Prickly Heat Rash: What it Means in Children

Summertime brings about many interesting ailments, for which most can be attributed to excessive heat. If you are vacationing to a warmer destination this summer, or if you are living in a very hot climate, it is important to understand how new ailments in the summer can be identified and treated promptly. For many young children, a prickly heat rash will commonly develop and can become quite painful if not treated appropriately.

Heat rash in children is typically associated with excessive moisture and humidity in an area of the body that is not used to being subjected to it. For example, many children will develop heat rash on their necks and inner part of the arms '" next to the elbow '" due to excessive heat in the folds of the skin. For some children, a rash may develop in the area around the groin and, if not careful, issues with diaphoresis scrotum can cause more issues for your child. In most cases, if your child has complaints of a prickly heat rash in any part of the body, treatment may simply involve limiting exposure to heat and keeping the part of the body dry and away from moisture.

In some situations, children develop a prickly heat rash in response to exposure to allergens while outside. It is for this reason that medical attention should be sought to determine if the prickly heat rash is a result of a contagious rash, such as poison ivy, or if the prickly heat rash is just a simple response to the moisture on the skin. The key differentiating fact for seeking treatment is whether or not the rash is painful or causing itching on your child's skin.

Using over-the-counter rash ointments, such as Benadryl, can help to reduce pain, swelling, and minimize the redness from any prickly heat rash. Taking a bath twice a day is also important to keep the skin clean but be certain that your child is fully drying the skin, and keeping it dry, all day. To avoid another outbreak of the heat rash, this is a common daily hygiene ritual in the summer months.

As with the presence of any rash, if you find that your child's skin is extremely sensitive and continuing to break out in a prickly rash that is painful, then medical attention should be sought and home remedies avoided until a doctor has approved them. Erring on the side of caution is important to your child's health and can help to minimize long term impact that a skin rash can cause.

Sources: Healing Skin Disorders, by Andrew Gaeddert