Newborn Skin Changes: What's Normal in the First Six Weeks

Newborn skin does an extraordinary number of things in the first six weeks. Almost all newborn skin changes are normal. If you're sitting here at 2am with a newborn whose face has erupted in red blotches, or whose hands are shedding skin at the wrists, or who has a flat blue-grey patch you didn't notice at the hospital, the most likely answer is that everything is fine and the skin is doing what newborn skin does.

It doesn't always feel that way. Newborn skin is the most visible part of your baby and the first thing you look at. When something changes overnight, it lands hard.

This guide walks through the patterns Australian clinicians see most often, names them, explains why they happen, and gives you the short list of signs that mean a phone call rather than a watch-and-wait. It's general information drawn from Australian paediatric authorities. It does not replace your maternal and child health nurse or your GP.

The short reassurance

Most newborn skin changes in the first six weeks are normal and clear up on their own. The patterns Australian authorities see most often are milia, erythema toxicum, baby acne, cradle cap, peeling skin, mottling, stork bites, and congenital dermal melanocytosis. None of these need treatment.

A baby needs urgent care for: a fever of 38°C or higher in any baby under three months, even if they seem well; a temperature below 36.5°C under the arm, or a cold back or tummy, in a baby under one month; a rash that doesn't fade when pressed; blisters in a baby under three months, or widespread blistering or peeling that looks scalded; blue, grey or pale lips, tongue or face, or pale, blotchy, grey or blue skin on the body; cold hands and feet in a baby who is also unwell; breathing difficulty; or any change in feeding, alertness, or breathing. The section on when to get help below says which of these means 000 and which means the emergency department. If you're not sure which group your baby fits, treat it as the more urgent one.

Why newborn skin does so much in the first weeks

Newborn skin spends the first few weeks completing work it didn't need to do in utero. Inside the womb, vernix (the creamy white film many babies are born with) acted as a barrier and a moisturiser. The amniotic fluid did the rest. After birth, the skin has to take over, and that takeover is visible.

Three things are happening at once.

The outer layer is shedding and rebuilding. Babies, particularly those born after their due date, often peel in the first one to three weeks. The Royal Children's Hospital reference set describes infant skin as thinner, more fragile, and more permeable than adult skin, and notes that the surface chemistry has to settle into a slightly acidic state. That acid mantle develops gradually over roughly the first month, and it is part of what protects the skin from irritants and bacteria.

Hormones and yeasts are doing their share. Some of the rashes parents notice in the first six weeks (baby acne in particular, and cradle cap on the scalp) are linked to maternal hormone signals carried over from pregnancy, plus a normal yeast called Malassezia that lives on everyone's skin. They are not allergies, not infections, and not signs of anything you've done.

Heat regulation is still wobbly. Newborns can't yet adjust their blood flow as smoothly as older babies, which is why mottling (the lacy blue-purple marbled pattern) often appears when they get cold and disappears when you warm them up. Mottling that stays once your baby is warm, or that covers the tummy, back or face, is a different matter, and we cover it below. The same wobbly heat regulation is why heat rash is more common than parents expect, and one of the more common reasons to lighten the layers rather than add to them.

This is the work of the first few weeks. Most of it is invisible. The visible part is the skin telling you it's making the transition.

Normal changes you can expect (and why)

The list below covers the patterns Australian paediatric sources describe most often. Each entry has a brief sketch of what it looks like, when it shows up, and when it goes. Most need nothing more than reassurance.

• Milia. Tiny pearly-white bumps on the nose, cheeks, chin, and sometimes forehead. Healthdirect describes milia as a very common finding in newborns, occurring in roughly half of babies. They are tiny keratin-filled cysts under the skin, not pimples, and not caused by milk. Don't squeeze or pick. They settle on their own within weeks to a few months.

  If you notice a coloured rash or crusting around the spots, see your GP. Pus or spreading redness needs a doctor the same day. If your baby has a fever or seems unwell, follow the red flags below.

• Erythema toxicum neonatorum. A blotchy red rash with small white or yellow centres, often appearing in the first one to three days. Raising Children Network describes it as harmless and self-limiting, occurring in up to half of term babies. Individual lesions can come and go within a day. The whole rash usually clears over five to fourteen days. The palms and soles are spared, which is one of the cues clinicians use to distinguish it from infections.

