6 Simple Remedies for Your Baby’s Heat Rash

Eyinade Eweje

A baby’s skin is quite sensitive and prone to various kinds of skin issues, including heat rash or prickly heat. Blocked sweat glands are the major cause and the current weather may trigger worse outbreaks. Though usually harmless, it causes baby lots of skin irritation and general discomfort.

See simple tips you should apply…

1. Dress baby in loose, breathable cotton. This is the first step to reducing irritation and making the heat rash resolve on time. Baby’s skin needs to be as cool as possible and her room must be well ventilated.

Don’t dress baby in layers and avoid synthetic fabrics such as nylon and polyester (check cloth labels to be sure) as they trap heat and prevent adequate air access to baby’s skin.

In addition, as sweat usually builds up between buttock folds, on baby’s chest, neck, armpits, and places where skin overlaps, it’s helpful to keep baby cloth and diaper-free as much as possible while indoors to keep her cool and curb irritation.

2. Minimize skin-to-skin contact by placing a clean cotton washcloth or material between skin folds whenever possible.

READ ALSO: How to Keep Your Baby Comfortable in This Hot Weather

3. Apply cool packs over affected areas for 10 – 20 minutes every other hour. You may also give baby a tepid bath, using a mild soap but allow baby’s skin air dry – do not pat dry with a towel. Keep baby in cool environment afterwards.

4. Apply breast milk on affected parts. This may even clear up the rash faster than some over the counter remedies and soothes baby’s skin. It may also prevent other skin outbreaks, including diaper rash and eczema.

5. Ask his paediatrician for an appropriate prescription, especially if the rash gets worse. Calamine lotion is often recommended to soothe baby’s skin if she cries when touched or held. However, avoid indiscriminate use of lotions and ointments as some may trap moisture in baby’s skin and worsen the situation.

6. You may skip powders, oils and lotions while the outbreak lasts, as they may make the rash worse by further blocking baby’s skin pores.

As stated earlier, heat rash is often harmless but you should see baby’s paediatrician if the rash is accompanied by fever or fails to resolve after 3-5 days, despite applying the aforementioned remedies.

Note that you should only use baby lotions, creams, soaps, oils and powder on baby’s skin. Doing otherwise may clog baby’s developing skin glands and trigger heat rashes.

Keep baby’s fingernails trimmed to prevent her from scratching affected areas and causing further irritation.