6 Ways to deal with prickly heat in babies that are safe and effective

The appearance of a rash with red spots on your baby's skin can indicate prickly heat. In addition to making the baby's skin look red, prickly heat also feels itchy and sore like being pricked by needles. So, how do you treat prickly heat in babies? Here are some effective ways to deal with prickly heat in babies.

How to deal with prickly heat in babies

Young children of all ages can experience prickly heat. However, prickly heat is more common in babies.

Prickly heat can occur when the baby's skin is supposed to sweat, but the pores are clogged.

Sweat that fails to come out eventually makes the skin pores swell.

Young children are more prone to prickly heat because their pores are smaller than adults.

This difference in pore size makes clogging very easy to occur, so you need a way to deal with prickly heat on the baby's skin.

Prickly heat is not a serious problem for babies. However, these red spots on baby's skin can be a sign that your baby is overheating.

Not only that, prickly heat also causes the baby to feel itchy and this certainly makes the baby very uncomfortable and spontaneously wants to scratch.

Here's the right way to deal with prickly heat in babies that can be done at home:

1. Choose baby clothes that are thin and absorb sweat

When the air is hot, choose clothes that don't overheat it. Instead, choose clothes with short sleeves, and take off any socks, gloves, or head covering.

Clothes are included in the list of baby equipment that must be prepared.

Here are some tips for choosing comfortable baby clothes as a way to deal with prickly heat in babies:

Choose thin fabrics.
Place a towel on the baby's back and neck so there is no rash.
Avoid synthetic fabrics (polyester and nylon).
Choose clothes made of cotton.
Wearing cotton bedding.
Avoid narrow clothes.

Babies may need to use bedding made of cotton to avoid irritating the baby's skin while sleeping.

In addition, narrow clothing sizes and coarse materials can cause friction. This can break prickly heat.

2. Cut baby nails regularly

Baby's skin which is covered in small, watery blisters should best be avoided from friction. This is because the pressure and friction can break up the blister and make the skin blister.

Prickly heat will get worse and risk causing infection. As a way to deal with prickly heat in babies, make sure your little one doesn't have long nails.

If you see that the nails are elongated, cut them off immediately. After that, put on gloves so that your fingers do not touch or rub against the itchy skin filled with prickly heat.

In addition to preventing irritation from getting worse, clipping baby nails is one way to treat and treat prickly heat in babies.

The reason is, it is a way to let the skin work optimally to heal itself.

3. Make sure the baby stays hydrated and not thirsty

Sweating can reduce water levels in the body. If your baby is experiencing prickly heat and sweats easily, don't let him get thirsty.

Make sure your baby is getting enough to drink to replace the fluids that leave their bodies through sweat.

This is also to avoid dehydration in babies or lack of fluids.

The need for baby fluids can be obtained from breast milk, formula milk, or plain water and food if the baby is allowed to eat solid food.

4. Carefully choose skin products for babies

Babies can also use lotion as medicine and a way to deal with prickly heat, one of which is calamine lotion which is applied to your little one's skin.

This lotion can soothe baby's itchy and sore skin. So, first read how to use it before using baby skin care products.

If your little one has sensitive skin, pay attention to the ingredients in it. Avoid soap products that contain fragrances and alcohol because they run the risk of irritating your skin.

5. Avoid using baby powder

Baby powder is a treatment product that has been used for generations as a way to treat skin problems for babies and children, one of which is prickly heat.

However, you should avoid using baby powder which is harmful to babies. The fine powder made of talc can cause breathing problems, such as shortness of breath in babies.

Not only that, baby powder can also close the pores of baby's skin and make it warmer. A warmer body can make the red spots and rashes on the baby's skin worse.

6. Make the room cooler

Quoting from the Family Doctor, making the room cooler and drier is a way to deal with prickly heat in babies.

You can use a fan or air conditioner to make the room cooler.

However, avoid directing the wind blow directly to the baby's body so that the little one does not catch a cold and does not get cold.

It's a good idea to point the fan at the wall so that the direction of the wind spreads throughout the room.

A cool room makes the baby more comfortable, restful during sleep, and the baby sleeps faster at night.

If your little one seems too hot, look for a cooler and breezy place, like the porch.

Let the child play outside while enjoying the breeze and make sure the little one is well hydrated by giving milk.

7. Check with the doctor

Prickly heat in infants can be cured without special drugs.

You just need to take care of the skin to keep it clean, sweat-free, and not exposed to irritating products.

However, in some cases, prickly heat requires a doctor's care.

The Mayo Clinic mentions the signs and symptoms of prickly heat that need doctor treatment, such as:

Babies continue to be fussy because of this condition.
The rash appears accompanied by fever.
The rash causes swelling, redness, and feels warm to the touch.
The baby's lymph nodes, which are around the armpits, neck, and base, experience swelling.
Prickly heat does not heal even though it has been treated with over-the-counter drugs.

Seeing a doctor is a surefire way to deal with and treat prickly heat in babies. There is no need to hesitate to get your little one checked if the symptoms really worry you.