  Spots that turn into blisters, or a cluster of small fluid-filled spots, are not this rash. In a baby under three months, go to the emergency department straight away. A rash that first appears after two weeks is not erythema toxicum either and needs a GP the same day. If your baby has a fever or seems unwell, follow the red flags below.

• Baby acne (neonatal cephalic pustulosis). Small red pimples on the cheeks, nose, and forehead, typically arriving between two and four weeks of age. The Australasian College of Dermatologists describes it as occurring in around twenty percent of newborns and resolving without treatment. There are no whiteheads or blackheads, which is part of how it differs from adolescent acne. Don't apply adult acne products. Wash with warm water, pat dry, and wait. It usually clears between three and four months.

  New pimples that first appear after six weeks are worth a GP visit this week. Spots that spread, weep or crust need a doctor the same day. If your baby has a fever or seems unwell, follow the red flags below.

• Cradle cap. Thick, yellow, waxy crusts on the scalp. The Royal Children's Hospital fact sheet describes cradle cap as a common, harmless condition that is not painful, not itchy, and not caused by poor washing. It typically appears in the first weeks to three months and usually clears up on its own within a few months.

  If you'd like to lift the crusts, gently massage a small amount of plain, fragrance-free moisturiser into the scalp at night, then wash with a mild baby shampoo in the morning and lift the loosened crusts with a soft baby brush. Don't pick or scratch at the crusts. Skip olive oil: healthdirect advises against it because it can cause a yeast infection in cradle cap.

  If your baby is under three months and has a fever of 38°C or more, go to the emergency department now, whatever their scalp looks like. See a doctor the same day if the cradle cap weeps, oozes or smells. If your baby is feeding poorly, or is unusually drowsy, floppy or hard to wake, don't wait for the GP: call 000 or go straight to the emergency department. See your GP or maternal and child health nurse if it is no better after two weeks, lasts past three months, is itchy, spreads to the face or body, or you're not sure it's cradle cap.

• Cutis marmorata (mottling). A lacy blue-purple marbled pattern on the arms and legs that appears when a baby is cold and fades as they warm up. DermNet NZ describes it as occurring in about half of children, typically through infancy. Skin-to-skin, an extra layer, or a slightly warmer room usually settle it within minutes. Benign mottling has two parts, and you need both: it fades with warming, and your baby is otherwise their usual self, feeding, alert, with a warm tummy and pink lips and tongue.

  Mottling that doesn't fit that pattern is not cutis marmorata. Blotchy, pale or bluish skin can be a sign that blood isn't reaching the skin well, which happens in serious infections such as sepsis and meningococcal disease. Healthdirect lists blotchy or discoloured skin and cold skin among the signs of sepsis in children. New blotchy skin that stays once your baby is warm, that covers the tummy, back or face, or that comes with a fever, drowsiness, poor feeding, a weak or high-pitched cry, or any other sign that your baby is unwell is not a normal newborn change, and neither is mottling you're not sure about: call 000 (see the red flags below).

• Stork bites and angel kisses. Flat pink or red patches most often on the back of the neck, the forehead, between the brows, or on the eyelids. Raising Children Network describes these as benign capillary marks present at birth, brightening when the baby is crying or active, fading on their own by age one to two on the face. The patches on the back of the neck can persist into adulthood, often hidden by hair, which is normal.

  A mark that is darker, thicker, raised or growing, or a mark low on the back with a tuft of hair or a dimple, is worth a GP visit.

• Congenital dermal melanocytosis. Flat blue-grey patches, usually on the lower back or buttocks. The Royal Children's Hospital explains that these are birthmarks, not bruises, more common in babies of Asian, African, Polynesian, Indian, Hispanic, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage. Most fade by age three to five. Your midwife or maternal and child health nurse will note them in your baby's personal health record so other clinicians later on know what they are. The older term (Mongolian spots) is being retired.

  Birthmarks stay the same for years and don't hurt. A mark that appears after birth, changes over a few days or is tender is not a birthmark: see a doctor the same day. Spots or bruising that don't fade under a pressed glass follow the rash rows in the section on when to get help below.

