Baby heat rash is commonly found in babies, and your baby might have sensitive skin. You want to know the actual reason for baby heat rash.
Some babies have sensitive skin, and they are exposed to rash. You will notice redness and rashes at some unusual points. In most cases, rashes are not dangerous, but in some situations, rashes are a sign of underlying dangerous diseases.
As you know, you cannot treat any disease if you do not have a proper diagnosis. It is important to know the heat rash so you can adopt the best way to treat this problem.
We are here to give you proper guidelines and information about baby rash, and we will also discuss the causes and symptoms of baby heat rash. We will also discuss preventions and home remedies for treating baby heat rash and when you need to worry.
After reading this article, you will get the answer to these ordinary questions How long does heat rash last? Sun rash on face, Heat rash on arms, Heat rash on baby’s face, and Heat rash on stomach.
What Is Baby Heat Rash?
Heat rash baby is mostly considered as summer or prickly heat. It is defined as a rash formed by the outburst of small bumps which are identical to blisters.
These bumps will appear red if your little one has a light and sensitive skin. Newborn and infant heat rash are most common, but this heat can develop in anyone.
Toddler heat rand or children’s heat rash most commonly happens when your little one becomes overheated. Heat rash in babies is most commonly noticed in these points of skin:
- Chest
- Stomach
- Neck
- Heat rash on babies will also appear in all those parts where cloth will contact your skin tightly. Here is a picture of a heat rash and bumps on my face.
What Does Heat Rash Look Like?
We have noticed prickly heat on your baby’s skin. It looks like patches of little bumps or mostly appears as tiny blisters. Its normal color is red in babies with light skin.
These baby heat rash most commonly occurs on:
- Posterior of your little one’s neck.
- The surface of your baby’s shoulder and chest.
- In the place where cloth tightly comes in contact with skin. It mainly includes the diaper area, especially the waistline area.
- It also occurs on your forehead or scalp if you wear a hat.
- It is commonly seen in the back of the knee, elbow creases, neck, and armpits.
- The heat rash on the baby’s belly is also red.
- Eczema, baby heat rash, appears as red patches on the skin.
Types Of Baby Heat Rash
Heat rash on newborns and heat rash on toddlers is most common in babies, and it is difficult to explain this situation to others. It is because these Heat rash in toddlers appears like little pumps with redness around them.
There are different types of heat rashes, and here we will explain different types of heat rashes.
Miliaria Crystallina
This heat rash occurs when your baby’s sweat glands are blocked.
Cause
This heat rash occurs because your little one’s sweat glands are not properly formed.
You will notice a clear fluid-filled pump which you can easily break.
Miliaria Rubra
This most common and well-known type of heat rash on newborns is sometimes called prickly heat.
Cause
It is caused due to blockage of the sweat gland present deep in the skin and causes inflamed pumps, prickly sensations, and itching.
Its symptoms become severe during baby sweating. In newborns, this heat rash is most commonly seen in the groin region, armpits, and neck.
Miliaria Profunda
This type of heat rash is less common in babies and occurs deep in the skin.
This rash causes fleshed-colored pumps which are big and create itching.
During sweating, these pumps appear on the arms and legs but are most commonly seen in the trunk.
Your baby rash becomes clear during a stoppage of sweating. Here is a picture of a heat rash on my buttocks.
What Are Heat Rash Symptoms In Babies?
There are a lot of symptoms in babies, and here we will discuss some of the main symptoms:
Moist red bumps often appear as small clusters identical to blisters or pimples.
Appearance
It mostly appears red and is found in skin folds of necks, arms, legs, chest, and diaper areas.
Itching
It is the most common symptom, and you will notice the baby’s restlessness and extra crankiness with prickly pain. You must focus on symptoms as your baby can’t describe his condition.
Trouble sleeping
Due to itching, pain, and prickling sensations, your baby will face trouble sleeping.
What Do You Know About The Causes Of Heat Rash?
Heat rash on the baby’s face and other sweat glands most commonly occur due to sweat gland blockage. It mainly occurs when:
You expose your little one to much heat or sun.
You put your baby in overdressed or tight clothes.
You expose your baby to intense exercise or physical activity.
