How to Treat Prickly Heat in babies/Ghamoriya/ Treating Heat Rash in babies

Thank you, everyone, for your overwhelming response to one of my previous post on the topic “How to take care of the baby in summer”. This has motivated me to come up with another post on “the prevention and treatment of the Prickly Heat in babies”. Therefore, based on your suggestions and comments I am sharing detailed information as well as personal experiences on prickly heat or heat rash.

In that particular post, I have discussed various problems that are seen and experienced during the summer season. One of the problems is prickly heat rash. Prickly heat is a very common problem to hear during the summer season. But at the same time, taking care of the babies from heat rash is most important. This is because this common problem needs attention for its timely prevention and treatment.

We all call prickly heat as “ghamoriya” in common talks. Ghamoriya is experienced by the babies of every age group. Therefore, this post is not only restricted to taking care of toddlers but it encompasses the babies of all age group.

Now to proceed with, I will be answering one by one all the questions that are too often asked by the parents. Also, sharing personal experiences of preventing and treating the prickly heat rash. The important questions that are usually bothering the parents on prickly heat are as follows:

• Home remedy/treatment for prickly heat in babies.
• How to get rid/prevent prickly heat in babies

Before starting to answer these questions I would like to throw the light on What is Prickly heat rash? This is because prevention and treatment come later. What comes first is knowing about the problem.

Meaning of Prickly heat/ Heat rash

Prickly heat is an itchy inflammation of the skin. This is generally noticed during the summer season, especially during humid weather conditions. This primarily affects the folded areas of the skin where the sweat gets easily accumulated.

Causes of Prickly heat/ Heat rash

Mostly remaining in the hot weather with humidity is the real cause of the emergence of prickly heat or heat rash problem. This is because humidity prevents the sweat from drying. Further, the hot weather makes the sweat glands to release the excess sweat.

Generally in babies, either their sweat glands are developed or are not developed. In both situations, prickly heat is common to affect the baby. Now I will share the information on both the above situations.

Situation 1: Sweat glands are not fully developed

when the sweat glands of the baby are not fully developed. In that case, sweat coming in contact with air makes the body cold. This means that the baby is overheated. The overheated body gives rise to heat rash easily.

Situation 2: Sweat glands are developed

When the baby sweat more, the excess sweat gets accumulated either under the layers of skin or over the upper layer of skin. This is because the sweat glands get overburdened due to excess sweat. Further, blocking the sweat ducts. This accumulated sweat emerge as a skin problem called prickly heat as irritable red bumps.

Signs of Prickly heat/ Heat rash

You as a parent are worried as to know the signs of prickly heat. This is to treat the skin problem at its earliest. Although prickly heat is treatable within two to three days. That is either it vanishes completely or reduces to a treatable level. Prickly heat is common on any part of the body that is exposed to hot weather for a long duration. But mostly seen on the forehead, neck, shoulder, chest, stomach, back or upper thigh.

Signs of suffering from prickly heat

Usually, prickly heat starts with red dots over the skin and increase at high pace into red bumps and blisters. Further, prickly heat is easy to diagnose and identify on its own.

• Most common yet most important is the itching or prickly feeling on the skin. This irritated the baby at its maximum.
• You will find the baby rubbing or scratching all over the affected area.
• Small red bumps, redness, blisters or rashes over the affected area.

Treatment of prickly heat or Heat rash

After discussing everything related to prickly heat, the question of its treatment arises. That is How to treat prickly heat or heat rash? We as a mother very soon reach into the state of panic. This is when anything is concerning our babies. Another big question that comes to our thought is prickly heat a serious skin problem?  

To throw light on the above questions, prickly heat is not a dangerous or serious skin problem. Normally it disappears on its own with proper treatment. It takes two to three days to reduce and heal. Taking precautions in advance is necessary. This means that with the start of the summer season. This is because it reduces the chances of prickly heat to minimal.

To add with this skin problems are very difficult to deal especially when talking of babies. This is because the medication of skin problems is neither advisable by the paediatrician nor by the dermatologists upto 3 years babies. Also we as a parent most of the time restrict ourselves from any medication due to their side effects. We always prefer to take help of home remedies to cure our babies, especially for skin treatment. Because of their no side effects.

After discussing the prevention or precautions in the above points. Now I proceed to share home remedies to treat prickly heat. The treatment is common for all. I will also be sharing with every separate point special tip for treating the babies.

Home remedies to treat prickly heat / Heat rash

Hereunder I will be discussing one by one all the steps in sequence to follow when heat rash is noticed by you. Repeating these steps in routine helps in curing prickly heat quickly. This is a tried and tested procedure and safe to adopt. Although there is no hard and fast rule to follow the sequence. These are the ways of treating prickly heat.

