Of soap and seborrhea: skin problems in infants.

Skin lesions in infants can herald serious internal problems or be relatively benign. Interpreting skin manifestations can be extremely confusing, therefore, and although many can be 'spot' diagnoses, puzzling rashes should be approached systematically according to the areas that are affected and the nature of the lesions. Dr. Nickerson describes common dermatological conditions seen in the newborn and older infants and advocates a common sense approach, especially on questions of what to bathe the baby with. He outlines followup procedures for those conditions which are signs of more serious internal disorders, and emphasizes reassurance and education of the mother.