Summer is supposed to be a season filled with fun activities for the entire family to enjoy. However, summer brings with it a host of problems that can affect your baby and a lot of these problems concern the skin. One of these is heat rash.

 

Heat rash is a skin problem that is characterized by little bumps and sometimes small blisters that erupt when your baby’s skin gets exposed to a lot of heat. The rash, particularly the tiny bumps, usually appears red, specifically on light skin.

 

Causes of Heat Rash

 

Heat rash is, as the name suggests, generally happens more often during hot, humid weather. But be on the lookout for heat rash during winter too. Heat rash can occur if your baby is wearing too many layers of clothing or has a fever

 

It occurs when your baby gets hot and can’t sweat out the heat. Your baby, just like bigger kids and adults, need to sweat to be able to cool down. If she sweats too much, her pores can get clogged and the sweat will not be able to get out; and this is how heat rash occurs. Babies and younger kids are more prone to heat rash because they have smaller pores than adults.

 

Heat rash usually affects the folds of the skin and parts of your baby’s body where the clothes fit snugly. This could be the neck, diaper area which includes the bottom and crotch, stomach, and chest. If your baby wears a hat quite often, heat rash could affect her forehead and scalp as well.

 

Treating Your Baby’s Heat Rash

 

Heat rash generally is not painful so it will not hurt your baby. It can be however very itchy and the rash itself may be tender to the touch. Fortunately there are a number of heat rash remedies that you can use.

 

For starters, cool down your little one. Get her out off the sun and move her into a cool, well ventilated room. Use a cotton towel to absorb the sweat, lightly patting your baby’s skin instead or wiping or rubbing to prevent further irritation.

 

You can give your baby a lukewarm bath. Add a bit of baking soda to your baby’s bath water. About 2 teaspoons to gallon or water should do the trick. After bathing, do not dry your baby using a towel; instead let her “air dry.”

 

Some experts advice against applying ointments or creams since these could worsen your baby’s heat rash by trapping moisture. Opt for prickly heat powders instead. Some prickly heat or heat rash powders have “cooling” properties that alleviate the itch and help dry out the rash.

 

Preventing Heat Rash

 

There are several things you can do to prevent your child from getting heat rash.

 

First, make sure that your baby is cool and comfortable by dressing her in loose and lightweight clothes, particularly on hot and humid days. Opt for fabrics that that are comfortable, absorbent and lets your baby’s skin sweat more easily, like cotton. Avoid synthetic fabrics that prevent the skin from sweating efficiently, as well as rough fabrics like wool that can scratch the skin.

 

On hot days, keep your baby out of the sun and have her stay in a cool, breezy spot indoors or outdoors. Make sure your child is well hydrated and is not overheating.

 

Deborah Williams is a child care expert consultant on a non-government organization promoting environmentally friendly cleaning products and eco friendly cleaning. BabyGanics is the manufacturer of natural baby products made with all-natural ingredients for effective and skin care poroducts.
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Winter conditions such as dry winds, cold temperatures, snow, and rain can be harmful for your baby. It is common for babies and young children to get sick in the winter because of decreasing temperatures and the flu season. The harsh winter weather alone can cause damage to your baby’s skin. Their skin is so sensitive and can become irritated more so than adults’ skin. Cold winter air and dry, heated indoor air can cause irritation and dryness of the skin making eczema flare ups more frequent. Here are some ways to protect your baby’s skin during the winter.

When bathing your baby, be extra cautious of the water temperature. You should always practice safe bathing techniques, not just in the winter. The temperature should be lukewarm, a mixture of hot and cold water. Cold water will making your baby uncomfortable and water that is too hot can dry the skin out more or burn their sensitive skin. Also, use soap made from natural products that aren’t too heavily scented. Unnatural products can contain harsh chemicals that could make a winter rash worse. Moisturizing after bathing is smart because the skin is clean. It is common for babies to suffer from eczema, so using <a title=”eczema oil” target=”_blank” href=”http://www.homesteadcompany.com/”>eczema oil</a> will help to prevent that.

You may be surprised to know that babies can regulate their body temperature just as well as adults can. Don’t dress your baby in too many layers trying to keep them warm. If your baby becomes overheated they may develop an irritating heat rash. Keep your baby warm with jackets and blankets. Dress your baby in material that can breathe a little such as cotton. Dress your baby as you would dress yourself. It is common to add an extra layer of clothing to your outfit to stay warm, but only layer up once.

Adults and babies are often irritated by chapped lips during the winter. It may not seem like your baby’s lips could get chapped because they appear moist from drooling, teething, or having a pacifier. You can use a lip balm on your baby but make sure it isn’t the kind that has a tint of color. Find an organic brand that won’t cause irritation. Using lip balm will add a protective layer that will heal or prevent chapped lips.

To protect your baby’s hands and feet, which are often exposed to the outside elements, you can use gloves and socks. Wearing gloves will protect your baby’s hands from cold winter winds. When skin is exposed to wind, cold air, and other elements, the skin can become very dry. A lot of heat is also lost through the tops of our heads. Find a cute, little beanie or hat for your baby to wear. Unlike adults, some babies don’t have a lot of hair to keep the tops of their heads warm.

Melanie Nader is the founder of the Homestead Company which makes premium quality natural skin care products including eczema oil and diaper ointment made with the finest 100% natural ingredients. For more information, visit http://www.homesteadcompany.com.

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