I think different, help?

Renee

Red Bumps On Baby, But Not Mosquito Bites…

Babies can get rashes and red bumps for all sorts of reasons; food reactions, viruses, detergents… Is your baby otherwise healthy? No fever? Do the bumps seem to annoy your baby?

Here are some possible reasons to investigate further.

Chickenpox

Funny, when my oldest son was 1.5 years old, he got red bumps and we went to the doctor – who said it was mosquito bites. We knew it wasn’t!

It turned out to be chickenpox. Chickenpox usually starts around the neck and then spreads towards to feet and hands. Some children even get them in their palms and under their feet. They often itch a lot. The younger the child, the less severe is usually the illness. Some babies only get a few blisters and that’s it.

Have a look at the picture below. It shows a typical chickenpox blister. It is kind of white in the middle and red around. Then it itches and dries up. Maybe it is not at all relevant for your baby, but your description somewhat matched the symptoms of chickenpox, so I wanted to show you one. :-)

Hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease usually gives blisters on the hands and feet, and ulcers in the mouth – not blisters in the face. But you could check your baby’s mouth for ulcers. They are often painful, so your baby could also be reluctant to eat. 

Hives – an allergic reaction

Raised, ichy spots The hives rash can can also be an allergic reaction, for example to something your baby is eating or to some detergent. Have you started to introduce some new foods? 

Such spots shouldn’t turn into sores, though, unless your baby is scratching them.

Impetigo

Another possibility is impetigo. In this case, the sores get bigger, so your baby’s doctor would most likely not have suggested mosquito bites, though. The sores/blisters tend to burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches in this case and they can be itchy or painful. 

Scabies

Scabies are also very itchy. They show up as raised spots and are caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin. The fact that your baby has their bumbs on the face and legs, however, speaks against scabies. 

Eczema, prickly heat, or baby acne could be possibilities too, but not likely in your case. 

Unless the bumps disappear to never come back, I think you should take your daughter to another pediatrician for a second opinion. The rash could be a dry rash, allergy, eczema, food intolerance, or something else. Someone has to see it and listen to you. If you know the bumps are not mosquito bites, then they’re not!

Sorry for not being able to be more specific, but it isn’t possible to know what these bumps might be without seeing them.

Hope this helps,

Paula

More On Baby Rashes

• Round Rash On Baby’s Butt – The Diapers?
• How To Get Rid Of Baby’s Dry Rash

Find comments below.