• Peeling skin. Many newborns shed dry flaky skin in the first one to two weeks, particularly around the wrists, ankles, hands, and feet. Babies born after forty weeks tend to peel more, because their vernix was already absorbed in utero. Don't peel the flakes off. Pat baby dry after baths. If the skin underneath is dry, a thick, plain, fragrance-free moisturiser applied daily at the first sign of dryness is the standard Australian approach. Our spoke article on peeling skin in the newborn covers this single change in depth.

  Red skin that looks scalded, blisters or peels off in sheets is an emergency, with or without a fever: call 000. Peeling skin in a baby who has a fever, is drowsy or feeding poorly, or has a rash that does not fade when pressed also means 000.

• Heat rash (miliaria). Tiny red or clear bumps in skin folds and covered areas when a baby has been overdressed or the room is too warm. Healthdirect describes the mechanism as sweat getting trapped under the skin because newborn sweat glands are not fully developed. Cool the baby (fewer layers, a cooler room, a lukewarm bath, light cotton clothing). Most cases settle in two to three days. Heavy creams can make it worse.

  If your baby has a fever, press a glass on any spots and follow the fever rows below. Limpness, very few wet nappies or sunken eyes in a hot baby: call 000.

• Mild jaundice. Yellow tinge to the skin or the whites of the eyes. The Royal Children's Hospital clinical guideline notes that jaundice occurs in around sixty percent of full-term babies in the first week. Mild physiological jaundice typically appears after the first 24 hours, peaks at days three to five, and clears by about two weeks in healthy term babies.

  Jaundice in the first 24 hours needs a hospital check straight away: call your birth hospital or go to the emergency department. Yellowing that spreads to the palms and soles needs a doctor the same day, and a jaundiced baby who is sleepy, feeding poorly or having fewer wet nappies needs the emergency department now. A jaundiced baby who is hard to wake, floppy or stiff, or who has a high-pitched cry or arches their back, needs 000.

  Poo that is pale, chalky, white or putty-coloured, or dark urine, is not part of normal jaundice. Take a photo of the nappy on your phone and see your GP that same day, or go to your nearest emergency department. Early recognition changes the outcome.

Changes that usually settle but worth tracking

Some patterns sit in the middle. They are not red flags, but they are worth a closer look or a check-in with your MCHN or GP if they don't follow the usual trajectory.

Baby acne that's still there after six weeks. Most cases peak around four to six weeks and clear by three to four months. New pimples appearing for the first time after six weeks raise the possibility of infantile acne, which is a different pattern and may need a paediatric or dermatology review.

Peeling that continues past three to four weeks. Normal newborn peeling resolves in the first two to three weeks. If the skin is still flaking after that, particularly in dry red patches around the cheeks, scalp, or in the elbow and knee creases, an early eczema picture may be emerging. A GP visit is the right next step.

Cradle cap that won't budge. Most cradle cap clears with the simple soak-and-lift approach within a few months. Cradle cap that spreads onto the face and body, that becomes itchy (cradle cap itself isn't itchy), or that starts weeping or smelling, has tipped over into something else and needs a doctor's eye, the same day if it is weeping or smelling.

Early eczema in the first six to eight weeks. The classic early pattern is dry red patches on the cheeks, scalp, and the outer surfaces of the limbs. Babies with a strong family history of eczema, asthma, or hay fever are more likely to develop it. If you're seeing this, the standard Australian approach is to start with a thick fragrance-free moisturiser at the first sign of dryness and book a GP appointment for assessment and an Eczema Action Plan. Eczema that is weeping, crusted or has pus-filled spots can mean a bacterial infection and needs a doctor the same day.

If your baby has eczema and gets a cluster of small blisters or punched-out sores, especially with a fever, go to the emergency department straight away. Do not wait for a GP appointment. If your baby is floppy, drowsy, hard to wake or seems very unwell, call 000. Don't let anyone with a cold sore kiss your baby.

Our guide on how to tell nappy rash from eczema walks through how the two patterns differ.

A persistent stork bite that looks darker, thicker, or more raised than the flat pink patches. Salmon patches fade. Port-wine stains and other vascular lesions don't, and a few of them are worth assessing for the same reasons your midwife checks at the early visits.

