Home Remedies for Heat Rash

So, what exactly is a heat rash?

Heat rash—also known as prickly heat or miliaria—is a skin condition that develops when your child’s skin gets too hot. Heat rash is caused when sweat glands get blocked, and the sweat gets stuck in your child’s pores. When your child’s body becomes hot, the sweat glands in their skin begin to produce sweat to cool down. Normally, drops of sweat would be released through openings known as sweat ducts. However, children have tiny pores that can easily become clogged. This is how heat rash occurs — it is the result of sweat getting caught in those small pores as it tries to reach the skin's surface.

The 3 types of heat rash you should know about

According to Mayo Clinic, heat rashes come in three forms, namely miliaria crystallina, miliaria rubra, and miliaria profunda. 

1. Miliaria crystallina: The mildest form of heat rash

This form of heat rash happens when the opening of the sweat pore is blocked. It manifests on the skin as fluid-filled bumps that are tiny yet clear. They are usually around 1-2mm in size, and can be mistaken for beads of sweat. One prevalent characteristic of miliaria crystallina is how easy it can break.

2. Miliaria rubra: The most common form of heat rash

Often described as a heat rash that occurs deeper in the skin, miliaria rubra is the most common form among heat rashes. You can easily identify it as it appears like inflamed bumps that are occasionally filled with pus. They are usually around 2-4mm in size, and often appear in areas of friction with clothing.

3. Miliaria profunda: The least common form of heat rash

The least common form of heat rash is also the most painful type as it affects the deepest layer of the skin. This heat rash comes in the form of itchy inflamed bumps that may break open. It also possesses the colour of the flesh and is usually 1-3mm in size.

The common causes of heat rash

Heat rashes are caused by the things we do every day, and this includes

• Sweating
• Hot and humid weather or environment
• Intense exercises
• Fever
• Clothing that sticks to the skin

While they do sound inevitable, they can be prevented with proper hygiene practices. But if it does affect you or your loved ones, you should be happy to know that there are indeed natural treatments for heat rash.

How can I know if my child has a heat rash?

Children have soft and delicate skin. This means that their skin is more sensitive and prone to rashes. The symptoms of heat rash include: 

• Patches of red, itchy skin
• Tiny bumps, spots or pimples
• Slight inflammation or puffiness
• Irritation, redness and discomfort

If your child has experienced these telltale signs, they might have a heat rash. Keep an eye on your child’s chest, neck, diaper area or armpits. Your child is more likely to develop heat rash in these spots of their body because these are the areas of the body that usually produce the most sweat. Clothing also tends to fit tightly around those parts of their body.

If my child has a heat rash, how do I treat it naturally?

No worries, mums and dads! Heat rash is easy to treat and it normally goes away in two to three days, if not sooner. Here are some of the best ways to treat your child’s heat rash.

1. Let Your Child’s Skin Breathe and Dry Out

It is extremely important to keep the areas affected by heat rash completely dry. As mentioned before, heat rash is caused by clogged sweat in your child’s pores, so keeping your child’s skin dry and letting it breathe is one of the most natural treatments for heat rash. Let your child be naked, or just in a diaper at room temperature (or cooler) as much as possible until the rash goes away.

2. Use moisture-wicking clothing in hot weather 

Another way to help your child's skin breathe is by using clothing that helps remove sweat and moisture from the surface of their skin. This also helps alleviate the symptoms and aids with sweat evaporation, giving your child some comfort. 

3. Use Mild Cleansers Instead of Soaps

Whenever you are wondering how to treat heat rash naturally, you should always look for mild cleansers. A lot of soaps are too harsh for a child’s delicate skin, so avoid them as much as possible. Instead, use mild cleansers to bathe your child. This home remedy is a great way to treat heat rash and will keep your child’s skin healthy. You can also use baking soda, calamine lotion or aloe vera gel to soothe irritated skin. Sandalwood powder is another terrific way to help with itchiness!

4. Be Gentle with Your Child’s Skin

Always be gentle with your child’s skin. Be careful not to rub or scratch your child’s skin when dressing them. You can even let your child air-dry after a bath to cool off if you have the time. If you’re not a fan of air-drying after bathtime, you can pat your child dry with a soft towel and only use gentle skincare products that are specially designed for a child’s delicate skin.

5. Make Sure Your Child Gets Plenty of Fluids

It could be possible that your child is dehydrated when they experience a heat rash. There could be a lot of moisture produced by sweat glands that get locked in their skin and the rash. Your child’s body is working very hard to unclog their pores to make the rash go away. Give your child plenty of fluids so that their body has the hydration it needs until the heat rash is gone.

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DHA, AA, Omega 3&6 - To fuel learning growth. DHA is important for optimal visual and cognitive development¹. AA is recognised for its key role for optimal health, cognition and development during foetal life². Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are important for normal development of the brain, nervous system, sensory organs and intelligence³.

Calcium, Protein, Vitamin & Minerals - Muscle and bone growth. Calcium helps in the normal growth and development of bones and teeth. Protein is essential for your child’s growth, maintenance and repair for the body⁴. Vitamins and minerals are vital for growth and metabolism⁵.

