The scientific term for baby heat rash is Miliaria Rubra, but it also goes by the more common name of prickly heat. You can find both of these names in field literature. However, no matter what you call it, baby heat rash is a rather serious condition, painful for your little one, which you must take very seriously and treat as soon as you notice it. This is why it’s so important to know all the remedies for it and especially the natural ones. It’s best not to expose such small children to pills straight away, so we have compiled for you a list of the best home remedies for baby heat rash in existence today.
There are a number of reasons that lead to this annoying condition which keeps small ones awake at night and causes them to cry all the time. The most common sources are the following.
This ailment is fairly easy to spot, right from its inception. Whether it’s visible with the naked eye or your child lets you known by crying incessantly, you will find out about it. Therefore, you needn’t worry that it will go unnoticed. Also, you should be aware that it’s a rather common condition, half the newborns out there suffering from it. Here are a few signs that will let you know this is what’s troubling your bundle of joy.
Typically, this type of rash vanishes on its own in a few days, which is why there is no reason to run to pills and medication. However, there are certain things you can do to aid it to disappear faster, calm down the baby and its discomfort, and prevent it from reappearing.
As mentioned above, one of the primary causes of baby heat rash, as its name suggests is overheating. This is caused either by too many layers of clothes or by the diaper itself. If you see this happening, try to cool down the baby’s skin by removing both his clothes and his diapers for a little while. It will soothe him and help the rash disappear faster.
Here’s the science behind the link between too many clothes and rashes. Just like a grownup, a baby sweats when he feels too hot, so as to reduce his body’s temperature. However, given the fact that he has too many layers on, the sweat cannot dry out on its own at the surface of the skin as it normally should. Therefore, it blocks the pores. Since the baby’s both sweat glands and pores are not fully developed yet, they burst out in red patches which we identify as rashes.
When your baby is suffering from a heat rash, one of the best things you can do is to keep him away from a source of extreme heat and humidity. Remember the purpose of the treatment is to cool down his skin. During the cold season, it’s best to keep the heat on low for a little while. During the hot seasons, put a fan his room, even at night, if the temperature is still high.
You want to be mindful of this when you outdoors as well. During the warmer months, be sure to have your baby dressed in breathable cottons that will not overheat them. Instead, you may want to opt for a loose onesie and a muslin blanket to accompany them.
One of the simplest and yet, best ways to calm down the baby when he has a heat rash is to simply wet a washcloth and apply it to the inflamed part of his skin. Apart from cloths, you can also treat the baby to a short, lukewarm bath that will have the same effect. However, you should note that the bath only soothes the infant for a short period, while the wet cloths can be reapplied as needed, especially if it’s hot outside. If your baby has a heat rash, then you will want to consider giving them a bath at the end of the night. This will allow their skin to feel a lot better. Also, they will be able to sleep a bit more soundly because of the calm that the bath provides.
Remember not to dry the baby with a towel, as this will only increase the skin irritation and cause more itchiness. It will also dry the skin. Rather than that, you can simply let him dry out in the fresh air.
Baking soda is basically Bicarbonate of soda, an alkaline chemical that breaks down acids and proteins. The commercial type you find in almost every store out there is used for many home remedies and beautifying treatments. It’s usually made into a cream by mixing half a teaspoon of baking soda with 4 ounces of water, and it’s used for the following ailments:
Another ailment you can use baking soda for is baby heat rash, as it soothes the skin and gets rid of the red bumps. You can dip a washcloth in a solution of baking soda and water and gently wash the baby’s itchy areas. Other than washing you can use the washcloth as a compress, as much as three times a day if necessary. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then dry off the baby’s skin and use some anti-prickly heat powder on him. You may also bathe the baby completely in water to which 1 cup of baking soda has been added. This should be done twice a day until the rash disappears. However, if you go for the bathing solution, be careful with the baby’s eyes, ears, and any open wounds he might have.
