You may think that only athletes or active people can suffer from rashes of heat or sweat, but even infants can often have this problem. Miliaria is caused by the obstruction of the sweat glands that trap sweat beneath the surface of the skin. Since those of newborns have not yet fully developed, they are unable to expel heat properly, thus causing rashes to form. Fortunately, most of these disappear on their own; in the meantime, you can take steps to alleviate the baby's discomfort.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Refresh the Baby and Soothe the Miliaria
Step 1. Bathe the baby
As soon as you suspect that he has developed this skin disorder, start refreshing him right away. Give him a bath in warm water to lower his body temperature; you just have to avoid using fresh water, otherwise you could give him a shock due to the extreme temperature difference.
After the bath, let it air dry; it is important to keep the baby cool by exposing the skin to air, in order to accelerate healing
Step 2. Refresh the room
You may find that the baby has become hot after taking a nap in a warm room. Check the room temperature; to be comfortable it should be around 20-22 ° C. If necessary, turn on the air conditioner or use a fan to circulate the air.
- If you don't have an air conditioner and the fan is unable to cool the room adequately, consider taking your child to a public place with air conditioning, such as a shopping mall or library.
- Studies have shown that having a fan on in the room while the baby sleeps reduces the risk of sudden death syndrome.
Step 3. Dress him in comfortable clothing
You have to remove the bands or clothes that are too hot (such as the long-sleeved shirt, the coat, and so on) by putting on it instead of natural fiber and / or cotton garments that cool it, allowing the skin to breathe and not retain moisture. Try to dress him in layers, so you can change the amount of clothes according to the weather and keep the baby cool.
Babies tend to suffer from miliaria when they are overheated (because they are too dressed or excessively swaddled) or have a fever
Step 4. Use fresh compresses
Dip a soft cotton towel in cold water and apply it to the rashes to relieve itching. When the cloth is warm again, wet it again with fresh water and place it back on your skin. If you wish, you can also make a compress using medicinal plants that have been shown to help reduce inflammation. Infuse a small pile of herbs in 250ml of boiling water for five minutes; wait for the mixture to cool completely, then dip a towel in the solution and place it on the suffering skin. To proceed use the following:
- Hydraste;
- Calendula;
- Echinacea;
- Oatmeal.
Step 5. Apply aloe vera
Cut a leaf and squeeze the gel directly on the skin rash, distributing it evenly; initially, the gel has a sticky consistency, but dries quickly. Research has shown that this plant is able to control inflammation and can cure minor skin ailments.
If you can't use fresh aloe vera, buy the gel from the supermarket or pharmacy; choose a product that contains mostly aloe and has no preservatives or other fillers
Step 6. Do not apply any creams, lotions or ointments
Natural aloe vera is fine, but to soothe the itch you need to avoid other types of commercial products, such as those containing calamine. some doctors believe they can dry out the skin, aggravating the situation. You shouldn't use calamine to treat skin disorders on very young babies (under 6 months old); you should also avoid creams or ointments that contain mineral oil or petrolatum (such as petroleum jelly).
If you are concerned that your baby will scratch the rashes, ask your pediatrician to recommend products to relieve the itch
Part 2 of 2: Recognizing the Miliaria and Seeking Medical Treatment
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of skin inflammation
Check the baby's skin for small, red, itchy blisters or bumps that the baby may even scratch. Pay particular attention to the epidermis covered by clothing, skin folds (such as neck and armpits), groin, chest and shoulders.
Miliaria (also known as heat rash or sweat rash) is the reaction to blocked sweat glands that traps sweat beneath the skin's surface
Step 2. Check if the baby is too hot
Make sure he is not excessively dressed and that the clothes are not constricting; if you are not sure if the baby is comfortable, look for clues that will let you know that he is too covered or overheated:
- The head and neck are wet and sweaty;
- The face is red;
- Breathing is accelerated (more than 30-50 breaths per minute if you are less than six months old, or more than 25-30 breaths if you are 6 to 12 months old);
- The child is irritable, crying and complaining.
Step 3. Know when to go to the pediatrician
In most cases, the miliaria resolves on its own without medical intervention. However, if you notice that the rash does not improve within 24 hours, the skin becomes swollen, sore, purulent, or the baby has a fever, call the doctor. it may not be sudamine.
In the meantime, do not use ointments that contain cortisone or other medicated anti-itch products; you should apply them only with the consent of the pediatrician
Step 4. Have your little one go for a visit
Doctors check the affected skin for infection and determine if it really is a heat rash. In most situations, no laboratory tests or other tests are required; if your pediatrician has doubts about the nature of the rash, they may refer you to a dermatologist.
The doctor is likely to ask if the child is taking any medications, as a rash of this type could be a side effect; for example, sudamine is a fairly common reaction to clonidine
Step 5. Follow the pediatrician's instructions for treatment to the letter
If she confirms that it is miliaria, she may suggest that you simply cool the baby and make sure his skin stays dry. he rarely prescribes a cream or lotion to treat the problem, as these are products that are typically reserved for severe cases.
