Tiny blisters on your baby's skin - does he have heat rash?

Heat rash (Miliaria) is a familiar term among parents, perhaps because it causes symptoms quite often. It can appear even in newborns. Usually in the summer we notice those tiny, fluid-filled blisters on the baby's chest, shoulders, back, and armpits that do not cause unpleasant symptoms, do not itch, and are not inflamed – in the best case scenario. They resemble acne. Sometimes they can also occur in groups, all over the body, in red, itchy, inflamed forms.

Heat rash is a harmless problem that can be prevented with a little attention.

 Source: Children's Smile

What does heat rash look like on a baby's skin?

The small, water-filled blisters are usually noticed when you put on your clothes. If they appear on your face, they appear even sooner. The area is usually skin-colored, and there is no inflammation. But it can also be red, which is the case here. Depending on the condition, there are two types .

Crystalline miliaria – the milder version

Tiny, watery fluid-filled blisters appear close together on the skin and usually appear in larger patches on the baby's body, especially in the armpits, back, and chest. It is not inflamed, not red, and does not hurt. If the blisters burst due to scratching, the fluid will drain from them.

These symptoms do not cause any complaints for the child.

Crystalline miliaria is caused by overheating and resolves quickly when the skin cools and the sweat glands are freed. This can be helped by taking the child to a cooler place or perhaps giving them a nice bath.

Miliaria rubra – when there is already inflammation 

The rashes can become inflamed, the skin itches, and it hurts. It is red, swollen, and the blisters do not burst. Fortunately, heat rash rarely progresses to this point. For the sweat glands to become so severely blocked that it affects the deeper layers of the skin, where the sweat spreads instead of reaching the surface, it takes several days of wearing warm, tight, non-ventilated clothing.

Inflammation occurs in blocked sweat glands, but these drainage tubes can also be damaged. When this condition meets the bacteria and salt in sweat, it causes inflammation. Seek advice from your pediatrician if your baby's skin is red and you think he or she is also experiencing itching or inflamed skin.

We try to dress our children in light clothing in the summer, but we often fail to consider how hot it can be under the diaper. We should also pay attention to the constant warm, humid environment that develops there. If possible, take the diaper off the baby often and choose a product that will not make the skin too hot.

Source: Webpatient - Heat rash

What actually causes heat rash?

It is natural for babies to have a poor thermoregulation system. When the sweat glands in their skin become blocked, tiny rashes and blisters appear, especially in the folds of their bodies and on other parts of their bodies.

This requires increased activity of these glands, a temperature that is already high for a baby. This is why it is important to always monitor your child carefully, especially in the summer, because overheating can quickly lead to symptoms of heat rash .

How to tell if a baby is hot?

You can check the nape of your baby's neck to see if he's warm. If you reach under his clothes, you can feel if his skin is sweating. If his hair is damp, it's definitely a sign that he needs to be dressed less. It's not worth checking his hands and feet, as they can often be cold.

A symptom that goes away without treatment

Yes, non-inflammatory heat rash (Miliaria crystallina) will go away on its own in babies and young children if we help the skin to ventilate and prevent it from sweating further. This can be facilitated by dressing the baby in loose, airy clothing or simply letting them be naked when the temperature is appropriate.

Treatment of inflamed blisters

If the blisters do not go away, you should seek help from your pediatrician, who will prescribe an appropriate medication for your child.

The inflamed version, although very worrisome, can be treated in a similar way. It does not require medical treatment as long as the bacteria do not multiply to a large extent. Since this condition can cause discomfort to the baby – itching, burning, pain – it is important to consult your pediatrician, who will prescribe an antibiotic ointment in case of infection.

Source: Pediatric Center , Webpatient – ​​Heat rash

Proper dressing is important

Some children are more prone to heat rash, in their case we check more often whether they are hot. When dressing your baby in the summer, we should always take into account the temperature of the environment. It is important to dress your little one in children's clothes that allow their skin to breathe and do not allow them to overheat. Textiles made of natural materials are one of them. We can choose from popular materials such as cotton, linen, and bamboo.

LiaaBébé premium bamboo viscose baby clothes have excellent breathability and are also very flexible. This means that your baby will not experience any discomfort while wearing them: they will not sweat, they will not get hot, their skin will not chafe, and they will feel truly comfortable and be able to move freely. Because that's what matters.

What else can we do to prevent heat rash?

In addition to avoiding overdressing, bathing your baby and playing without a diaper can be beneficial in the summer heat. In addition to having a very good effect on his well-being, these also help keep his skin clean and prevent overheating. We should take care of changing diapers more frequently to avoid his skin from getting burned in a warm, humid environment. In summer, it is worth using a product that is extra thin, but washable diapers can also provide adequate ventilation.

When placing your baby in a stroller or car seat, place a well-ventilated cloth diaper or a special seat cover underneath to prevent their back from sweating. Using air conditioning in a car is now essential in the summer; set the appropriate temperature carefully, keeping your child's needs in mind.

It is important to note that despite good advice, there are no foolproof preventive practices. Even if you pay attention to everything and dress your baby consciously, you may still get a few small rashes on your little one's body, but they will appear less frequently and in smaller areas.

We may also find that while we started with heat rashes at the beginning of the summer, they no longer appear in the subsequent warm months, and there are children who no longer have them.

Sun allergy also causes similar symptoms. 

Sun allergy develops due to UV radiation. Itchy rashes usually appear on exposed skin a few hours or 1-2 days after exposure to light. This is most often an immunological process, and sun allergy itself is rare in children.