Mottling that sits in the same patch from birth and doesn't fade, however warm your baby is. This is different from ordinary mottling. DermNet NZ describes an uncommon birthmark called cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita: fixed, net-like blue to purple patches that don't fade with warming and slowly fade over the first years of life. It isn't an emergency in a well baby, but it is worth a GP look, because it is sometimes linked to other findings, such as a difference in limb length, that a doctor will want to follow.

The pattern across all of these is the same: most settle, a small subset don't. If something isn't tracking the way you expect after a fortnight, that's exactly what your MCHN visits and a quick GP appointment are designed for.

When to get help: 000, hospital or GP

Some signs need an ambulance or the emergency department straight away. Some need a doctor as soon as possible, and some a GP today. Others are worth a GP visit this week. If you're not sure which group your baby fits, treat it as the more urgent one, and call 000 if your baby seems very unwell.

Call 000 or go straight to the emergency department

• A fever with drowsiness or being hard to wake, trouble breathing, a stiff neck, a seizure, blue or very pale skin, or a rash that does not fade when you press on it.

• A rash that doesn't fade when you press the side of a clear drinking glass firmly against it, if the rash is spreading or looks like purple bruises, or your baby has a fever, is drowsy, floppy or hard to wake, is feeding less than usual, has a high-pitched cry, or seems unwell in any way. This pattern can be a sign of meningococcal infection. A rash that doesn't fade under a pressed glass in a baby under three months who seems well still needs the emergency department straight away (see below).

• Blue or grey lips, tongue or face, a baby who suddenly turns pale, blue or grey, or skin on your baby's body that looks pale, blotchy, grey or blue. Don't wait to see whether warming helps, and don't wait for other symptoms. In babies with darker skin the change can look grey or white rather than blue, so check the lips, tongue and nail beds. Healthdirect lists pale, blotchy or blue skin as a reason to call 000.

  A colour change is not always an infection. It can also be the first sign of a heart problem that wasn't picked up at birth, so call 000 even if your baby has no fever. Hands or feet that stay blue once your baby is warm, after the first day, need 000 too.

• Cold hands and feet together with any other change: pale, blotchy or blue skin, drowsiness or floppiness, fast or difficult breathing, poor feeding, a fever, or a baby who just doesn't seem right to you. The Better Health Channel lists cold hands and feet, and pale or blotchy skin in infants, among the symptoms of meningococcal disease, and notes that not everyone with meningococcal disease gets the rash.

• Widespread blistering or peeling that looks scalded.

• A baby under one month whose back or tummy feels cold, or whose temperature is below 36.5°C taken under the arm, even if they seem otherwise well. In newborns, a serious infection such as sepsis can cause a low temperature instead of a fever.

• A baby aged one to three months whose back or tummy feels cold, who has cold hands or feet, or whose temperature is below 36.5°C under the arm, and who also has any other sign on this list, is not feeding, has fewer wet nappies, is quieter than usual, is irritable and can't be comforted, or has a weak, high-pitched or unusual cry. Babies with sepsis do not always have a fever.

• Difficulty breathing, working hard to breathe, grunting, or pauses in breathing.

• A seizure.

• Hives with breathing difficulty, swollen lips or tongue, or a baby who looks pale or floppy. Lay the baby flat (sit them up only if they're struggling to breathe), and call 000.

• A baby who is lethargic, floppy, hard to rouse, or simply not themselves, with or without a rash. Treat it the same way if you feel something is seriously wrong.

• Any rash with a high-pitched cry, arching of the back, or stiff or floppy tone.

Go to the emergency department now

• A fever of 38°C or higher in a baby under three months, with or without other symptoms, even if they seem well. healthdirect advises taking a baby under 3 months with a fever to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Do not wait for a GP appointment.

• A rash that does not fade when you press the side of a clear drinking glass firmly against it, in a baby under three months, even if they have no fever and seem well. Do not wait for a GP appointment.

• Blisters, or a cluster of small fluid-filled spots, anywhere on a baby under three months. Go straight away.

