Sponsored · Written by Holistica Health. Reviewed by Dr Wes Abujalala, GP (MBBS, FACRRM)
Eczema, teenage acne, cold sores and common childhood rashes.
A baby’s itchy cheeks, a child’s sudden spots or a teenager’s breakouts can leave mums wondering: eczema, acne, allergy or infection?
For Perth mums, recognising patterns helps guide the next step but cannot replace medical assessment.
Skin rash symptoms: what should mums look for?
Note when the rash started, its location, itching, pain and spread. Check temperature, drinking and behaviour. Consider new products or medicines and take clear photographs.
On darker skin, inflammation may look purple, brown or grey. Texture, warmth and swelling also matter.
Common childhood rashes and how to recognise them
Eczema: dry, itchy patches
Eczema often affects babies’ cheeks or older children’s elbow and knee creases. It flares repeatedly and is not contagious. Weeping or crusting needs medical review for possible infection.
Contact dermatitis: a reaction where something touched
Itchy or burning patches after face paint, wipes or skincare may follow the contact area. Irritation and allergy can both cause this reaction.
Teenage acne: blackheads, whiteheads and inflamed spots
Blackheads and whiteheads help distinguish teenage acne from other facial rashes. Seek advice for persistent, painful or scarring acne, or breakouts affecting confidence.
Impetigo: blisters and honey-coloured crusts
School sores cause blisters and yellowish crusts, often around the nose and mouth. This contagious infection needs medical advice. Avoid sharing towels and follow treatment and school-attendance advice.
Cold sores: tingling followed by clustered blisters
Herpes simplex causes tingling and painful blisters, usually near the lips. During outbreaks, avoid kissing, especially babies, and sharing cups. Wash hands after touching sores. Sores near an eye need urgent assessment.
Simple viral exanthem: a widespread rash with a virus
Spots across the trunk and limbs may appear during or after a virus. Many simple viral exanthems settle with fluids, rest and monitoring; antibiotics do not treat them. Seek advice for fever or an unwell child.
Hives: raised welts that come and go
Itchy, raised welts change location and usually fade individually within 24 hours. Viruses can trigger hives; they do not automatically indicate food allergy.
Perth-specific rashes and bites
These conditions are relevant to Perth’s climate and outdoor lifestyle but are not unique to WA.
Heat rash: prickly bumps after sweating
Tiny itchy bumps can affect the neck, chest or skin folds. Keep children cool, change sweaty clothes and choose loose, breathable clothing.
Mosquito bites: itchy bumps that can become infected
Scratching itchy swellings can break skin and allow infection. Increasing warmth, pain, spreading redness or pus needs medical review. Keep nails short, wash gently and apply a wrapped cool pack.
Redback spider bites: potentially severe pain
Bites can cause intense or increasing pain, sometimes sweating or vomiting. A painful mark alone cannot identify the spider. Wash, apply a wrapped cold pack and seek urgent medical advice. Do not use a pressure bandage. Call 000 if severely distressed or unwell.
Ross River virus rash
This mosquito-borne infection occurs in WA, although children rarely develop symptoms. Widespread rash with fever, tiredness or joint pain after mosquito exposure needs assessment. It differs from local itchy bite bumps.
Everyday skin care for children and teenagers
Use lukewarm water, gentle fragrance-free products and regular plain moisturiser for eczema-prone skin. Avoid harsh scrubs and introducing multiple products together.
For teenage acne, choose non-comedogenic products, wash gently up to twice daily and after sweating, and avoid picking. Use shade, hats and suitable broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Ask a doctor or pharmacist before applying steroid cream to an undiagnosed facial rash.
Can diet help acne or eczema?
Offer varied meals with vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and adequate protein. Lower-glycaemic eating may help some teenagers with acne but cannot reliably replace treatment.
Avoid excluding dairy, gluten or other food groups for eczema without advice. Restrictions can affect nutrition and growth. Discuss suspected food reactions with your doctor or an accredited practising dietitian.
When to seek urgent medical help for a skin rash
Call 000 for breathing difficulty, tongue or throat swelling, collapse, difficulty waking, or a purple or non-blanching rash with fever. Non-blanching spots do not fade when pressed. A fading rash does not exclude serious illness.
Seek urgent assessment for new non-fading spots even without fever, rapidly spreading hot or painful skin, or extensive blistering.
Skin advice for Perth mums, available Australia-wide
Holistica Health is a Perth-based national telehealth clinic offering online dermatology GP consultations for acne, eczema and common skin rashes. Parents or guardians can discuss symptoms and provide photographs. GPs with dermatology training assess suitability for telehealth and recommend treatment or in-person care. They are not specialist dermatologists.
General information only; individual assessment determines diagnosis and treatment.
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