How Would You Diagnose Baby Heat Rash?
The key to diagnosing baby heat rash is its appearance. Your pediatrician will question your baby’s symptoms and health history to get more information. He will also check your baby’s physical condition and refer you to some rash tests if needed.
How To Get Rid Of Heat Bumps?
In normal situations, there is no need to treat heat rash. These rashes become normal in a typical duration of 2 to 3 days. You can follow these instructions to treat heat rash or heat bumps:
Hydrocortisone cream
This cream is best for relieving itching. You need to apply over-the-counter (OTC) hydrocortisone cream.
Make sure you are not applying this cream to your diaper.
You must wash your hand with sanitizer and soap before applying this cream to the affected area.
Antihistamine medicine
You can also administer antihistamine medicine in your baby’s body to relieve itching.
Cool Compress
You can also eliminate heat bumps on arms and other body parts by applying a cool compress. Cool compress is given by washing cloth in cool water, then applied to the affected area.
Cool baths
Heat bumps on legs and other body parts can also be removed if you expose your baby to cool baths.
Diaper loosening
As discussed earlier, your baby’s diaper is also responsible for rashes; you can prevent them by loosening the diaper area.
Loosen your child’s diaper if it rubs against the rash area.
Heat Rash Is Treacherous Or Not?
Sun rash on the face or simple baby heat rash is not dangerous. In a normal case, it causes nothing dangerous except restlessness and itchiness.
The most common cause of baby heat rash is an increment in normal heat. Thus you must take immediate action to lower the baby’s body temperature.
Heat stroke may be much more dangerous if your little one remains overheated for a long time.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a critical condition that occurs in babies when your little one gets overheated at night. You must check your baby’s dress and room temperature before moving your baby into the room.
If you feel too hot, it will certainly be much hot for your baby.
When Do You Need To Worry About Baby Heat Rash?
When you take appropriate measures to make your baby’s skin temperature normal to prevent heat rash, you should not be worried.
In most cases, heat rashes are not fatal. It is because heat rash occurs because of the diaper, which is less severe. As discussed above, in some cases, heat rashes can be fatal if you don’t care about your baby properly.
When Do You Need To Call A Doctor?
In case of the following symptoms, you must call your healthcare worker.
Pus-Filled blisters:
As you know, pus-filled blisters are a sign of underlying disease, and you must consult your doctor in case of this problem.
Red streaks on the skin
As you know, rashes are normal, and there is no need to worry about them. But if you notice red steaks, contact your healthcare worker immediately.
Swollen Lymph nodes
These swollen lymph nodes are also dangerous, and you must contact them if the case of this problem.
Chills
Chills may be fatal, so you should contact your healthcare worker.
Skin Peeling
There are many diseases associated with skin peeling, and you must call your doctor before wasting time.
Palm and hands redness
No doubt, heat rashes look red, but if you notice intense redness on your palm and hands is serious.
Rashes that do not lighten when touched
Rashes are mostly lightened on touch, and severe rashes and underlying disease rash do not lighten on touch.
Long-term rash
As rashes last about 2 to 3 days, you must consult your doctor if your baby’s skin rash lasts more than 7 days.
Associated symptoms:
As described earlier, baby heat rash is not a disease but a heat rash with a sore throat, body aches, and fever that may be due to an illness or severe infection.
In this case, you must consult your doctor.
Seizures with fever
A seizure may cause due by a disturbance in the brain’s electrical activity, and you need to consult your doctor in case of seizures with fever.
Fever and Children
Your baby’s skin temperature may fluctuate, and you must use a digital thermometer to check skin temperature. You must avoid using a mercury thermometer.
Using a rectal thermometer, you must measure your infant and toddler’s skin temperature. You have to place this thermometer in the hole of the rectum. Your baby can move out of his body during stool pass.
You must read the instructional manual before checking the baby’s body temperature. You can also use another temperature measurement method if you are uncomfortable with the rectal temperature.
You must inform your healthcare worker about the method you use for temperature measurement.
In this article, we will also guide you about baby skin temperature. Before discussing the skin temperature, you must know that ear temperature is not trustable before 6 months.
You must avoid oral temperature until your loved one hits the age of about 4 years.