1. Bathing

Foremost step to treat the heat rash makes the baby bath. Allow the baby to play in the water for around 10 to 15 mins. Bathing gives a cooling effect to the affected skin. Also, helps in providing comfort and relaxation to the baby.

2. Allow the skin to dry
   

After bathing takes a clean bathing towel and wipe off the water from the skin. Our purpose is to dry the skin of the affected area before applying anything on it. For this, you should use a soft and cotton bathing towel. Because it comes in direct contact with the skin. Henceforth cotton towels prevent harsh rubbing on the skin.

Personally, Babyhug is a good choice for purchasing because of its light coloured best cotton fabric products. These products are very gentle on the baby skin.

3. Apply Ice

Once the skin gets dry completely apply ice over the affected area. Do not apply the ice straight away on the bare skin. Wrap the ice cube in a muslin cloth. Later with gentle hands simply press it all over the affected area of the skin.

Ice is not recommended for application till one year baby.

4. Apply Prickly heat powder

Let the skin dry for a while after application of the ice. Then sprinkle the Nycil prickly heat powder all over the affected skin. Nycil powder is completely safe for your baby’s skin. Rather it is the best curing treatment for prickly heat rash.

Remember not to spread the powder with your fingers or hands.

You can also use aloe vera gel or Calamine lotion over the affected skin. I have heard using these home remedies from other parents. Therefore, sharing related information. But precisely have not used any of these for treating prickly heat.

5. Leave the affected area open
   
   

Leave the affected skin open for 10 to 15 mins. This is to allow Nycil prickly heat powder to get absorbed into the layers of the skin easily. Also, the air helps the skin to breathe. This is necessary for the early opening of the sweat ducts. If you dress the baby immediately after the application of prickly heat powder then powder would simply be removed from clothes.

6. Appropriate clothing

Moving forward with the treatment use appropriate clothing. Appropriate clothing includes light-coloured, cotton fabricated, loose clothes. Avoid wearing the full sleeves clothes during prickly heat rash.

Further, prickly heat is seen over the forehead. In that case, avoid using a cap or hat for a longer duration. Because sweat gets accumulated continuously over the area of cap or hat covering the forehead. Due to lack of passage for the sweat to flow. Thereby resulting in prickly heat.

Also, change the entire clothes of the baby two to three times a day. This is to eliminate contact of affected skin with clothes filled with sweat and germs. This relieves the baby from the itchiness.

7. Avoid going in the sun

Avoid going out during a bright sunny day for a longer duration. This makes the body dehydrated due to excessive sweating. This worsens the situation by increasing heat rash.

Drinking a good amount of water at every interval of two hours lowers the heat and keep the body cool.

Usually, I avoid going out during the day time. But if the situation demands I prefer carrying a bottle of milk to feed at an interval of two hours. Further, avoid full sleeves clothes over soft, loose and cotton clothing.

Further, use an umbrella or shaded place when going out.

8. Keep the body hydrated

Breastfeed the newborn baby at regular two hours intervals. This helps in decreasing the excessive heat generation in the body.

I always prefer to serve drinking water to the baby every two hours. This helps in maintaining the water portion of the body lost due to excess sweating.

Make the baby intake sufficient amount of fruit juices, vegetable soups and purees for keeping the body hydrated. I prefer to feed vegetables and fruits to the baby atleast three times a day. Curd, lassi, buttermilk and coconut water are the best sources to release heat out of the body. I serve these in early noon.

9. Provide a pleasant environment

Providing a pleasant environment is one of the most important steps.  It helps in early recovery from prickly heat. Remaining in the hot and humid atmosphere increases the heat rash. For this purpose keep the baby in the air conditioner is necessary. Using the air conditioner at a temperature ranging from 24 ℃ to 26 ℃ will serve our purpose.

Also, the air conditioner helps in reducing sweating and itching.

10. Keep the skin moisture

The skin of the baby is very gentle. It gets infected quickly. Therefore, massage the baby daily with coconut oil. Coconut oil nourishes the skin deeply. Also, provides a cooling effect.

Do not massage over the affected skin until the skin recovers completely. This is because I do not prefer rubbing of the skin. This can increase the skin problem. But should massage the other remaining parts of the body.

In prickly heat itching or prickling of the skin is common. The baby feels irritated and discomfort with prickly heat. Avoid rubbing or scratching of the affected area by the baby. Otherwise, it will make the skin problem worse. Gently titillate the affected area with a soft muslin cloth. This will relax the baby and also helps in early healing of the disease.

Further, it is recommended not to consult the paediatrician instantly. With the timely and correct treatment, the baby would surely be relieved from the irritation of prickly heat. But if prickly heat does not show a healing state in a span of maximum four to five days, consult your paediatrician. In that case, do not worsen the situation to any skin allergy.