The summer has its own set of problems for every mom. Apart from running around trying to keep your child well hydrated, there are certain other health conditions that can cause problems for your child. One such common heat related condition is heat rash.
Heat rashes are quite common in babies and young kids. While the common heat rash is known as miliaria, other names include prickly rash or simple skin rash. Read on to know more about the causes, symptoms and treatment for heat rash in children.
What Causes A Heat Rash In Children?
To put it simply, heat rashes mostly occur when you sweat more. The sweat ducts, also known as skin pores, get clogged when the sweat gets trapped under the skin. This trapped sweat can lead to the appearance of blisters and lumps that are usually deep red in color. Sometimes the heat rash could also be excessively itchy or cause a prickly feeling, hence the name prickly heat.
[ Read: Eczema In Children ]
Types Of Heat Rash In Children:
Your child will most likely develop a heat rash in the skin folds and any other place where the clothing could cause any friction. Some of the most common areas where heat rash usually occurs include areas around the neck, chest and even shoulders. Children Heat rashes are quite commonly found on the back.
Miliaria usually takes on three generic types, which are classified according to the place where the sweat ducts are blocked. The signs and symptoms of each miliaria condition differ from one another.
Here are the three types of miliaria (1):
1. Miliaria Crystallina:
- This is the mildest form of heat rash.
- It affects the sweat ducts that are found in the outer most layer of your child’s skin.
- Your child’s skin will have clear blisters filled with fluid. These can break easily.
- These blisters will not be itchy or painful.
- However, they can re-appear whenever the weather is hot and humid.
2. Miliaria Rubra:
- This type of heat rash is commonly known as prickly heat.
- It appears deeper in the outer layer of your child’s skin, known as epidermis.
- Your child may develop this after being exposed to hot and humid weather conditions.
- Your child will complain of red bumps on the skin.
- The affected area will feel prickly and itchy.
- Your child may experience little or no sweating in the affected area.
- These bumps may get filled with pus.
3. Miliaria Profunda:
- This is the least common form of heat rash.
- This type of heat rash usually affects your the deeper layers of skin.
- It may appear after any activity that has caused your child to sweat a lot.
- Your child will develop bumps that look similar to goose bumps.
- These are mostly skin colored.
Sometimes, your child may not sweat at all as these rashes start appearing. This can lead to other symptoms like nausea, dizziness and an increase in pulse rate.
[ Read: Psoriasis In Children ]
What Causes Heat Rash In Children?
A heat rash mainly develops when your child’s sweat ducts are clogged. Here are a few reasons that are thought to cause clogging in the sweat ducts:
1. Warm Weather:
If your child lives in an area where the temperature is hot and humid, a heat rash will be more common.
If your child wears clothes that are made of fabrics that trap sweat and block evaporation, she is more likely to contract heat rashes.
3. Strenous Physical Activity:
Children who are always running around and love playing outside have more chances of contracting heat rashes. As such children sweat more, heat rash can occur quite easily.
[ Read: Insect Bite Allergy ]
4. Side Effects Of Medication:
Certain medications can cause excessive sweating in your child. Talk to your child paediatrician to ensure that medications do not lead to or cause heat rash.
5. Heavy Creams:
Sometimes, applying a heavy cream on your child can also block the sweat ducts.
When Should I Take My Child To The Doctor?
In most cases, the heat rash usually subsides on its own. However, if your child continues to complain of discomfort and itching, or if the symptoms seem too severe, you need to visit the doctor immediately.
Watch out for the following symptoms of heat rash in children that will require immediate medical attention (2):
- If your child has fever or is feeling excessively cold.
- If the heat blisters are leaking pus.
- If your child experiences a lot of pain, swelling or redness around the affected area.
- If your child experiences a warm sensation around the area that is affected.
- If your child has swollen lymph nodes in the neck, groin or armpit region.
[ Read: Scarlet Fever In Children ]
While a heat rash is not always a serious condition it can get quite uncomfortable for your child. Make sure your child takes a bath daily, and if required, multiple times. Also, make your child wear clothes that are made of cotton.
Ensure your child drinks plenty of liquids and is always hydrated. If the symptoms persist do not wait to speak to the doctor.
Did your child face the problem of heat rash? If yes, do share your experiences here.
- 4 Effective Treatments To Cure Sickle Cell Anemia In Children
- 16 Serious Symptoms Of Scarlet Fever In Children
- Canker Sores In Children – 11 Causes & 7 Remedies You Should Be Aware Of
- Smallpox In Children – 3 Causes, 6 Symptoms & 5 Treatments You Should Be Aware Of