Mandy Moore shares her 2yo son Gus has Gianotti-Crosti Syndrome

“This parenting thing is weird and hard and sometimes you feel so helpless”

On July 28, singer, songwriter, and actress Mandy Moore shared an Instagram Story about her and Taylor Goldsmith’s two-year-old son, Gus, being diagnosed with Gianotti-Crosti syndrome.

Sharing images of her son and his rash, the 39yo This Is Us alum wrote: This sweet boy woke up with a crazy rash on Saturday am. We thought maybe an excema (sic) flare? Poison oak? Allergy. We tried to deduce what it could be and did anything to help him find relief from the itch.”

Mandy, who also has a five-month-old son, Ozzie, said she “Went to urgent care. Pediatrician. Dermatlogist. Pediatric dermatologist. All the while, he smiles and carries on with his day like the rockstar he is.”

Eventually, doctors told Mandy that the cause was “a viral childhood rash that just spontaneously appears called Gianotti-Crosti syndrome.”

Mandy described the rash as being “all over his legs and feet [ouch] and the backs of his arms but nowhere else.”

She wrote: “There’s nothing to do but a steroid cream and Benadryl at night. And it could last 6-8 weeks. Ooooof. Anyone else ever experience this??”

The mum-of-two finished the post saying, “All of that to say, this parenting thing is weird and hard and sometimes you feel so helpless (and yes I’m ever so grateful it’s only an itchy skin condition). Kids are resilient and as long as he’s smiling through it, we are a-okay.”

What is Gianotti-Crosti syndrome?

Gianotti-Crosti syndrome is the name given to a rash which is caused by a viral infection. The rash is characterised by small, red or flesh-coloured bumps and is typically found on the legs, buttocks, arms and face of children aged 6 months to 14 years.

The syndrome is often associated with viral infections, especially hepatitis B or Epstein-Barr virus. While the exact cause is not fully understood, it’s believed to involve a reaction of the immune system to the viral infection.

The rash usually resolves on its own without treatment.