There are many different types of pediatric rashes. If you’re a first time parent, this can especially be scary. At the first sign of a rash, your instincts will tell you to go to a doctor to find out exactly what kind of rash they have for proper diagnosis and medication.

One of the most common pediatric rashes is a diaper rash, which may be caused by your baby’s hypersensitivity to the diaper material, or prolonged contact with urine. Home remedies for this include applying petroleum jelly to your baby’s bottom to soothe the irritation, changing diaper brands, and of course, changing your baby’s diaper more often.

Another common pediatric rash is heat rash, also known as prickly heat. This is caused by overheating of your child or baby’s skin. What happens is that the heat causes sweat ducts to inflame, creating red bumps on the surface of the skin. These rashes can be mostly found on the back, neck, armpits or groin. There are prickly heat powders that can be found in pharmacies, which are meant to have a soothing effect on prickly heat, which can be very itchy. Dressing your child in loose clothes or fabrics that are more “breathable” is also helpful. Home remedies for child heat rash also include corn starch.

Cradle cap is a type of pediatric rash that appears on a baby’s head. These rashes are yellow in appearance, and are usually crusty and greasy. Though most mothers would panic at the sight of these, cradle cap is a pretty common rash that goes away by itself in a few weeks or months. Normally caused by an overstimulation of oil glands on the head, cradle cap can be treated with a home remedy such as using mild baby shampoos or dandruff shampoos a few times a week.

These are the most common of pediatric rashes, and are no cause for worry or panic. If you think that your child’s rash is more serious and its symptoms begin to cause discomfort, seek the advice of your pediatrician right away.