$Unique_ID{PAR00095}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Heat Rash}
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$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Heat Rash pink red eruptions eruption skin pore cheeks cheek neck
shoulders shoulder skin creases diaper area cornstarch baby powder prickly
heat powders detergent detergents bleach bleaches launder laundering sweat
gland blockage blocked miliaria overdressed perspiring wet hot humid}
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Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Heat Rash


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOM
     - Tiny pink or red eruptions, each surrounding a skin pore on the cheeks,
       neck, and shoulders; in skin creases; and in the diaper area

     HOME CARE
     - Keep the child as cool as possible, preferably in an air-conditioned
       room.
     - Cool baths and careful dusting with cornstarch or baby powder help
       relieve discomfort.
     - If the rash is on the face, rest the child's face on an absorbent pad
       placed in the crib.
     - Be careful not to overdress the child.
     - Use prickly heat powders during warm weather.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - Use baby powder carefully--if a baby inhales large amounts of it, lung
       inflammation can occur.
     - Overdressing a baby is a frequent cause of heat rash.  The baby needs
       to be dressed no more warmly than you would dress yourself.
     - Some detergents and bleaches used to launder bed linens and clothing
       may aggravate heat rash.
     - Avoid using bubble baths, water softeners, and oily lotions.


     Heat rash is a mild skin condition caused by temporary blockage of the
sweat gland openings on the skin.  Heat rash, also known as prickly heat and
miliaria, is the most common of all rashes in children.  Almost all babies get
heat rash during hot weather.  However, heat rash can occur even in cold
weather if your child is overdressed either during the daytime or the
nighttime.  Fair-skinned children (redheads and blonds) get heat rash more
frequently than other children, and they suffer the most from it.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     Heat rash consists of hundreds of tiny, pinhead-sized eruptions, each
surrounding a skin pore.  These eruptions may look like small pink or red
bumps or like tiny water blisters.  They are moderately itchy and may show
scratch marks.  If you look at the rash with a magnifying glass in good light,
each dot of heat rash can be seen to be at the mouth of a pore from a sweat
gland.
     The rash usually appears on the cheeks, neck, and shoulders; in skin
creases; and in the diaper area.  It frequently appears if the child has been
overdressed, perspiring, or wearing a wet bathing suit or if the weather has
been hot and humid.

HOME CARE

     Infants and children are safest from heat rash in an air-conditioned
environment.  Keep a child with heat rash as cool as possible.  Cool baths and
baby powder or cornstarch, applied lightly with a powder puff, help ease the
condition.  If the heat rash is on your baby's face, rest his face on an
absorbent pad in the crib.  During warm weather, using prickly heat powders
may give some relief.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  Be careful with baby powder.  If a baby inhales a large amount of it,
     inflammation of the lungs can occur.
  -  Detergents and bleaches used to launder clothing and bed linens may
     aggravate heat rash.
  -  Bubble baths, water softeners, and oily lotions should be avoided.
  -  Do not overdress your baby.  He needs to be dressed no more warmly than
     you would dress yourself on any given occasion.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     A doctor's treatment is usually not necessary.  Heat rash can generally
be adequately and safely treated at home.  However, if the rash is persistent
or other symptoms develop, consult your doctor.

RELATED TOPICS:  Diaper rash; Rashes