Baby under 3 months old
First, you need to ask your doctor method of baby skin temperature measurement. Here are some typical ranges of temperature:
Rectal and forehead
It must be 100.4°F or advised by your doctor according to your baby’s condition.
Armpit temperature
Its normal range is about 99°F or advised by your doctor according to your baby’s condition.
Children aged 3 to 36 months Rectal, ear, and forehead
It must be 102°F or advised by your doctor according to your baby’s condition.
Armpit temperature
Its normal range is about 101°F or advised by your doctor according to your baby’s condition.
Baby of any age:
Your baby with an age of more than 6 months temperature must be 104°F or advised by your doctor according to your baby’s condition.
You must call your doctor if your baby is under the age of 2 years and the fever lasts more than 24 hours.
You must call your doctor if your baby is 2 years or older and the fever lasts more than 3 days.
How Long Does A Heat Rash Last?
Now our topic of discussion is How long do heat rashes last? As described earlier, normal heat rash lasts for about 2 to 3 days and will be recovered independently. There is no need to be worried about it because it is not a sign of any danger.
You must consult your doctor if you notice any adverse changes in your child’s skin and other symptoms like fever, infection, etc.
How Would You Treat Baby Heat Rash?
You must follow these instructions when your little one suffers from a heat rash. In this way, you can save your baby from any harm.
Baby Cool down
Baby heat rash mostly occurs due to heat; in this case, you must shift your baby to a cool place such as a tree shade and air-conditioned room.
You should expose your baby to sunshade.
You can also put cool packs on your baby’s skin to cover the heat rash.
Undress your baby
Your baby’s cloth is responsible for heat rash, and it would be best if you remove your baby’s clothing. This thing will cause your baby to prevent from severe rash.
Avoid skin moisture
Moist skin can cause severe rash, so dry your baby’s skin.
You must avoid using a towel to dry your skin because it can cause rashes to become severe.
Before skin drying, you must shift your baby to a cool place.
Avoid Tight clothing
First, you place your baby in a cool place then you need to dry his skin.
Now, it’s time to wear clothes. You must ensure that your baby’s cloth is not must tight because tight cloth can cause rashes to become severe.
You must choose loose clothing in case of rash.
Avoid scratching
If your baby is suffering from a rash, you must ensure he is not scratching his skin. I know it is pretty difficult to stop your baby from scratching but try your best for him.
If skin blisters get open due to scratching, it will cause infection, which may be fatal.
You can also prevent scratching by cutting your baby’s fingernail. It is reduced the chances of blister opening.
Avoid medication
To avoid rashes, you must avoid administering any medicine or ointment on your baby’s skin. This can cause severe rashes, and you must follow healthcare worker instructions only.
What Is A Method To Prevent A Baby’s Heat Rash?
You can easily prevent heat rashes by following our simple instructions described below.
Comfortable dressing
Your baby’s dress plays a core role in causing baby heat rash. You must dress your baby according to the surrounding environment.
If you feel your baby’s environment is hot, you must dress him in loose clothes.
In a cold environment, you need to dress him in tight clothes. Remember, tight clothes are responsible for rashes.
Stop car rides in hot temperatures.
As you know, your car seat lacks ventilation, and your baby in the rear-facing car seat cannot receive ventilation. Moreover, there is a lot of chance of exposure directly to sunlight, and more than 50 percent of heat rashes exist.
To prevent rashes and keep your baby cool, you can buy a sunshade which is helpful to prevent your baby from the direct heat of the sun.
If you want to make a long trip with your baby, ensure that your baby is fully protected and try to drive in the early morning.
Avoid sunlight
First, you should try to avoid exposing your baby to direct sunlight. In another case, if it is necessary to go in sunlight, ensure that your baby is completely protected and is wearing a sun hat. This way, you can keep your baby cool and prevent heat rash.
Proper hydration
As you know, proper hydration is important to prevent heat rashes; if your baby is not properly hydrated, he may become overheated.
Ensure must introduce an adequate amount of water and milk to keep him hydrated.
Proper check-in
After certain time intervals, you must check if your baby’s skin is not damp, turning pink, or too hot due to sunlight or any other cause.
