Does baby heat rash go away on its own?

This is an automatically translated article.

The 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 very common disease in children and infants. Although it is a benign skin disease, if not treated properly, heat rash can cause bad consequences for the health of children. Will heat rash in children go away on their own and what are the ways to prevent heat rash in children?

1. Symptoms of heat rash

Hot and humid weather makes children sweat a lot, but the sweat gland ducts in children are not fully developed, so sweat does not come out and is stagnant. On the other hand, the excretory duct is easily clogged with dust or hate, causing the skin to emerge many small papules with pink spots. This usually happens when the weather is hot but sometimes it's because the child is overdressed. Children with a high fever or those in an incubator may also have blocked sweat glands. Physical activity, playing with high intensity, wearing clothes with some nylon mixed fabrics, or because some bacteria that reside on the skin secrete an oily substance can also block the sweat ducts. foul.
Heat rash is a large red rash like a needle tip, round or mottled, the head has a little water, red around and usually grows on the head, neck, chest, back,... It is usually red, itchy, and has a burning sensation. Therefore, children with heat rash often scratch the itch and easily make the skin sore due to infection.

There are 3 types of heat rash in children:
Crystalline rash: Usually occurs in young children due to delayed development of sweat ducts. This type of heat rash doesn't show any inflammation, is usually caused by a high fever and leaves patches of skin that peel off when it heals. Rosacea: Usually occurs due to hot and humid weather. Deep rash: Occurs due to severe damage to the sweat glands, usually after a prolonged red rash.

2. Does the rash go away on its own?

In essence, heat rash is a disease caused by overheating, so when the weather becomes cool, the disease will spontaneously go away. However, the "end" here is not that the heat rash has completely gone, but that when the weather becomes cool, the child's skin is less hot and does not sweat anymore, so the symptoms of the disease will disappear but that symptom. will continue to recur if the weather is hot, especially in the summer.
Usually, when heat rash recurs many times, it will develop into deep heat rash, simply understood, this is a disease formed by repeated episodes of red heat rash. At this time, the extent of the disease becomes much more serious than at first, the damage is not only on the surface of the child's skin anymore, but also in the deep layer of the skin. The lesions are probably dark in color, which can easily lead to the absence of widespread sweating, the child is easily exhausted, the pulse is rapid, the vomiting is continuous,...
In other words, heat rash does not. It can't go away on its own if parents don't take timely intervention measures. Even when the blisters are broken, it will create conditions for bacteria and fungi to enter the skin, causing chronic dermatitis, skin infections, more dangerous than causing sepsis, affecting and life-threatening. of children. In addition, when the child has heat rash for a long time, it will cause the child to itch, cry all day and night, refuse to eat, and quickly debilitate and lose weight. The broken pustules also leave scars, affecting the child's aesthetic later.

3. Heat rash treatment

The most effective treatment for heat rash is to reduce sweating by means of temperature regulation: Air conditioners, ventilation fans, wear cool clothes and limit exercise. When the skin is cooled, the heat rash will disappear quickly.
Mild heat rash does not require treatment, but more severe forms sometimes need to be treated with topical medications to reduce discomfort and prevent complications.
When a child has heat rash, parents need to keep the child from scratching or scratching vigorously on the heat rash to avoid scratching the skin, creating conditions for bacteria to attack causing superinfection or worse, causing infection complications. wide.
Parents should gently rub the affected area to make the child feel more comfortable. At the same time, keeping the child's body always cool and breathable, limiting the child to excrete a lot of sweat.
Regular bathing for children helps to cool the body, clean skin, and unclog pores. Bathing with a dilute solution of 1/10,000 potassium permanganate, a soap-free, colorless and odorless shower gel for children to bathe with folk remedies such as green tea leaves, bitter gourds, star fruit leaves, etc. You can use this method to bathe your baby when he has heat rash.
It should be noted, if you buy these leaves at the market, you should soak them in salt water to make sure there are no residual chemicals before you give them a bath. Do not squeeze too much lemon or rub it on the baby's skin with heat rash because this can cause the baby's sensitive skin to be damaged, skin ulcers, and pain.

4. Prevent heat rash in children

To prevent heat rash in children, experts recommend:
Parents need to keep children in ventilated places, avoid gathering in crowded places in hot weather. Parents need to pay attention to keeping the child's body dry, minimizing the situation of sweat on the child's skin for too long. Parents should dress their children in loose cotton clothes that are breathable and absorb sweat well. It is necessary for children to drink enough water and strengthen drinks and fresh fruits rich in vitamin C to increase resistance and resist bad effects from the outside. Do not incubate the baby too carefully or wear too many clothes. In case the child has heat rash lasting 7-10 days or more, spreading all over the body or showing signs of superinfection such as: Skin swelling, heat, redness, pain, pus discharge, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, etc. Inguinal, fever, chills, ..., parents need to take their children to medical facilities for timely examination, to avoid complications.
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.