How to prevent prickly heat in babies with these 15 tips

Baby's sensitive skin can be prone to prickly heat. Although not dangerous, prickly heat can make your baby uncomfortable over time if left untreated. Want to know how to prevent prickly heat in babies? Check out the following reviews.

Causes of prickly heat in babies

Reporting from Mom Junction, Dr. Jody A. Levine, parental advisor and director of dermatology at Plactic Surgery & Dermatology of NYC, explains that prickly heat in babies occurs due to clogged sweat glands in the skin.

Sweat can become clogged due to the presence of dead skin cells and bacteria, causing a rash of reddish spots on the skin.

Prickly heat often appears on the body, such as:

Baby's back
Face
Skin folds
Stomach
Neck
Upper chest
Feet
Groin
Diaper area
Armpit
Scalp

Prickly heat can cause burning, itching, a tingling sensation, and prickling so that the baby becomes restless and fussy.

Not infrequently, babies scratch the itchy area and it can cause sores and even irritation to the baby's skin.

This skin disorder is not contagious, but if left untreated it will result in skin blisters due to scratching.

Quoting from the Mayo Clinic, prickly heat causes complications very rarely. However, in some severe cases, it can trigger a bacterial infection that makes the skin badly itchy and inflamed.

How to prevent prickly heat in babies?

The way to prevent prickly heat is to monitor the condition of the baby's skin to keep it cool and not too moist. Some of the following tips you can do at home, to prevent prickly heat in babies, namely:

Keep the room cool and dry

Prickly heat likes damp places, it's no wonder that these reddish spots appear in the neck and body folds that often sweat.

For example, the area of the neck, elbows, between the fingers, behind the knees, or in the groin of babies that often have rashes. This condition makes you have to make your little one's body less moist and sweaty.

The way that can be done is to keep the house cool and dry by using a fan or air conditioner to prevent prickly heat in babies. Always check the condition of the baby's body and the warmth of the environment.

Pay attention to clothing selection

How to prevent prickly heat in the next baby is to pay attention to the selection of your little one's clothes. Avoid letting your little one wear thick clothes continuously.

Choose clothes that fit your size, not too tight because it will irritate the skin. In babies who have prickly heat it will cause blisters on their skin.

You are also required to dress the baby according to the surrounding weather. Choose soft clothes for babies, such as cotton.

The reason is because it keeps the baby warm but also gives the skin a chance to breathe. How to wash baby clothes also needs to be considered so that the quality is not damaged.

Take the baby to the shade

If you invite your little one to play outside when it's hot and put on a hat, check her head more often. If the baby's scalp looks sweaty, it is best to wipe it off and leave it for a while to remove the hat.

It's best to take the baby to the shade when outdoors in hot weather.

Wipe off the rash with cold water

If the baby already has prickly heat signs, the way to prevent it from getting worse is to rub the baby's skin rash with cold water.

Wet the baby rash gently, with a cloth previously soaked in cold water. This can reduce the itching and irritation caused by prickly heat. Then make sure the baby's skin is dry again before putting on clothes.

Clean the skin folds

Prickly heat occurs when the folds of the body are moist and sweating too much. You need to clean the skin folds more regularly, as a way to prevent prickly heat in babies.

The skin folds are cleaned to make sure any trapped sweat and oil don't make the rash worse.

Dry the baby's body after bathing

If the baby is wet after bathing, wipe the baby's body dry to the skin folds that are prone to prickly heat. Use a cotton towel that is good at absorbing water and wipe it gently.

Avoid using some baby care products

If your baby has a tendency to prickly heat or has sensitive baby skin, the way to prevent this from happening is to avoid using some baby care products.

For example, baby powder, lotion, or egg oil can clog pores and hinder the healing process.

Clean the baby's nails

Prickly heat often causes itching and your little one spontaneously scratches it. So, it is very important that you clean and trim your baby's nails to avoid blisters.

Keep baby hydrated

Baby's skin still needs moisture by keeping the body well hydrated. The trick is to breastfeed your little one more often and check the rhythm of the baby's urination whether it is regular or not. Dehydration in babies and children is very dangerous for health.

Bathe with water not too hot

Since prickly heat likes humid and hot places, you can bathe the baby in warm water. Make sure the water is lukewarm, not too hot.

Check with your doctor if it gets worse

If you have done the treatment at home but the prickly heat has not subsided or is getting worse, consult a doctor immediately. This is one way to prevent prickly heat in babies from getting worse.

You can consult when prickly heat is not gone within five days. Plus the baby's skin condition is getting worse, for example, areas of skin with pus or cracks.

Usually doctors will recommend hydrocortisone cream. These creams can help reduce swelling and itching.

Signs of a baby should see a doctor

Prickly heat in babies is not dangerous, but it can make parents worry if your little one continues to fuss.

Here are some signs that require the baby to be brought to the doctor for further consultation:

A rash appears with fever
Small blisters filled with pus instead of water
Rash spreads
When touched it feels warm and swollen
There is swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpits, groin, and neck

Bias doctors will ask about the cause of prickly heat in babies. Then prescribe drugs that are suitable and in accordance with the baby's skin and health.

The prescription will be adjusted to the baby's health condition, for example an allergy to a drug mixture.

In addition to the prescription, the doctor will suggest home treatments that will be combined with those already prescribed. This is one way to prevent prickly heat in babies from spreading worse.