Are itchy, pus-filled skin spots on a baby concerning?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 15-month-old baby is having spots with pus. It is itchy and scaly. The spots have increased in a week. It seems to heal, but then they appear in another region. I have attached the photos. Kindly check them. Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have gone through the photos (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Your child has atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis). He scratched it a lot, and so the lesion got infected. Basically, two things have to be kept in mind.

First, we need to treat atopic eczema.
Secondly, treat infection due to uncontrolled scratching in eczema.

Atopic eczema is a very common problem. As age increases, it goes away on its own. Keep the skin moisturized. Use a good moisturizer and apply it four to five times a day. The more the skin is hydrated, the less the itching. Avoid exposure to dust, chemicals, powder, irritant clothes, spicy food, and seafood. Cut the nails and keep the body clean. Avoid overuse of soap and shampoo, as these are too chemical-heavy. Use steroid creams like Diprovate (Betamethasone dipropionate), Clonate (Clobetasol propionate) over itchy eczema. It should not be applied to infected, crusted, and bleeding parts. Antihistamines are a must. Give syrup Atarax (Hydroxyzine) half a teaspoon thrice a day. For crusted and infected areas, use T-bact cream (Mupirocin ointment) twice a day. Let it heal. Continue it for months till the allergy subsides.

Thank you.