• A baby aged one to three months who seems their usual self but has a temperature below 36.5°C under the arm. Check they are not underdressed or in a cold room, warm them with skin-to-skin contact or an extra layer, then take their temperature again under the arm within the hour.

  If it is still below 36.5°C, go to the emergency department. Don't wait out the hour if you are worried or anything changes: go now. If any of the 000 signs above appear while you wait, call 000. Don't wait for a fever.

• Yellow skin or eyes in the first 24 hours after birth.

• A jaundiced baby who is sleepy, feeding poorly or having fewer wet nappies. If they are hard to wake or floppy, call 000.

• If your baby has eczema and gets a cluster of small blisters or punched-out sores, especially with a fever, go to the emergency department straight away. Do not wait for a GP appointment. If your baby is floppy, drowsy, hard to wake or seems very unwell, call 000. Don't let anyone with a cold sore kiss your baby.

For babies under three months, use a digital thermometer under the arm. A normal temperature for a young baby is about 36.5°C to 37.5°C.

See a doctor as soon as possible

That means a doctor within hours, the same day, not a routine booking. If no GP can see your baby within hours, go to the emergency department. Nurse-On-Call (1300 60 60 24), healthdirect (1800 022 222) or the Maternal and Child Health Line (13 22 29 in Victoria) can help you work out where to go.

• Signs that can point to a heart problem not found at birth: breathing that stays fast even when your baby is resting, getting sweaty or worn out during feeds, feeding poorly, not gaining weight, or puffiness around the eyes, tummy or legs. The Royal Children's Hospital says symptoms of a heart problem often show up in the first few weeks after birth.

• Poo that is pale, chalky, white or putty-coloured, or dark urine. Take a photo of the nappy and see your GP that same day, or go to your nearest emergency department.

• A rash that doesn't fade under a pressed glass in a baby three months or older who is well and has no fever.

• Spreading redness around the umbilical cord stump, with or without smell or ooze. With a fever in a baby under three months, go to the emergency department (see above). If your baby is drowsy, floppy or not feeding, call 000.

• Heat rash with a fever in a baby older than three months (under three months follows the fever rows above).

• A rash that suddenly enlarges. If it comes with any change in feeding or alertness, call 000 (see above).

• Yellowing that spreads onto the palms and soles, or that is deepening through the second week.

See a GP today

• Cradle cap that is weeping, crusting, or smells off.

• Pus-filled bumps or spreading redness around them. A fever in a baby under three months means the emergency department, and a baby who is off feeds or seems unwell means 000 (see above).

• Jaundice that's still there beyond two weeks in a term baby.

Book a GP visit this week

• Suspected eczema, for diagnosis and an Eczema Action Plan.

• Nappy rash that is not improving after seven days of correct care.

• New pimples appearing for the first time after six weeks.

• Peeling that's persisting past three to four weeks.

• Mottling in a fixed patch that has been there since birth and never fades with warming.

• Any pattern in a well baby that you can't place.

When you describe what you're seeing to a clinician, the helpful detail is: where on the body, when it started, whether it has changed since, whether the baby is well or unsettled, and whether feeding and wet nappies are normal. A photo on a phone is useful.

What to do (and what NOT to do)

Most newborn skin care fits on a postcard. Australian authorities are remarkably consistent on this. Our newborn skin care guide covers the day-to-day routine in more detail.

The basics. Two to three baths a week is enough for a healthy newborn. The Royal Children's Hospital recommends warm water around 37 to 38°C (test with the inside of your wrist or elbow, or a bath thermometer), short baths of five to ten minutes, and a mild soap-free cleanser if anything beyond water is used.

On non-bath days, a warm washcloth over the face, hands, and bottom does the job. Pat dry, paying attention to the folds. The Royal Children's Hospital advises applying a thick, non-fragranced moisturiser all over daily at the first sign of dryness, and more often if the skin always seems dry.

What to avoid. The Royal Children's Hospital and Raising Children Network are aligned on the things that don't belong on newborn skin: fragrances, perfumes, essential oils (including lavender and tea tree), botanical or food-derived ingredients, antibacterial washes, adult skincare and adult acne products, talcum powder, bubble bath, and aqueous cream containing sodium lauryl sulfate. Less is more is not a slogan in Australian paediatric guidance. It's the position.

