Distinguishing vesicular and pustular disorders in the neonate

Vesicular and pustular disorders are common in the neonatal period. Most are benign, but several serious infectious and noninfectious diseases can present in the neonate. This review focuses on the clinical features of these disorders as well as recent advances in the field. The following diseases are discussed: erythema toxicum, transient neonatal pustular melanosis, miliaria, neonatal acne, eosinophilic folliculitis, mastocytosis, acropustulosis of infancy, incontinentia pigmenti, scabies, neonatal and congenital candidiasis, syphilis, neonatal herpes simplex infections, neonatal varicella, and staphylococcal infections.