Erythema toxicum in newborns typically resolves by which day?

• A. 1st day
• B. 5th day
• C. 2nd day
• D. 3rd day

Answer: (D)

Erythema toxicum neonatorum is a common, benign newborn rash that appears soon after birth and resolves on its own without treatment. The condition typically first becomes evident within the first day or two after birth and then clears over the following days as the skin heals and the transient inflammatory process subsides. In many newborns, the rash is already fading by around the third day, with further improvement over the next couple of days. Because it is self-limited and doesn’t require intervention, the day by which it resolves is best estimated as a short time frame within the first few days of life, making the third day a commonly cited point for resolution in clinical practice. However, there is variability, and some infants may take longer to clear, up to about a week or more, but no treatment is needed for this condition.