The single biggest trap is doing too much. Trying a new product because the last one isn't working after a few days. Bathing daily with rich cleansers because the skin looks dry.

Slathering on creams to fix peeling that would have settled in a fortnight on its own. Most of these slow things down rather than speed them up.

For cord care, plain water is enough. Keep the stump clean and dry, fold the nappy below it so it can air, and watch for redness or smell. The stump usually separates by seven to fourteen days.

For sun protection in the first six months, shade, clothing, and a broad-brimmed hat are the main tools. Sunscreen on babies under six months is not the first choice. SunSmart and Cancer Council Australia describe shade and physical cover as the primary protection. If shade is genuinely not possible, a small amount of SPF 50+ formulated for babies on the unavoidable exposed areas is the back-up.

For temperature, follow Red Nose Australia on dressing your baby for sleep: dress your baby as you would dress yourself for the temperature of the room, so you feel comfortable, not too hot and not too cold. Cool hands and feet are normal when your baby's tummy feels warm, their lips and tongue are pink and they are settled and feeding well. To check, feel your baby's back or tummy, which should feel warm to the touch and not hot or clammy.

A warm tummy and a cool foot is fine. A warm, damp baby is too dressed. Cold hands and feet in a baby who is pale, blotchy, drowsy, breathing fast or off their feeds are a different signal: call 000. A baby under one month whose back or tummy feels cold needs 000 too.

Connect with your MCHN

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) service in Victoria, and the equivalent child-health nurse services across the other states, exist for exactly the questions this article is about. The first weeks of MCH visits (the home visit, two-week, four-week, and eight-week visits in Victoria's Key Ages and Stages schedule) are weighted toward physical assessment, feeding, growth, jaundice monitoring, skin findings, and birthmark documentation. Your nurse has seen the patterns described above more times than they can count.

Bring the question. Bring the photo. Show them what changed.

Between visits, MCH services run a phone line. In Victoria the MCH Line is 13 22 29, free and staffed by MCH nurses 24 hours a day. Other states have parallel services through community health centres or state nurse-advice lines. They are designed for the question you're not sure rises to a GP appointment yet, which is most of the questions in the first six weeks.

Maternal and child health nurses also refer onward. If they think a GP, paediatrician, or emergency department is the right next step, they say so. Treating them as the first call rather than the last call is one of the better moves in early parenting.

When your instinct says something's off

Australian paediatric authorities take parental instinct seriously. Raising Children Network regards parents knowing their own child best as a clinical signal, not a kind word. Parents often notice the change in feeding, the change in cry, or the change in alertness before any test confirms anything. That sensitivity is part of why parents and child-health nurses are paired up the way they are in the first months.

Two practical points sit alongside the instinct rule, both of which Australian sources are explicit about.

The first is the over-Googling spiral. Symptom searches at 2am pull up every condition that has ever shared a feature with what you're looking at. The Australian authority sites take a different approach. They normalise the common, then list the small set of red flags.

The order is deliberate: explain what's most likely, then say clearly when it isn't. If a quick check on Raising Children Network or healthdirect doesn't settle it, the next call is usually the MCH Line or your GP, not another search.

The second is the helpline model. Better Health Channel describes Nurse-On-Call as a service designed to absorb overnight worry. A registered nurse listens, advises, and routes you to a GP, an emergency department, or a wait-and-see plan.

None of this is a hotline of last resort. It is the first port of call.

If your instinct says something's off, that warrants a phone call, not a Google search. The number for emergencies is 000. For non-emergency advice, the options in Victoria are the MCH Line on 13 22 29, Nurse-On-Call on 1300 60 60 24, or healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (national, 24 hours). For perinatal anxiety or low mood, PANDA is on 1300 726 306.

None of these calls are wasted, even when the answer turns out to be that everything is normal.

There's also the well-meaning-relatives layer. Advice you'll hear from family and friends is often kindly meant and decades out of date. Talcum powder, sun exposure for jaundice, scrubbing vernix off at birth, daily moisturiser from day one, picking the cradle cap loose with a fingernail. None of these match current Australian guidance.

