Note when treating heat rash with folk methods

This article is professionally consulted by Master, Resident Doctor Dang Thi Ngoan - Pediatrician - Neonatologist - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital.

Heat rash is a common skin irritation in the summer. Hot weather, high humidity dilates the capillaries on the skin, creating conditions for bacteria to penetrate to create heat rash. Hot sun also makes children sweat more, dirt and sebum cling to the body, blocking sweat glands, causing children to develop heat rash.

Heat rash often appears in places such as the neck, chest, and back of children with manifestations such as blisters under the skin, these red spots often cause itching and discomfort for children. Usually, heat rash will go away on its own, but in some severe cases, the child scratches the itch, causing the wound to heal for a long time and damage the child's skin.
The cause of heat rash is mainly due to blocked sweat glands. This blockage is because the sweat ducts of the baby are not yet complete, so there is no way out. This phenomenon is common in hot weather, but sometimes it is also due to improper care of parents. Specifically, the hygiene is not clean or because the clothes are too tight, causing suffocation and heat.
In addition, heat rash also occurs in children with high fever causing blockage of sweat glands, due to high intensity exercise, hot and humid tropical climate in our country, or because Factors such as bacteria residing on the skin cause blocked sweat glands.
Symptoms of the disease by type:
Crystalline rash, this type of heat rash does not have inflammation, very shallow blisters in the stratum corneum, often occurs due to high fever and when cured, leaves a thin, flaky skin. leave scars.
Red rash often appears on the body, back, clothing area rubbing against the skin. Lesions are red papules, thick clusters, sometimes occupying the entire back and chest area. This type causes discomfort for children with a feeling of restlessness and itching. The red form of the rash is more likely to cause superinfection complications.
Deep rash often occurs when red heat rash is repeated many times. Lesions are 1-3mm, pale, hard papules usually on the trunk, but can also be seen on the limbs and do not have itching or uncomfortable stinging sensation as in rosacea. Deep rosacea carries the risk of permanent damage to the sweat glands.
Usually heat rash is not a serious problem for a child, but it shows that the child's body is overheating and often encourages uncomfortable itching. Parents need to have interventions so that this condition does not affect the health of the child.

In the case of children with heat rash, parents should consult a pediatrician or a dermatologist for appropriate treatment. In addition, parents can refer to folk methods to bathe the baby, some leaves contain antibiotic, antiseptic and antibacterial substances that can be used to boil water for children to bathe to treat some skin diseases.
Green tea leaves

Parents can do the following: Wash fresh green tea leaves and put them in a pot of boiling water. Using green tea leaf water to bathe your baby helps to soothe the baby's skin, and at the same time has a good antibacterial function.
Bitter melon

Parents can do the following: pound or grind bitter melon. Add some filtered water and filter the pure bitter gourd juice and mix it with the baby's bath water. Depending on the amount of bath water for the child to get the ratio of bitter melon. Usually parents use 2 fruits / time.
Marjoram

Marjoram leaves have a pleasant aroma, spicy taste, and warmth, containing up to 1% essential oils, including many biologically active substances with therapeutic effects. This is a leaf with many natural antibiotics, so it has a good antiseptic effect, cleansing the skin.
Usage is as follows: Wash marjoram leaves and pea leaves to put in a pot of water to bathe the baby every day.
star fruit

Starfruit has a sour taste, has the effect of dispersing heat and detoxification, is used to treat boils, urticaria, itching caused by allergies...
Parents can take a handful of star fruit leaves, separate the tendons and bones. Leaves are then washed and put in a pot to boil with a little salt. After boiling for about 5 minutes, remove the residue and drain the water into a large bowl mixed with cold water in a moderate ratio to ensure the appropriate warm water temperature for bathing the baby.
Perilla leaves

Mothers can take the perilla leaves, wash them, put them in a mortar and pound them to get the juice to dip them into the entire heat-affected area several times a day. Leave the perilla juice for about 10-15 minutes to dry the surface and then take a bath or wipe with warm water for the child.
Mulberry leaves

Mulberry leaves have a heat dissipation effect. Mothers can do the following: After bringing the mulberry leaves, soak them in salt water and then wash them to remove the dirt components. Then, put all the leaves in a large cloth bag and place in a pot filled with water. Wait for the water to boil, then turn off the stove for about 15 minutes for the water to turn warm or dilute with cold water and bathe the child.

But in children with sensitive skin or a history of allergies, anything that comes in contact with the child's skin should be tested first, if a few hours after testing first in an area of ​​​​the arm, there is no allergy, redness, then Mothers can use for children. Along with that, mothers should also note some of the following:
Mothers need to determine what skin type their child has, whether to bathe with leaves or not to be able to choose the right type of leaves for bathing. Regardless of the type of leaves used to bathe children, parents must also ensure that they are thoroughly washed with salt water or potassium permanganate before grinding, pounding or cooking. Because these leaves contain a lot of dirt, harmful bacteria, maybe even pesticides on the leaf surface. What's more, some leaves are hairy, which can irritate a baby's skin. It is necessary to bathe the baby with a specialized shower gel first because these leaves cannot dissolve the sebum on the skin, they can only cool or provide a ban on natural antibiotics. After bathing, parents should rinse with warm water for their children to wash away the powdered leaves that may remain on the child's skin, causing infection. Don't add too much salt or lemon to your baby's bath water, this can sting your baby, making it easier to irritate his or her skin. Also, do not boil the leaf juice too thick because the starch of the leaves can be deposited on the baby's skin, causing bacterial infections, dermatitis, and skin allergies. Do not bathe children with leaf water when their skin shows signs of scratching, festering, swelling, redness, and severe inflammation. Because when the skin is in this condition, the skin has lost its protective film, bathing the leaves even after being cooked can still increase the risk of bacteria entering, making the condition and infection increase and can cause complications. dangerous disease.

Prevention in principle is to keep the body cool, breathable, limit sweat secretion, and fight skin inflammation.
Put the child in a cool, ventilated place. Avoid crowded, stuffy places, clothes, diapers use fabrics, thin, sweat-absorbent. Bathing children regularly helps to keep the body clean, the pores are not clogged. Using baby powder also makes the skin dry, anti-inflammatory and cool. Drink enough water, if possible, choose cooling drinks such as: tapioca water, ground water, black beans... In addition, parents should pay attention to shield children with hats and hats when going out, to avoid expose children to direct sunlight. Should add heat-reducing foods such as oranges, tangerines, black bean tea, red beans, tapioca flour, gotu kola juice... In case the child has severe heat rash, it is necessary to take the child to a medical facility for treatment. specialist to diagnose and prescribe appropriate treatment.
For children to be healthy and develop well, it is necessary to have a nutritious diet in terms of quantity and quality balance. If children are not provided with adequate and balanced nutrients, it will lead to diseases of excess or lack of nutrients, which adversely affect the comprehensive development of children in terms of physical, mental and motor skills.
Children who do not eat properly are at risk of micro-mineral deficiency causing anorexia, growth retardation, malabsorption,... If they notice the above signs, parents should supplement their children with products. The supplement contains lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet the nutritional needs of children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your child. Take care of the baby and the whole family.