My four-year-old daughter has started to get a skin rash all over her legs and arms. Nothing on her torso. Does not itch but looks like small bumps. Should I take her into urgent care to be seen or will this clear up on its own?

Has she had any other symptoms in the last week, such as a fever or a cold? I'm wondering if your daughter is just getting over a virus. Often at the tail end of a virus, children can break out in a rash that goes away after a couple of days.

Any new creams, detergents, or soaps she's been exposed to? Has she been in the sun a lot lately? These are other possible causes of rashes in small kids (and in adults).

I recommend that you call your doctor and be prepared to share some of this information. It's likely that it's nothing serious and that it will go away in a few days. But I can't say for sure, since I don't have the complete story from you. So please do call your daughter's doctor tomorrow, if you haven't already, or if it hasn't cleared up by the time you get this response.

Thanks for asking. And I hope your daughter is better soon.

Dr. Mike Potter

-- Michael Potter, MD, is an associate professor at the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center.

First published March 29, 2005
Last updated June 21, 2007
Copyright © 2005 Consumer Health Interactive