This PedsCases Note provides a one-page infographic on Erythema Toxic Neonatorum (ETN), a transient, self-limiting rash of the neonatal period. It was created by Dania Shikara with the help of Dr. Connie Williams.

Click on the image below for the full-screen PDF handout.

Related Content

• Podcast: Diaper Dermatitis

• Podcast: Approach to Purpura

• Podcast: Viral Rashes in Children

• Podcast: Approach to Pediatric Rashes

References 

1. Marchini, G., Nelson, A., Edner, J., Lonne-Rahm, S., Stavréus-Evers, A., & Hultenby, K. (2005). Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum Is an Innate Immune Response to Commensal Microbes Penetrated into the Skin of the Newborn Infant. Pediatric Research, 58(3), 613–616. https://doi.org/10.1203/01.pdr.0000176836.27156.32

2. O’Connor, N. R., McLaughlin, M. R., & Ham, P. (2008). Newborn skin: Part I. Common rashes. PubMed, 77(1), 47–52. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18236822

3. Liu, C., Feng, J., Qu, R., Zhou, H., Ma, H., Niu, X., Dang, Q., Zhang, X., & Tian, Z. (2005). Epidemiologic Study of the Predisposing Factors in Erythema toxicum neonatorum. Dermatology, 210(4), 269–272. https://doi.org/10.1159/000084749

4. Mathes, E., & Kittler, N.W. (2024, January 22). Vesticular, pustular, and bullous lesions in the newborn and infant. UptoDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/vesicular-pustular-and-bullous-lesions...

5. Marchini, G., Ulfgren, A. K., Loré, K., Ståbi, B., Berggren, V., Lonne-Rahm, S. (2001). Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum: An immunohistological analysis. Pediatr Dermatol, 18(3), 177–87. https://doi-org.libaccess.lib.mcmaster.ca/10.1046/j.1525-1470.2001.01800...

6. Roques, E., Ward, R., Syed, HA., et al. (2025, January 20). Erythema Toxicum. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470222/

7. Mathes, E. & Lalor, L. (2024, June 19). Skin lesions in the newborn and infant. UptoDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/skin-lesions-in-the-newborn-and-infant...

8. Demmler-Harrison, G. (2025, Jan 15). Neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection: Clinical features and diagnosis. UptoDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/neonatal-herpes-simplex-virus-hsv-infe...

9. Speer, M. (2024, Nov 4). Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection in newborn. UptoDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/varicella-zoster-virus-vzv-infection-i...