Heat Rash in Babies

Heat rashes are common in babies when you live in a country that is hot and humid. Though heat rashes can be bothersome, they are treatable, and you can easily get rid of them. Learn to detect heat rashes in babies and discover the causes, symptoms and treatment.

What is Heat Rash?

Heat rash is also called Miliaria Rubra, Miliaria crystalline, summer rash or prickly heat. As the name suggests, heat rashes are little bumps that show up on your baby’s skin as a result of excessive body heat. These bumps are red in colour.

Some of the places where heat rashes appear are the stomach, chest, neck, buttocks, and the crotch area. If you make your baby wear a hat, heat rashes can appear on the forehead and the scalp as well. Baby rash on neck is also common. If you see a heat rash in your baby, it is important to do something to relieve the itchiness associated with it.

What Do Heat Rashes Look Like?

Heat rashes are tiny bumps that are red in colour. They usually appear in clusters in different parts of the body.

Causes of Heat Rash?

Heat rashes will appear if your baby sweats a lot. Due to excessive sweating, the pores of his skin get clogged, and sweat cannot come out. Children and babies get heat rashes as their pores are smaller compared to adults.

If you live in hot and humid weather conditions, your baby is likely to get heat rashes. Heat rashes can appear during winter too if your baby has a fever or if you make them wear too many layers of clothing.

Is Heat Rash Painful for Babies?

Heat rashes are generally not painful for the baby. They usually cause only mild discomfort. However, this depends on the severity of the heat rash. If the rash is deep, then it could end up being painful if the child constantly keeps scratching it.

It is important to understand that babies will not be able to communicate in any way other than crying. This is why you will need to constantly pay attention to the baby’s skin and signs to ensure that he is not in any discomfort. An extreme heat rash which is a consequence of overheating could even lead to a stroke.

Symptoms of Miliaria in Babies

Heat rashes or miliaria look like tiny red pimples on your baby’s skin. Other symptoms include itchiness, crankiness and crying. Heat rashes get irritated by scratching or clothes. A secondary infection might also appear, though this is rare.

How to Diagnose Heat Rash in a Child?

Miliaria can easily be identified and usually does not need medical care. However, if the rashes do not go away in three to four days or your baby develops fever, make sure you call the doctor.

If your baby has rashes, be careful about these signs:

• Increased redness, pain, swelling, or warmth around the rashes
• Pus formation
• Fever
• Swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, arm or groin
• Appearance of red streaks on the affected area

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for heat rashes. However, you can do the following to give your baby relief from the symptoms associated with red rash on baby:

1. Reduce the Heat

Remove your baby’s clothing or loosen it. Bathe the baby in cool water to get rid of the sweat and clear the pores. You can also wipe the body with clean and wet washcloths. This will bring down the temperature of the skin as well.

2. Keep the Skin Dry

Do not use a towel to dry your baby’s skin. Let it dry naturally and take the help of a fan to cool the baby down. Do not use ointments or cream for heat rash, unless the paediatrician has asked you to do so.

3. Allow the Skin to Breathe

This is an important aspect of baby care that many parents neglect. You need to ensure that your baby’s skin is exposed to natural air as much as possible. Keep them naked or make them wear something soft and loose.

Home Remedies for Prickly Heat

You can also use the following home remedies to treat skin rashes in babies:

1. Ice Cubes

Rubbing ice cubes on the rashes can do wonders. Wrap some ice cubes in cloth and gently press on the rashes. Do not keep it pressed for a long time.

2. Baking Soda

Make a solution of baking soda and water. Dip a washcloth in the solution and use the cloth to wipe the affected area. This will ease the symptoms considerably. You can also bathe your baby with a bucket of water containing 1 tablespoon of baking soda.

3. Oatmeal

Add one cup of oatmeal (powdered) in a bathtub of water and bathe your baby with this. The water will turn milky once you add the oatmeal to it. Make sure to use organic oatmeal and not the ones that come with preservatives. Bathe your baby for 15-20 mins and pat them dry.

4. Sandalwood Powder

A sweet smelling option that you have is sandalwood powder. It helps in cooling down your baby’s skin and eliminating all the symptoms. Make a paste with equal parts of rose water and sandalwood powder. Apply this over the rashes to reduce the symptoms. Another remedy involves mixing 2 tablespoons of coriander powder, 2 tablespoons of sandalwood paste, and a little rose water.

5. Fuller’s Earth

Fuller’s earth or Multani mitti is another excellent home remedy that you can make use of. All you need to do is make a thick paste with fuller’s earth and rose water. Then apply the paste on the rashes to see your baby get instant relief from the itching.

6. Neem

Make a smooth paste by grinding neem leaves and apply that paste on the affected area. Let the paste dry and rinse with cold water.

7. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera gel is also known to offer relief from heat rashes. If you have an Aloe Vera plant at home, you can scoop out the gel from the leaves yourself. If you are buying it off the shelf, make sure to use organic Aloe Vera gel without any preservatives or chemicals. You can safely apply this gel to soothe baby heat rash on the face as well as other body parts

8. Cucumber

Cut one cucumber into numerous slices and put the slices on your baby’s skin. You can also grind the cucumber and apply the paste on the rashes for immediate cooling.

How to Prevent Heat Rash?

Here are some ways by which you can prevent common heat rash among babies:

• Keep your baby away from the scorching rays of the sun. Keep them indoors in air-conditioned rooms especially during peak heat times. When you take them out, ensure they are in a shaded area. Also, ensure that your baby is well-hydrated
• Always dress her in comfortable and loose-fitting clothes, especially during the summer. Cotton is the way to go. Avoid using plastic diaper covers completely
• Areas like the neck, armpits, and crotch tend to get sweaty. Wash these areas with cool water and ensure that they are dry
• Check if your baby is overheating at regular intervals. If they are damp and warm, it is time to give them a shower or cool their skin down with a washcloth
• Make the baby sleep in an air-conditioned room or have a fan installed in their room. The fan or the air conditioner should not be directed to your baby. Just make sure that a gentle breeze reaches them while they sleep

Living in tropical, humid regions always increases the chances of heat rash. As babies are too small to communicate, they may not be able to express their discomfort during the onset of the heat rash. It is up to the parents to scan the entire body of the baby and remain vigilant. In case your baby comes down with a heat rash, the tips shared above will help you take corrective action.