What do you do with the rashes acquired from phototherapy?

[Julie Basilio]

I need help. What do you do with the rashes acquired from phototherapy?

Thanks a lot!

[littleneoRN]

Generally nothing. They seem to heal well on their own. Rarely, we'll see a severe rash with open sores, and dermatology and/or our skin care nurse will consult.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

We have Nivea cream prn written into our standing orders (keep in mind this is mostly well-baby with some little peanuts, lights, abx, and withdrawers thrown in) for dry/peeling skin. Sometimes it helps parents feel better if we're 'doing something' but I don't recall ever seeing phototx rash bad enough to actually need intervention.

[Julie Basilio]

Thanks a lot for the above insights!

[neonatal_nurse]

If your referring to the rashes around the eyes, if your using improvised eye mask, it could be an allergic reaction to the tape your using. Try to lessen the area of skin the tape is attached to, that will help. And expose it to air when possible.

[dawnebeth]

I don't recall seeing many rashes simply from phototherapy. We put a cloth mask on the baby, not the kind that stick to the baby's head. And aquaphor for dry skin. Make sure the old style of phototherapy lamps is calibrated to the right level. The neo-blues don't seem to need to be calibrated--but on smaller babies, we put the baby in an isolette before using the neo-blue so the baby will be warmer and the light is far enough away.