Suppose you notice your baby’s skin is getting overheated. In that case, you can place a cool pack or cool cloth responsible for normal body temperature.
It would help if you focused on the underarms, legs, and neck.
Night time preventions
It will help if you care properly, even at night time. If your baby gets heated at night, you can undress him or opt for shorts.
You can also turn on the air conditioner or fan to prevent your baby from getting hot. You must ensure that your baby’s room is properly ventilated.
Home Remedies To Treat Heat Rash
Heat rash remedy
In this topic, we will discuss heat rash remedies. Your baby rash is not very severe, and it will be cured without any treatment within 2 to 3 days. As a parent or caregiver, you can cure your baby and add ease of discomfort with these methods:
Skin Cleaning
You must clean the affected area regularly when you notice your baby is suffering from a heat rash.
You must ensure that your oil and other things may not affect your baby’s rash.
Air conditioner
You must turn on the air conditioner and fans to keep your baby’s skin cool.
Skin Hydration
You should keep your baby well hydrated in case of a baby’s heat rash.
You can keep your baby hydrated by increasing the water intake and breast milk demand.
Skin rash cream
You must avoid applying rash creams on baby skin to treat heat rash.
An allergic reaction does not cause heat rash, so you must not use these creams on your baby’s skin.
Some medical workers advise you to use steroid creams to speed up the rash healing process. As you know, the rash can cause serious problems for babies due to scratching.
Thus, your baby may be exposed to fever and infection due to scratching, which may be fatal. If you notice that your baby is ill and his condition is not going to recover, you must consult your healthcare worker.
Your doctor will advise your baby on antibiotics to help treat infection and clear up rashes.
Related: Can I Use Cornstarch for Diaper Rash?
What Are The Risk Factors For Baby Heat Rash In Babies?
There are the following risk factors included in baby heat rash:
Warm clothed
Wearing too warm clothes compared to the weather is a risk factor.
Warm Climate
Your baby may suffer from a heat rash if you live in a warm climate.
Expose to heat sources.
If you expose your little one to heat sources like heat lamps and space heaters, your baby may suffer from heat rashes.
Swaddling
Swaddling is the main risk factor, especially if the weather is hot and your baby is sweating.
Sweat duct blockage
If you apply thick creams on a baby’s skin, your baby may get a heat rash due to sweat gland blockage.
Conclusion
The baby rash is mainly caused due to blockage of sweat glands and will recover independently without medication. It appears red on the baby’s skin, and you must take appropriate measures to prevent these heat rashes. You must consult your medical worker in case of infection or prolonged rash.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a heat rash last?
Now our topic of discussion is How long do heat rashes last? As described earlier, normal heat rash lasts for about 2 to 3 days and will be recovered independently. There is no need to be worried about it because it is not a sign of any danger.
You must consult your doctor if you notice any adverse changes in your child’s skin and other symptoms like fever, infection, etc.
What Do You Know About The Causes Of Heat Rash?
Heat rash on the baby’s face and other sweat glands occurs most commonly due to sweat gland blockage. It mainly occurs when:
- You expose your little one to much heat or sun.
- You put your baby in overdressed or tight clothes.
- You expose your baby to intense exercise or physical activity.
How to treat heat rash in babies and toddlers?
You can treat your baby’s heat rash by following these simple instructions:
- Baby heat rash mostly occurs due to heat; in this case, you must shift your baby to a cool place such as a tree shade and air-conditioned room.
- You should expose your baby to sunshade.
- You can also put cool packs on your baby’s skin to cover the heat rash.
- Your baby’s cloth is responsible for heat rash, and it would be best if you remove your baby’s clothing. This thing will cause your baby to prevent from severe rash.
- If your baby is suffering from a rash, you must ensure he is not scratching his skin. I know it is pretty difficult to stop your baby from scratching but try your best for him.
- If skin blisters get open due to scratching, it will cause infection, which may be fatal.
- You can also prevent scratching by cutting your baby’s fingernail. It is reduced the chances of blister opening.
How to get rid of prickly heat overnight?
Prickly heat rash may occur due to summer heat. You can treat it with simple home remedies like applying cool pads, turning on the air conditioner, and shifting to a cold environment. In mild cases, it will recover independently and without medication.