Red bumps? Our kids have it- you?
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Baker's heat rash
It’s ridiculously hot in NY today as I type; I’m terrified our electric company is going to break down yet I can’t bring myself to turn down the air conditioner, and my son Baker’s chest and back are COVERED in red bumps — so many red bumps that they run together into a giant red mass. But I’m not terribly alarmed, as he has been diagnosed before — he has heat rash, or prickly heat.
How do you get heat rash? What does it look like?
More common in babies, heat rash is triggered by too much heat, whether it’s from being over-dressed (usually the case for babies) or simply by being too hot. As I understand it, the sweat ducts get clogged and red bumps result, and the red bumps are itchy, though in my son’s case, not particularly so. Most sources say the bumps will last 2-3 days, although I expect my son’s to be gone by tomorrow, as it usually lasts just a day for him.
How to prevent prickly heat?
- Avoid getting over-heated, sometimes hard to do!
- Keep skin cool and dry.
- Limit use of ointments or creams – (like the sunscreen I slathered under his t-shirt before he went to summer camp this morning because I was worried about sunburn) – the products often further clog the pores and tend to make the rash worse.
How to treat it?
Heat rash, though unpleasant to look at, should not trigger panic. Usually, it can be treated by cooling down the child, dressing the child in cooler (or no) clothing, keeping the skin dry and avoiding “soothing” ointments or creams, (like the Aquaphor I just slicked all over his back. Rats! Why don’t I read before I do?), which help trap moisture and slow the healing.
Keep in mind that skin conditions can often be misdiagnosed by parents (and doctors!), so keep an eye on the bumps and certainly call your pediatrician if you’re not convinced it’s heat rash. Lots of bumps could look like a lot of things, so since I’m obviously not a doctor, if my son had a fever along with the bumps, or if the bumps were itchy, I would probably call my pediatrician, just for peace of mind.
Meanwhile, both kids are barely dressed, our air conditioner is turned on and there are popsicles freezing in the freezer! How are you handling this wave of hot?
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Once employed in tv production, Jill Austin now uses those management skills to boss around her husband, son, daughter and dog, with minimal success. When she’s not turning daily life into a production, Jill is a free-lance writer, a middle-of-the-pack triathlete and an optimist.
We love the shirts by nozone — (www.nozone.ca). While it’s very possible (if not likely) that we don’t wash them as much as we should, both kids have worn the same ones for a couple years and they have held up great.
Do you have one that you like best? I was under the impression that they wore out after 25 washings- have you found that or not?
My trick has been to have my son wear his SPF-treated rash guard when we’re out in the extreme heat. He gets sun protection without the clogged pore effect. And it relieves the worry of “Did I put enough sunscreen on?” Two birds, one stone.
Nice to have a home remedy with ingredients that we actually have at home! I know another mom who gives oatmeal baths to fight heat rash. We stick with cool water, making sure the kids thoroughly air dry after!
Cam had heat rash last summer, and this is what our doctor told us to do: http://mommyftw.com/hot-baby-soothing-bath/