One very simple and completely natural remedy for prickly heat is based on something you, probably, already have in the kitchen, oatmeal. This delicious grain which we generally use for cookies and bread has anti-inflammatory, soothing, and anti-irritating properties. These healing characteristics mean it will soothe your baby’s skin in no time, reduce the inflammation, and help with the itching. Here’s how to get the best out of it.
One cup of finely ground oatmeal should be added to a bathtub filled with lukewarm water. Make sure to stir it in very well, until all the water turns milky in color. In case you don’t have or cannot find any finely powdered oatmeal you can easily buy some rolled oats and put them in the food processor or blender for a few minutes. However, make sure they are completely natural and don’t have any additional substances, such as colorants or sugar.
Bathe the baby for about 20 minutes and pat him dry with a clean towel. You can do it every day, twice a day so that he feels the relief.
One sweet smelling treatment for baby heat rash comes in the shape of sandalwood powder. It will eliminate all the symptoms and cool down the body, which is truly essential when it comes to the recovery.
Mix 1 part sandalwood powder with 1 part rose water. Combine them until they turn into a paste, which you can then smear over the afflicted areas. Another recipe asks you to mix 2 tablespoons of sandalwood powder with 2 tablespoons of coriander powder and a bit of rose water. When they have formed a thick paste, use it over the baby’s rash area.
Fuller’s earth, which also goes by the name of Multani Mitti is a type of clay. It’s rich in magnesium, silica, quartz, calcite, and dolomite. Although not many people know it, fuller’s earth is actually a staple of the beauty industry, especially for herbal lines of hair and skin products. It’s incredibly safe to use, cheap and has no known side-effects. Its antiseptic and oil-absorbent properties make it perfect to use on your baby’s skin rash.
It also removes scars, improves the skin’s entire complexion and its elasticity, and treats acne and dandruff. You need to mix five tablespoons of this marvelous powder with around three tablespoons of rose water until you get a thick paste. Apply this paste to the afflicted area and allow it to dry on its own. You then need to wash it off with cold water. This treatment can be used every day once a day, for an entire week.
You might know this plant by its other name, neem. It’s a type of Indian Lilac that belongs to the mahogany family. It’s a tropical, tall and beautiful tree, with white flowers of which you can find pictures online. Its leaves have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, which makes Margosa the perfect natural home remedy for your baby’s heat rash problems.
You need to grind a handful of fresh Margosa leaves to a paste-like consistency. Smear the paste on the painful skin area and let it dry of its own accord. You can them gently rinse it off using cold water. Another recipe you can follow advises simmering a handful of leaves in approximately two cups of water. When they’re done, strain them and let the solution cool down. Dip a cloth in it and apply it over the rash. Leave it to rest for ten minutes. You can do this up to four or five times every day until the rash has cleared off.
A third recipe calls for 15 to 20 Margosa leaves to be crushed into a paste and then mixed with half a cup of gram flour, also known as garbanzo bean flour, and a bit of water. In the same way, use this paste to cover the afflicted area, let it dry out and then rinse with cold water.
Summer time can turn into a veritable nightmare for newborns and their parents, all because of prickly heat or baby heat rash. The mild inflammation, the itchiness, prickling and stinging sensations, as well as the small, scarlet bumps that appear at skin level, are cause for quite a deal of suffering for the little one. However, there is no need to panic and run to the medicine cabinet. While a checkup with your pediatrician is advised, it’s always better to use natural home remedies for such a small child than pharmacy-made treatments.
If you have a newborn, then you know that there is nothing more difficult than watching them suffer the aches and pains that newborns so often have to go through. Baby heat rash is no exception. Although it can be super difficult to watch them go through the uncomfort, the good news is that they don’t have to suffer in pain thanks to these helpful home remedies. While some of them may seem unconventional, many moms will tell you that they do work wonders.
Hopefully, your baby does not have to deal with this painful inconvenience, but if they do, you will have some support on hand. If you have ever tried out any of these remedies at home, let us know below. Also, if you have any other at home remedies for baby heat rash that you have used before, do let us know below.
