Table of contents:
- The difference between prickly heat and allergies
- A sign of prickly heat
- A sign of an allergic baby
- When should your little one be taken to the doctor?
Many parents confuse the symptoms of prickly heat with an allergic reaction in babies. The symptoms of both are similar, they both cause red spots, itchiness, making your little one more fussy. So, how do you know the difference between a baby prickly heat or an allergy to something? The reason is, both require different handling. Check out the answer below.
The difference between prickly heat and allergies
Prickly heat and allergies have something in common, namely making the skin red, itchy, and irritated. However, both of them are caused by different things. If the baby is prickly heat, it is usually caused by sweat, bacteria, and dead skin cells trapped under the skin. Meanwhile, allergies arise from the response of various allergens which can include food, dust, and baby care products that contain certain chemicals.
How do you tell the difference between prickly heat and allergic babies? Well, actually these two conditions also show different symptoms. Check out the difference between the two below.
A sign of prickly heat
Some of the characteristics of prickly heat in babies can be observed by the appearance of several signs such as:
- Redness of the skin
- You may feel itching (the baby seems to be scratching his skin or is restless)
- Sometimes dry skin appears
Prickly heat usually occurs on the neck, back, armpits, or some other part of the body that often causes more sweat. Because it is caused by excessive sweat production and sweat trapped under the skin, prickly heat in babies often occurs when the weather is hot.
A sign of an allergic baby
There are many things that can cause babies to be allergic, from food, chemicals, to certain objects. The signs and symptoms that appear also vary, not only redness of the skin, but:
- Itching sensation on the skin
- Difficulty breathing
- Experiencing indigestion, such as diarrhea (usually occurs due to food allergies)
- Swelling occurs in several parts of the body
- Runny nose or sneeze
Of course, this condition will not be affected by the weather. So, it could happen at any time when your little one is exposed to these allergens. If your little one has experienced some changes, try to remember what food you gave him or he just held what object. The reason is, maybe he is allergic to this food or object.
Simply put, prickly heat alone is usually not accompanied by swollen skin, runny nose, sneezing, or breathing problems as in the case of allergies. While allergies are usually not accompanied by dry and scaly skin, red hives usually appear.
When should your little one be taken to the doctor?
Actually, prickly heat in babies will go away by itself. Especially if the temperature and weather around are not that hot, the baby will feel cool and the prickly heat will disappear after a long time. When your baby is prickly heat, make sure that he is wearing loose, cool, and absorbent clothing. This will reduce the symptoms of prickly heat. If it doesn't get better in a few days, you should take your little one to the pediatrician.
Meanwhile, if your little one experiences allergy symptoms such as hives hives, usually you can treat these symptoms with ointments alone. However, if your baby is showing other more serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing and experiencing swelling, don't delay taking him to the hospital immediately. Allergies in babies can be dangerous if not treated quickly.
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