Noticed a reddish, itchy, chapped irritating patch around your baby’s mouth and cheeks, sometimes extending to the folds of the neck and even to the chest? It is quite normal to drool rash in babies in their first few years, and most often, drooling decreases on its own as the baby grows.
Drooling is a perfectly normal and fun part of the growing-up process for babies. The process of teething also worsens drooling. So if your baby is drooling a lot during teething, don’t panic, this is temporary and will resolve on its own. But then there is another issue that may come along with drooling – a drool rash in babies.
In This Article
- Video Of Easy Ways to Treat Drool Rash Effectively
- What is a Drool Rash?
- What Causes a Drool Rash?
- How Can the Drool Rash in Babies be Prevented?
- 8 Home Remedies to Treat Drool Rash in Babies
- When Should I Seek Medical Attention if My Baby Has a Rash?
- FAQ’s
Video Of Easy Ways to Treat Drool Rash Effectively
What is a Drool Rash?
Generally, A drool rash or dribble rash is the soreness of the skin around the mouth and the cheek due to excessive saliva, resulting in wet skin. If the drool rash in babies is extreme, the rash can also appear in the folds of the baby’s neck and on the chest. It appears as a slightly raised patch with several small red bumps with or without tiny eruptions. It irritates the baby’s delicate skin and can give her a tough time also.
What Causes a Drool Rash?
As the baby drools, the saliva, which is rich in digestive juices, is always present on the baby’s skin. The consistently moist skin when rubbed against pillows, toys, or sheets, due to friction and irritation, can cause a drool rash on the soft and tender baby skin. Though harmless, if left unattended, there are increased chances of these rashes getting infected and turning into another condition called impetigo, which is a contagious bacterial infection to the baby.
A baby’s skin is delicate and prone to rashes. Heat rash, eczema, and diaper rash are common among babies. Therefore, identifying the exact cause of the rash can be difficult. Below are some possible causes of your baby’s drool rash.
Teething
Drooling often accompanies teething. Teething causes saliva from the inside of the mouth to drip down the sides of a child’s face. Sometimes it gets into the folds of their neck, and even onto their chest. Drool rashes can develop in these areas.
Pacifiers
As your baby sucks on their pacifier, saliva drips from their mouth, isolating the drool from all other areas. Since no air is getting to the area where saliva is locked in by a pacifier, drool rashes appear.
Food
A drool rash may appear around your baby’s mouth if smeared food is left on his face for too long.
How Can the Drool Rash in Babies be Prevented?
Prevention is always better than cure. If the baby drools, the chances of them developing a drool rash are quite high. By taking some of the following preventive steps, we can decrease the chances of the baby getting a drool rash:
- Change your baby’s clothes as soon as it gets wet with drool. Never allow it to remain damp as this can lead to your baby developing a drool rash.
- Have a good supply of muslin cloths. Keep them within your reach and take them with you when you go out with your baby. Pat dry your baby’s skin as soon as the baby drools.
- Wipe your baby’s mouth and the folds of the neck thoroughly clean after every feed.
- By using an absorbent bib, which prevents the clothes and chin from becoming wet, you can avoid drool rash also in the baby.
- You can use a barrier cream as a preventive measure to keep the drool from directly touching the baby’s skin, especially during bedtime.
When the baby drools on the bed and rubs its face in the same, the drool rash can get worse. To help soak the moisture, place a gentle, soft, and absorbent washcloth or a towel under the bedsheet. A bib on the baby during the day can also help to keep the baby’s chest from drooling. Being attentive to your baby’s drool can mainly help to prevent the baby’s drool rash, and also infections caused to the baby from it.
8 Home Remedies to Treat Drool Rash in Babies
There are several kinds of medicated creams to soothe the irritation caused to your baby due to a drool rash. Similarly, there are a number of home remedies to treat drool rash in babies. Some of them are mentioned below:
1. Wash
Wash the affected area with lukewarm water twice daily. The first wash should preferably be in the morning. Carefully pat dry the area. Never rub the area, as it will aggravate the redness and the irritation. Always use a gentle washcloth that absorbs the drool, but does not cause irritation to the skin of the baby. Make sure that the washcloth is washed in mild detergent only.
[Read : Tips for Baby Bath]
2. Bathing
During the bath, always remember to use an unscented and mild baby wash. Do not use scented shampoo or soap as it can further irritate the rash. Never use baby lotion after bathing directly on the rash, even though you can use it in other areas. This is because the chemicals in the lotion can aggravate the rash. Always use a prescribed healing ointment or hydrocortisone cream only on the affected area of the baby.
3. Avoid Potential Irritants
Never use a chemical-based product on or near the affected area. The bedsheet the baby sleeps on, the pillow covers, his clothes, bibs, the muslin cloths used to dry the drools, etc., should be washed with fragrance-free mild laundry detergent. Also, wash your clothes with the same detergent, as your baby will be in constant contact with you. Likewise, avoid using creams and lotions with harsh chemicals.
4. Use Protective Lotion and Ointment
After discussing the issue with your baby’s doctor, select an ointment or cream, preferably with lanolin, which is not harsh for your baby’s skin, to soothe the irritated skin. Make sure to apply only a thin layer so that it does not get into your baby’s hands or mouth, but covers the affected area properly. Make sure you use products that are safe for babies.
5. Use Skin Barriers
Vaseline petroleum jelly is a widely accepted moisturizer, which is counted as safe to apply on your baby’s skin. It acts both as a moisturizer and an efficient skin barrier that prevents the drool from further contacting the irritated skin of the baby.
[Read : Top 10 Baby Skincare Tips]
6. Wipe It
Always wipe off the drool and change the drool-wet dress as soon as possible. Make sure that you gently wipe, thus avoiding the rash from getting worse. Do not use worn-out towels or washcloths to wipe, and make sure you are very gentle.
7. Aloe Vera Gel
Pure Aloe Vera gel is also a popular home remedy for treating drool rash. Use it only after getting a green signal from the doctor.
8. Coconut Oil
Applying pure coconut oil on the affected area acts in two ways. Firstly, it acts as an excellent lubricant, treating irritation. Secondly, the antibacterial properties of coconut oil prevent the chances of secondary infection.
If it is teething that comes out as the culprit, give something cold to chew on to your baby. Cold teething rings that have been sterilized before should be the obvious choice, though washcloths can also be used. They will have a nice soothing effect on your baby’s sore gums and heal the rash as well. Make sure to clean them after using and offering them again.
When Should I Seek Medical Attention if My Baby Has a Rash?
If you notice that the rash is worsening and getting cracked, causing pain and discomfort to the baby, it is better to seek medical attention from the doctor. Even after trying out home remedies for a week, if the rash is not showing any signs of improvement in the baby, take the child to your doctor’s treatment. The doctor will be able to prescribe medicated ointment and cream, which will help with faster healing. Also, it will prevent the rash from getting worse and developing into a more serious skin infection.
[Read : Difference Between A Baby Lotion And A Baby Cream?]
FAQ’s
1. Is it Normal For a Baby to Drool?
Yes, of course. Babies drool all the time. If your baby is drooling all over the place, don’t worry, they are fine.
2. When Will My Baby Stop Drooling?
That is hard to say. It depends on how and what you teach the child. Constant reminders can eventually help them stop.
3. Can The Drool Cause Rashes in My Baby?
Yes, it can. When the baby’s saliva pools around their faces, it can cause a rash. The saliva also dries up on the face, causing rashes.
4. Will My Baby Drool When Teething?
Yes, they might. This is because teething aches and many keep their mouths open. They also like to bite on something to soothe the gums.
Read Also: Excessive Drooling In Children – Causes And Prevention
