Is my baby a (beautiful) freak? (skin condition advice)

[Ruth_Baldock]

Happy Friday, Forum!

Baby Lex (7mo) often comes out in a red rash when outside in the sunlight. The rash isn't raised and dissapears w/in 1-3 hours and doesn't bother Lex in the slightest. It it normally concentrated around her eyes, forehead and rOund the sides of her head around her ears. It happened when she was tIny and it was still warm/hot.

I'd take her to the GP with this vague description but fear there isn't much they could do without seeing it.

What gives, Forum?

[sillywoman]

Heat rash? Sorry Ruth, got nothing more than that to offer. Does it seem to bother her or itch?

[Curmudgeon]

could it possibly just be that sunscream, big wide hat and sunbrolly isrequired

she could just have more than usually sun-sensitivity and it's melanin at work - skin goes red in the sun before tanning

[lebara]

take her to the drop in clinic on Grove Vale. Its only a tenner including homepathic remedy. if it doesn,'t work, you haven't lost much.

[buggie]

Would say that if it doesn't bother her, & it goes of its own accord leaving nil obv damage then there's not a huge amount to worry about - presuming all sensible sun protection used as/of appropriate. Can't remember what it's called. It think some people can be a bit sensitive to the sun if haven't had reg exposure but the symptoms ease as it gets more sunny/skin gets use to it. Afraid the name of it is another thing to add to the list of things that becoming a mum has made me forget! :)

[Saffron]

Redness in the skin is most likely to be the result of vascular activity. As far as I understand, redness in the skin is not related to melanin activity, although exposures resulting in increased vascular activity can also independently result in melanogenesis. Melanogenesis occurs is the epidermis following UV-induced DNA damage. Contrary to popular belief, redness does not develop into a tan. Sunburn does not develop into a tan either. These events are separate at the physiological level. Tan or sunburn can also each occur without any preceding redness, which is why sometimes you don't know your skin is sunburned until the burn itself develops some hours later.

If the rash doesn't persist, itch, or blister, I totally agree with buggie, don't worry about it. If it does persist or cause irritation, there are some very rare skin conditions such as polymorphous light eruption, solar urticaria, or light sensitive eczema for example, that might be to blame. I think you'd need to see a specialist dermatologist to diagnose this.

Could you take a few before and after pics of the rash? This way you'd have a photo record of whether it's better/worse/same over the summer, and also what it looks like to show your GP if needed.