Drool rash in children

Children basically wear a bib on their chest, which is used to wipe saliva. Since babies cannot control their physiological reactions, their saliva will flow on their skin for a long time. Under long-term stimulation, children may even develop drool rash. As the name suggests, due to the stimulation of saliva, rashes, blisters and even ulcers will appear on the chin. Most cases of drool rash occur before a child is one year old. At this time, the child's skin is the most delicate, and it is also the time when the child is growing teeth. The combination of these two factors causes frequent occurrence of drool rash.

Drool rash is a type of contact dermatitis caused by saliva irritation. Because the baby's skin is so tender, red papules or plaques, or even blisters, erosions or cracks may appear under the constant stimulation of saliva. Symptoms are very similar to eczema. So how do we distinguish it from baby eczema? The most important and obvious distinguishing feature is that baby drool rash only occurs in places that are easily stained with baby saliva, such as around the mouth or on the chin.

When does drool rash occur in early childhood? Drool rash usually occurs in babies under one week old, because most babies are in the teething period at this time. The baby's skin stratum corneum is relatively thin during this period, and various skin conditions can easily occur with the stimulation of saliva. Fortunately, the baby's skin resistance will gradually increase with age, the skin stratum corneum will thicken, and the problems caused by various minor skin irritations will become less and less.

What causes rash?

1. When the baby is drooling, parents do not take good care of the baby, allowing the baby's saliva to carry various digestive enzymes, which will wreak havoc on the baby's tender skin for a long time, damaging the skin's stratum corneum and irritating the skin to cause various symptoms.

2. Excessive care by parents may also cause drool rash in babies. Everything should be done in moderation, too much is as bad as too little. Some parents stare at their babies and wipe their saliva all the time, but they may not pay attention to the strength and frequency when wiping. Leaving various tiny abrasions on the skin around the baby's mouth, where originally there were only mild symptoms, will cause a secondary infection of the baby's skin, which will inevitably aggravate the degree of infection and prolong the recovery time.

What should you do if your baby has drool rash?

1. If there is no obvious large-scale redness, swelling or infection, parents only need to take good care of the baby. After the baby's drooling period (usually lasts 1 to 2 months), and as the baby's skin resistance increases, the drool rash will gradually improve;

2. For babies who have already developed drool rash, it is generally necessary to keep the skin clean and dry. Remember, if the baby's saliva flows down, it should be wiped gently, and pressure should be applied to absorb it. If you don’t want to use ointment, you can try boiling and cooling sesame oil or olive oil. When you go out, you can use mild baby-specific skin care products for your baby.

3. Babies should eat slowly and in small bites to prevent food from remaining and irritating the skin. Babies and breastfeeding mothers should pay attention to their diet and dress. Avoid causing skin allergies in babies during illness due to food or strengthening materials, and avoid aggravating the condition.

4. It is best to use soft cotton cloth to wipe the bib, and wash and dry it in time to prevent infection. Babies who drool a lot can also consider using soft, washable bibs, and replace them promptly after they get wet.

5. Babies or parents who are taking care of babies should wash their hands frequently to avoid causing skin infection at the injured parts of the baby. Babies should also trim their nails frequently to avoid infection from scratches.

6. If the drool rash problem has become serious, it is recommended to seek medical treatment as soon as possible.