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Instructions

• Instructions for new users

Call Your Doctor Now If:

• Your child looks or acts very sick
• Purple or blood-colored spots or dots that's not from injury or friction
• Bright red area or red streak (but not sunburn)
• Rash area is very painful
• Age < 1 month old and tiny water blisters (like chickenpox)

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours If:

• You think your child needs to be seen
• Severe itching or fever is present
• Looks like a boil or infected sore or other infected rash
• Teenager with genital area rash
• Lyme disease suspected (bull's eye rash, tick bite or exposure)

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Hours If:

• You have other questions or concerns
• Pimples
• Peeling fingers
• Rash lasts > 7 days

Home Care (Read "Call Your Doctor…" first):

Avoid the Cause

Try to find the cause. Consider irritants like a plant (e.g. poison ivy), chemicals (e.g. solvents or insecticides), Fiberglass, detergents, a new cosmetic, or new jewelry.

A pet may be the intermediary (e.g. with poison ivy or oak) or your child may react directly to pet saliva.

Avoid Soap

Wash the area once thoroughly with soap to remove any remaining irritants. Thereafter avoid soaps to this area. Cleanse the area when needed with warm water.

Local Cold

Apply or soak in cold water for 20 minutes every 3 to 4 hours to reduce itching or pain.

Steroid Cream

If the itch is more than mild, apply 1% hydrocortisone cream (no prescription needed) every 2 hours until it feels better, then 4 times per day. (Exception: suspected ringworm).

Avoid Scratching

Encourage the child not to scratch. Cut the fingernails short.

Contagiousness

Children with localized rashes do not need to miss any day care or school.

Expected Course

Most of these rashes pass in 2 to 3 days.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Rash spreads or becomes worse
• Rash lasts > 1 week
• Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms