With intense heat, summer brings its share of minor inconveniences, and heat rash is one of them. It tends to appear in summer as a skin eruption. It is more common in babies and can look alarming if you don’t know what it is. What causes it? What is it? How can you recognize it? And what are the remedies for heat rash? In this article, we help you understand it better—and, above all, share tips and tricks to help it clear up.

What are the heat buttons?

Heat rash is a minor skin issue. It is a skin eruption medically known as miliaria. It is caused by irritation from excessive sweating that leads to lesions. An increase in heat and skin humidity triggers it.

When the bumps appear, it’s because the sweat ducts are blocked. These ducts are located in the skin and connect to the sweat glands. The glands sit under the skin and produce sweat to help regulate body temperature.

Age is an important factor with this condition. It is most common in infants : 3 to 4% of newborns are affected. Children of all ages and adults can also be affected, but less frequently. When it appears, the rash usually lasts 1 to 3 days.

What are the causes of heat rash?

Heat rash is caused by an increase in body heat and humidity. There are 3 main reasons it may appear in your little one:

• Clothing : if your baby is dressed too warmly, or if the fabrics aren’t suitable, it can encourage heat rash to develop.

• Overly rich creams : in summer, avoid creams with very rich textures, as they can clog the sweat glands and contribute to heat rash.

• Surfaces : if your little explorer comes into contact with non-breathable materials, it can promote heat rash. It’s best to choose lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton. Sometimes, your child will inevitably come into contact with materials that cause more sweating, such as those in a car seat.

What are the symptoms of heat rash?

The symptoms of heat rash are not numerous, but they can take two different forms. The lesions can be watery , appearing as small vesicles or clear droplets. Or they can be inflammatory , characterized by small red or pink pustules.

In all cases, miliaria is benign. It is usually only mildly bothersome, but it can cause itching. It is more common in babies during their first weeks of life. Children are also susceptible, but less frequently. In adults, the condition is rarer, although heat-related dermatoses can take other forms.

Heat rash usually appears on covered areas of skin or in skin folds , such as the neck, torso, chest, or scalp. These areas are warmer and more humid, which promotes its development.

What are the treatments for heat rash?

Heat rash is not serious, but it can make your baby’s skin itchy. And when you can help your little one feel better, you naturally want to try everything. Here are answers to the questions you may have about available treatments, along with our tips and tricks to help your baby get through this period as comfortably as possible.

Is there a medication treatment?

The answer is no. To be more precise, some treatments exist, but they do not change how the rash develops. It’s therefore best to avoid them, as they can lead to other issues. Since heat rash can resemble other skin eruptions, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional if you have any doubts.

Is there a natural treatment?

There are no miracle cures for heat rash—just a few simple steps you can take to soothe your little one and help them through this phase. Since it’s caused by heat and humidity, consider uncovering your little adventurer and dressing them in loose, soft, breathable clothing. You can also cool their skin with a lukewarm shower; you’ll find more details in our article « 4 tips for summer with a baby », or apply a cool (but not too cold) cloth to help relieve itching.

Make sure to dry your child’s skin thoroughly after a bath or a water session , and make sure they drink enough. You can also use a spray bottle to cool them down. Also, remember to change your baby’s diaper regularly, because humidity promotes the appearance of heat rash . You can use our LILLYDOO diapers , which are ultra-gentle and help protect your little one’s skin as much as possible.

Should you see a doctor?

Technically, it isn’t necessary to see a doctor for heat rash. It lasts only a short time—1 to 3 days—and goes away without medical intervention. However, if the lesions persist, if your baby behaves unusually, or has , it’s safer to consult a doctor.

Do the heat buttons only appear in summer?

This condition only appears in summer. In winter, if your child has a similar-looking rash, it could be caused by clothing friction or conditions such as roseola or hand-foot-mouth disease.

Even though heat rash isn’t dangerous, it can be uncomfortable for your little adventurer, especially because of the itching. The good news is that it clears up quickly and usually without any real action on your part. A baby in a diaper in a cool place is still the best remedy for this condition. :)