GOS, Nucleotides & Bifido Lactis - Helps absorb key nutrients & build strong immune systems. GOS are prebiotics that can help with constipation and more⁶. Nucleotides can promote healthy gastrointestinal and immunological growth in young children⁷. Bifido Lactis is important for diarrhoea prevention as well as immune and gut maturation⁸.

Friso® Gold 4

Friso® Gold 4 is made for children above the age of 3 and contains the right choice of nutrition support through its milk powder which are:

DHA, AA, Omega 3&6 - To fuel learning growth. DHA is important for optimal visual and cognitive development1. AA is recognised for its key role for optimal health, cognition and development during foetal life². Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are important for normal development of the brain, nervous system, sensory organs and intelligence³.

Calcium, Protein, Iron, Copper, Vitamin A and K1 - These nutrients give rapid growth of muscle and bone, as well as healthy vision to prepare the body for study as children of 4 years old begin their preschool education. Calcium helps in the normal growth and development of bones and teeth. Protein is essential for your child’s growth, maintenance and repair for the body⁴. When copper is combined with iron, it allows the body to build red blood cells as well as maintain healthy bones, blood vessels, nerves, and immune system⁹. Vitamin A enhances vision and immune functions¹⁰. Vitamin K1 helps make other proteins in the body that are important for blood, bone and kidney health and can be found in dark, leafy green vegetables¹¹.

GOS, Nucleotides & Bifido Lactis - Helps absorb key nutrients & build strong immune systems. GOS are prebiotics that can help with constipation and more⁶. Nucleotides can promote healthy gastrointestinal and immunological growth in young children⁷. Bifido Lactis is important for diarrhoea prevention as well as immune and gut maturation⁸.

In conclusion, heat rash/prickly heat is not a serious problem. More often than not, it resolves on its own, especially if you practise the simple and natural treatments and home remedies we’ve shared with you. Heat rash is never fun, but as mentioned, it is very common and easily treatable. Keeping your child cool and dry is a great way to prevent heat rash. But it goes without saying that if you want more health information, or if your child starts experiencing more severe symptoms like fever, chills, or increased pain, you should seek out a doctor for professional medical assistance. 

View more toddler guides here.

References:

1. Kuratko, C. N., Barrett, E. C., Nelson, E. B., & Salem, N., Jr (2013). The relationship of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with learning and behavior in healthy children: a review. Nutrients, 5(7), 2777–2810. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu5072777 
2. Salas Lorenzo, I., Chisaguano Tonato, A. M., de la Garza Puentes, A., Nieto, A., Herrmann, F., Dieguez, E., Castellote, A. I., López-Sabater, M. C., Rodríguez-Palmero, M., & Campoy, C. (2019). The Effect of an Infant Formula Supplemented with AA and DHA on Fatty Acid Levels of Infants with Different FADS Genotypes: The COGNIS Study. Nutrients, 11(3), 602. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11030602 
3. Organic's Best. (2020, July 24). Why is omega 3 and omega 6 so important for babies? Organic's Best. Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://organicsbestshop.com/blogs/organicsbestclub/why-omega-3-omega-6-is-important-for-babies#:~:text=Omega%203%20and%206%20fatty,the%20first%20months%20after%20birth.
4. The importance of protein for children's growth - baby & child nutritionist. SR Nutrition. (2022, February 28). Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.srnutrition.co.uk/2020/07/the-importance-of-protein-for-childrens-growth/#:~:text=Protein%20is%20essential%20for%20your,vitamin%20D%2C%20calcium%20and%20selenium. 
5. Fanaro S, Boehm G, Garssen J, Knol J, Mosca F, Stahl B, Vigi V. Galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides as prebiotics in infant formulas: a review. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 2005 Oct;94(449):22-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2005.tb02150.x. PMID: 16214761. 
6. Benefits of nucleotides for babies and toddlers. Einmik. (2018, November 9). Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.einmilk.com/benefits-of-nucleotides-for-babies-and-toddlers/ 
7. Baglatzi, L., Gavrili, S., Stamouli, K., Zachaki, S., Favre, L., Pecquet, S., Benyacoub, J., & Costalos, C. (2016). Effect of Infant Formula Containing a Low Dose of the Probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis CNCM I-3446 on Immune and Gut Functions in C-Section Delivered Babies: A Pilot Study. Clinical medicine insights. Pediatrics, 10, 11–19. https://doi.org/10.4137/CMPed.S33096
8. Ware, M. (2017, October 23). Copper: Health benefits, recommended intake, sources, and risks. Medical News Today. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/288165 
9. Patwal, S. (2022, September 14). Vitamin A for kids: Right dosage, benefits & side effects. MomJunction. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.momjunction.com/articles/health-benefits-of-vitamin-a-for-children_0092460/#:~:text=Vitamin%20A%20supplements%20reduce%20the,%2Dspecific%20dose%20(9)
10. Castle, J. (2020, October 2). All about vitamin K for kids. The Nourished Child. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://thenourishedchild.com/vitamin-k-kids/