Heat rash can show up as itchy spots in the folds of your baby's skin, like under the arms, on the neck, or even on the face. Parents often think it's an allergy, but it’s usually caused by sweat.
What causes heat rush?
Babies have tiny sweat ducts that can easily get blocked. When they get hot, sweat gets trapped under their skin, causing a rash.
Blockages cause small pimples, like milia.
Narrow ducts cause a red, itchy rash [1].
Heat rash often happens when babies experience a new climate, like moving from a Chicago winter to Hawaii, or when they're overdressed in a warm room. Direct sunlight can also damage their sweat ducts [2]. So, keep your baby out of direct sunlight.
How to treat heat rash?
First, check with your pediatrician to make sure the rash is from sweating and not something more serious like an infection or allergy. You don't need to treat the sweat itself. Instead, focus on keeping your baby cool. Here’s what you can do [1,3]:
don’t overdress your baby; keep their skin cool and dry.
use cool water to clean sweat, urine, or drool, then dry the area.
let your baby go without clothing in affected areas to let the skin breathe.
use air conditioning or a gentle fan to keep your baby cool.
skip the skin ointments.
Photo: shutterstock