Smile, take it in the spirit it's offered, and check the source you actually trust.

The pattern across all of this

Newborn skin in the first six weeks is meant to be busy. Most of what looks alarming is the visible side of work the body is doing on the inside. The small list of signs that are urgent really is small. Trust the Australian sources, treat your maternal and child health nurse as the first call rather than the last, and trust your own instinct when it says something's not right.

If a single line is worth taking out of this article, it's the one underneath all of it. Less is more. Watch and note.

Phone for help when something doesn't sit right. The skin will mostly look after itself.

Frequently asked questions

What's the most common rash in a newborn?

Erythema toxicum neonatorum is the most commonly described benign newborn rash. It appears in up to half of term babies, usually within the first one to three days, and clears on its own within five to fourteen days. The palms and soles are spared. Spots that turn into blisters, or a cluster of small fluid-filled spots, are not this rash: in a baby under three months, go to the emergency department straight away.

Are white bumps on my newborn's face normal?

Tiny pearly-white bumps on the nose, cheeks, and chin are usually milia. Healthdirect describes milia as small keratin-filled cysts that appear in around half of newborns and clear without treatment. Don't squeeze or pick. They settle within weeks to a few months.

If you notice a coloured rash or crusting around the spots, see your GP. Pus or spreading redness needs a doctor the same day. If your baby has a fever or seems unwell, follow the red flags in the section on when to get help above.

Why is my newborn's skin peeling?

Peeling in the first one to three weeks is normal physiological shedding. Babies born after their due date tend to peel more because their vernix was already absorbed in utero. Don't peel the flakes off. If the skin is still peeling after three to four weeks, or there are dry red patches underneath, see your GP.

Red skin that looks scalded, blisters or peels off in sheets is an emergency, with or without a fever: call 000. So is peeling skin in a baby who has a fever, is drowsy or feeding poorly, or has a rash that does not fade when pressed.

When should I worry about a newborn rash?

Call 000 or go to the emergency department for widespread blistering, breathing difficulty, swollen lips or tongue, a baby who is lethargic or hard to wake, or a rash that does not fade when you press a clear drinking glass over it if the rash is spreading or your baby has a fever or seems unwell. In a baby under three months, a rash that does not fade under a pressed glass means the emergency department straight away, even without a fever. So does a fever of 38°C or higher, even if your baby seems well.

Blisters or a cluster of small fluid-filled spots in a baby under three months need the emergency department straight away. At three months and over, a well baby with a rash that does not fade under a pressed glass needs a doctor the same day.

Is mottled skin normal in a newborn?

Usually, yes. A lacy blue-purple pattern on the arms and legs that appears when your baby is cool and fades within minutes of warming is cutis marmorata, which DermNet NZ describes in about half of children during infancy. It is not normal if the mottling stays once your baby is warm, covers the tummy, back or face, or comes with blue or grey lips or tongue, a fever, drowsiness, poor feeding, or any other red flag. Those signs can mean poor circulation from a serious infection or a heart problem: call 000, and do the same if you're not sure which it is.

Should I moisturise my newborn's skin every day?

The Royal Children's Hospital advises applying a thick, non-fragranced moisturiser all over daily at the first sign of dryness, and more often if the skin always seems dry. If your family has a strong history of eczema, asthma, or hay fever, talk to your maternal and child health nurse or GP about whether a daily emollient should start earlier.

How long do newborn skin changes last?

Most settle in the first six to twelve weeks. Typical timelines:

• Erythema toxicum: clears in five to fourteen days.

• Peeling: clears in one to three weeks.

• Baby acne: peaks at four to six weeks and clears by three to four months.

• Cradle cap: usually clears within a few months.

• Stork bites on the face: fade by one to two years.

• Congenital dermal melanocytosis: fades by age three to five for most children.

These timelines are for a baby who is otherwise well. Spots that turn into blisters, or a cluster of small fluid-filled spots, in a baby under three months need the emergency department straight away, and so does a fever of 38°C or higher. Red skin that looks scalded, blisters or peels off in sheets is an emergency, with or without a fever: call 000. If your baby seems unwell, or a change doesn't follow these timelines, follow the section on when to get help above, and if you're not sure, treat it as the more urgent one.