Many of us struggle in hot weather, including children and babies. High temperatures have taken over July, with more hot weather to come. For many parents, heat brings particular worries. Babies can appear unusually tired or irritable at this time of year, and it is not necessarily a cause for concern. But, a heat rash might appear on their skin. If you are worried that it is something more serious, seek medical advice.
What is heat rash?
According to the NHS, heat rash is "usually harmless" and "usually gets better on its own after a few days". The same symptoms can appear in adults, children and babies, and the rash can develop on almost any part of the body. The symptoms include small, raised spots, an itchy, burning or prickly feeling and mild swelling.
Heat rash typically looks like a cluster of small raised bumps, not unlike pimples, usually between one and three millimetres across. On fair skin, these bumps are generally red in colour, whereas on darker skin tones they may appear grey or white. This is the most widely seen form of heat rash, known in medical terms as miliaria rubra. The Cleveland Clinic describes heat rash that "can also appear as tiny, clear bumps" which "look a bit like water droplets". This is called miliaria crystallina, a milder form that most commonly affects newborns and may not cause any itching or discomfort at all.
Where does heat rash appear?
Heat rash can crop up anywhere on the body, but in babies there are certain areas where it tends to be more common. These include the armpits, elbow creases, neck, groin and the upper chest and back. While adults are most likely to develop the rash on the arms, back, chest and legs.
How to treat heat rash
The NHS is clear that heat rash will normally clear by itself within a few days. It said: "The main thing to do is keep your skin cool so you do not sweat and irritate the rash". Dress your child in loose, breathable cotton clothing, switch to lighter bedding, and give them cooler baths to bring down their skin temperature. If your child is uncomfortable, apply a cool damp cloth or a wrapped ice pack to the affected area. A pharmacist can also advise on suitable soothing lotions, antihistamine tablets, or hydrocortisone cream — though it is worth noting that hydrocortisone cream is rarely recommended for younger children.
When to seek emergency help
Not every rash in hot weather is a heat rash. It is important to rule out other conditions — you can view images and descriptions on the NHS website. Other rashes include slapped cheek syndrome, hand, foot and mouth disease, scarlet fever, measles, eczema, ringworm, chicken pox and impetigo. The NHS is clear that if your baby or child develops a rash, seems unwell, and shows any of the following symptoms, you should call 999 or go to A&E immediately. The symptoms include stiff neck, bothered by light, they seem confused, agitated or they're not responding like they usually do, difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast, skin, lips or tongue look pale, blue, grey or blotchy, sudden swelling of their lips, mouth, throat or tongue, throat feels tight or struggling to swallow or rash looks like small bruises or bleeding under the skin and does not fade when you press a glass against it.
