It is summertime and all kids want to do is play and have a good time. It’s great fun to watch one’s kids run around and shout with joy. However, with summers comes the dreaded heat rash or prickly heat.

Known as Miliaria in medical terms, this condition will leave your child feeling irritated all the time. The rashes can be painful and get worse if left untreated.

Also Read: How to identify allergies in children

What are heat rashes?

When the weather is hot or humid, excessive sweat can block the sweat glands. This makes the skin feel irritated and leads to a lot of redness and itching. You will see red bumps appearing on the skin. It is mostly seen one the chest, the back, abdomen, neck, groin, and armpits.

Prickly heat is common in newborn babies and in children who are active and tend to sweat a lot. While it is not really a dangerous condition, it can be very itchy and painful. As the name suggests, you will feel a pricking sensation on the affected areas.

Here are some tips that will help you manage heat rashes in children like a pro this summer:

How to prevent them?

If your child suffers from very painful heat rashes, prevention is the best cure. This will help your little ones enjoy the summers. Here are a few tips to prevent heat rashes:

#1. Choose loose fitted cotton clothes

The best garments for summers are ones that are loose and made of cotton fabric. These allow the skin to breathe and does not trap moisture or perspiration. As a result, the skin stays dry and heat rashes are controlled.

Also Read: Baby Skin Color | 10 Effective tips for a healthy skin (and surprising facts)

#2. Avoid outdoor playtime between 11am and 4pm

This is when the sun is the harshest. It is best that you avoid outdoor playtime in the afternoons for various reasons. Besides prickly heat, your child is also at the risk of getting sunburns or sunstroke with the rising temperatures.

#3. Keep the body cool

Heat rash can be prevented by keeping the child’s body cool. It is one of the most important steps. Water and ample fluids such as fresh juice, soups, lemonade, lassi, or coconut water keep the temperature of the body down during the hot summers.

Even when the child is indoors, it is a good idea to keep the body cool. Using fans and air conditioners are the best ways to do so. If the child is outdoors, using a wet handkerchief on the head or using a pocket fan can help reduce sweating. Make sure that your child carries a towel, napkin, or wet wipe along to wipe the sweat down and keep the skin dry.

#4. Do not use any thick or sticky moisturizer or cream on the skin

These can block the pores and lead to excessive sweating. Since the goal is to keep the skin dry, make sure that you avoid thick and sticky lotions and creams. You can use sunscreen lotions after recommendations from a skin specialist or your kid’s pediatrician. Alternatively, lacto calamine lotion too can be applied generously on the affected area to provide relief. In case of severe heat rash, doctors do prescribe steroid-based creams.

#5. Use a prickly heat powder

There are several prickly heat powders such as Nycil, Protex, Boroplus, etc. that you can buy over the counter or from the dermatologist with prescription. These powders can help prevent heat rashes by soaking the extra moisture up.

Click Here To See An Organic Dusting Powder For Babies

Best natural cures for heat rashes in kids.

Normally, heat rashes will go away on their own as long as the skin is kept dry. If it becomes too painful, you can try these easy remedies at home:

#1. Rosewater ice pack

Mix a cup of rose water in 2 cups of water. Add a tablespoon of honey and mix it well. Pour this mixture into an ice tray and freeze it. Wrap 2-3 of these ice cubes in a clean muslin cloth and dab it over the irritated area.

Also Read: 5 Best soaps for babies (Gentle and Harmless)

#2. Multani Mitti

Also called Fuller’s Earth, Multani Mitti keeps the skin cool and dry. Mix some multani Mitti with mint paste (made by crushing mint leaves in a grinder till they are of a pasty consistency) and add water to the mixture till you get a smooth consistency. Apply this to the affected area and allow it to dry fully. Wash it off and then dab it with a clean towel until all the moisture is gone.

Alternatively, you can also make your own heat rash powder using 1 cup of Multani Mitti or Bentonite clay and 10 drops of lavender essential oil. Just mix the two in jar and sprinkle on the affected areas just before your child is about to leave the house.

#3. Sandalwood paste

Mix sandalwood powder with water to make a paste. Apply it on the affected area and let it dry. Wash it off and wipe the area dry. This cools the skin and brings down the temperature of the body.

#4. Yoghurt

Apply fresh yoghurt on the affected area. This instantly cools the skin. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and then wash it off. Dry it with a clean towel to reduce the rashes and the itchiness.
If the area becomes infected and begins to ooze pus, make sure that you take the little one to a dermatologist immediately.

So go ahead and try out these effective remedies on your kids this summer. You are sure to find relief and will not have to stop the kids from playing outdoors. A little timely action will have you sorted.

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