Here are some useful tips and home remedies to treat heat rash in babies

Summer is not the most skin-friendly of seasons. The soaring temperature not only saps energy, it also wreaks havoc on the skin. With the sun beating down mercilessly, summer is the time when children develop a whole lot of skin-related problems.

The most common skin-related issue faced by the young and old during summer is prickly heat or heat rash. Here are some tips and home remedies to relieve prickly heat in babies, especially heat rashes that appear over the face and body of toddlers.

Prickly heat in babies

It is particularly difficult to watch infants and kids having to deal with heat rashes as it is characterized by angry red bumps which are painful and itchy. Prickly heat is caused when the sweat glands produce excess sweat during the summer that blocks the glands. The red bumps are mostly seen where the clothes regularly touch the skin like the back, neck, armpits and groin.

Children, especially infants and toddlers are more affected by these rashes in summer because their sweat glands are not fully developed. Keeping your child hydrated, clean and protected from the harsh summer sun are some of the most basic methods you can use to keep him safe during this season. The market is flooded with products that will cure most of these problems when they occur. But home remedies for prickly heat are safer than the store-bought products which are laden with chemicals.

Home remedies for heat rash in babies

Here are 5 fabulous home remedies for heat rashes that will make summer more bearable for the young ones.

1. Aloe vera for prickly heat rash

Aloe vera is a miracle cure for most skin problems. The plant is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. It also cools and nourishes the skin. So it is ideal for dealing with summer skin aliments such as prickly heat and sunburns.

Here's how this plant can be used to calm the breakout of prickly heat:

• Get an aloe vera plant and extract the gel from its leaves.
• Apply this gel on the infected areas of your toddler's and leave it on for about 20 minutes.
• Remove the gel with a cold washcloth or by giving your child a cold bath.

Here's a short video on how to make pure aloe vera gel at home.

2. Sandalwood for prickly heat rash

Sandalwood not only smells divine, it also comes in handy when dealing with a multitude of skin-related conditions. It cools the skin instantly and is also known for being a natural astringent. These properties come together to make sandalwood a ready cure for prickly heat.

Here's how to apply sandalwood paste to the heat rashes:

• Take equal parts of sandalwood powder and rosewater and mix them together to make a paste.
• Apply this paste on the affected areas and leave it to dry.
• Take care to prevent the dried flakes from falling into the eyes as they may cause discomfort.
• Wash away the dried-up paste with cold refreshing water.

Alternatively:

• Powder dried coriander leaves and mix it with sandalwood powder.
• Mix this powder with rosewater and turn it into a paste.
• Apply this paste on the affected areas and let it dry.
• Wash off with cold water.

3. Neem leaves for prickly heat

The bitter neem leaf has many medicinal properties. It is antiseptic, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory. This green leaf has been used in many beauty products that target skin ailments. And prickly heat is one of them.

Here's how you can incorporate neem in the battle against your toddler's prickly heat:

• Get some neem leaves and grind them into a paste with a little water.
• Apply this paste to all the affected areas and keep it on for about 20 minutes.
• Take care to keep away from the lips as the bitterness may put off your child.
• Wash off with cold water.

4. Ice cubes for prickly heat

Ice cubes are the go-to ingredient in all our favourite summer drinks. Be it a refreshing tall glass of milk or a fresh fruit juice, the season's quenchers are incomplete without the addition of ice cubes. The instant cooling they provide is also a good remedy to relieve heat rash in babies.

How to use ice cubes:

• Take an ice cube or two and wrap it in a soft cloth.
• Place the cloth on the affected area.
• Remove the cloth after about 10 minutes.

Or

• Melt the ice cubes in water.
• Soak a cloth in this cold water and wring off the excess water.
• Place the cold cloth on the affected areas.
• Remove after 10 minutes or when your child begins to feel uneasy.

5. Watermelon for prickly heat

Watermelon is one of the most refreshing and hydrating fruits you can eat in the summer. But did you know that watermelon can also refresh you from the outside? And that's what makes it so good when it comes to treating the rashes caused by prickly heat.

Here's how you can use watermelon:

• Pulp a watermelon after removing the seeds.
• Apply the pulp on the prickly heat rashes and let it stay on for about 20 minutes.
• Make this fun for your toddler by comparing her with a pink fairy.
• Wash the pulp off with cool water.

How long will it take to recover from prickly heat?

Heat rashes usually resolve in 2-3 days with treatment. It is important to keep the skin cool to avoid sweating. Ensure that your baby is wearing loose clothes. Also, keeping the affected area dry will help in faster recovery.

When to see a doctor?

It is best to consult your child's doctor if the heat rashes don't go away in 3-4 days or if your child develops a fever. Sometimes the skin rashes can worsen and become red and very itchy. Any swelling or oozing of pus from the rashes will need immediate attention.