Table of contents:
- Causes of baby saliva rash
- How to prevent saliva rash on baby's skin
- Wear an apron to hold back saliva
- Change clothes when wet
- Clean the baby's face after breastfeeding
- How to deal with saliva rash in babies
- Apply cream or moisturizer
- Keeps baby's body clean
- Check baby bottles and teats
- Look for other factors
Have you ever seen your little one salivate or drool? This is the thing most often experienced by babies and very natural. Saliva or often called crushed could be one of the side effects of growing teeth. Therefore, it is not surprising that the chin or mouth of a baby is often filled with saliva. However, the saliva that sticks to the baby's sensitive skin for a long time can also cause a rash. This condition is also called drool rash or a saliva rash in babies.
Causes of baby saliva rash
It is normal to have saliva from your little one's mouth, especially for newborns. Quoted from Healthy Children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) explains that increasing saliva during teething can help protect and soothe the baby's soft gums.
Saliva begins when a baby develops from three months (12 weeks) to six months of age. Usually it will stop when the baby is 15-18 months old.
The saliva that comes out of the baby's mouth will flow through the cheeks, chin, neck folds, even to the little one's chest which can irritate the baby's skin and then develop a rash.
Unlike other skin diseases, this saliva rash is not contagious. However, it can cause uncomfortable skin conditions, such as blotches, red spots on the baby's skin, itching, uneven skin surface, and freckles.
These patches on the baby's skin can be dry and damp, which often makes babies fussy and cry. In fact, saliva from the baby's mouth is a natural process and a side effect of growing baby's teeth.
When the teeth begin to grow and penetrate the gums, the mouth will produce more saliva. But apart from teething, the reasons babies salivate often are:
- Poor swallowing ability
- Lack of front teeth
- Open your mouth too often
Saliva from the baby's mouth not only causes negative effects such as rashes, but also has benefits behind it, namely:
- Helps defrost food when baby is ready to eat
- Keeps mouth moist
- Helping babies to swallow food
- Clean leftovers
- Protect baby teeth
Taking care of the health of the baby's mouth and skin from saliva rash is also important so that your little one feels comfortable.
How to prevent saliva rash on baby's skin
Saliva from the baby's mouth is normal, but it must be handled properly so as not to cause a rash. Here are some ways to prevent saliva rash on your baby's skin.
Wear an apron to hold back saliva
To prevent saliva rash in babies, you can put on your little one's apron or bib to keep the water flowing to the baby's neck and chest.
This flow can irritate the baby's skin and develop a red rash in the baby's mouth that makes it itchy and uncomfortable. This apron can also be used as a rag to wipe away saliva before it flows down the baby's cheeks, neck and chest.
Change clothes when wet
When you see the baby's neck and chest wet with saliva, immediately change your little one's clothes. Exposing your baby's skin to saliva for too long can cause irritation and a rash.
Moreover, caring for sensitive baby skin is not easy, this opens a greater possibility for him to experience skin irritation and rashes.
Clean the baby's face after breastfeeding
The saliva that runs down the cheeks after feeding can cause a reddish rash on the baby's skin. Make sure to clean your little one's face after you finish breastfeeding with a dry tissue or cloth. Avoid rubbing the face hard because it can damage the skin texture of your little one.
When cleaning your little one's face, you can use a cloth dampened with water without soap to keep the skin moist.
How to deal with saliva rash in babies
If prevention has been carried out but the rash still appears on the baby's skin, there are several ways to deal with it. Here are the steps to deal with saliva rash in your little one:
Apply cream or moisturizer
You can apply a rash relieving ointment such as Aquaphor or petroleum jelly to your baby's skin. This cream can soothe skin that is rash and irritated. This cream becomes a barrier between the baby's skin and saliva that may come out again.
Then, use a baby lotion that is gentle and also does not contain perfume on the baby's skin which dries out due to saliva. However, do not apply lotion to areas that have already developed a rash caused by saliva.
For skin that has already appeared rashes, it is better if you immediately dry gently after showering, then apply Aquaphor ointment or petroleum jelly.
In addition to the two ointments, you can buy ointments at more patent pharmacies, namely hydrocortisone creams, which can be purchased without a doctor's prescription. However, follow the rules of use well.
However, if you are in doubt, you should consult your doctor about how long to use it and how much should be applied.
Keeps baby's body clean
Every other day, clean the rash area with warm water. Use a clean, soft cloth suitable for sensitive baby skin. Avoid scrubbing, as this can make irritation worse and cause itching.
After cleaning, make sure your baby's skin is completely dry. You can leave your little one naked for a while so that the baby's skin can dry naturally.
Check baby bottles and teats
Why check baby bottles and teats? These two items are often in contact with your little one's mouth, so you need to make sure they are clean and don't cause irritation to the baby's mouth.
When the baby's mouth is irritated, it will affect the saliva flowing on the baby's skin. To reduce the risk of irritation, always wash and dry the bottle after use.
You can also limit the use of a pacifier so that it is not too long as this can make the rash in the baby's mouth worse. You also need to choose a bottle of milk and a pacifier that is good for the baby.
Look for other factors
Other factors can cause saliva rash in babies, for example the use of blankets, sheets, pillows, bolsters, or clothing materials for babies that irritate the skin.
Not only that, improper use of detergent to wash baby clothes can also cause saliva rash. Make sure not to use detergents that contain fragrances for baby clothes, sheets, and other baby cloths while the baby has a rash.
Meanwhile, when bathing, make sure you use an unscented, mild soap or shampoo on the baby's skin. Also choose soap to help the baby's dry skin.
The most important thing when treating a saliva rash is to make sure the area is always clean. Because, the rash will be more prone to infection if it is exposed to bacteria or germs.
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