Is that a heat rash? Cool it down quickly

You might associate heat rash with babies. But sticky high temps put active kids and parents at a higher risk for developing heat rash, too.

Heat rash is a common condition that usually happens during hot, humid weather.

Heat rash develops when you sweat excessively and your pores – which actually are sweat ducts – become blocked, which traps perspiration under your skin. The perspiration leaks into the surrounding tissue, which causes irritation and redness.

When it’s hot outside, children can develop heat rash when they’re highly active and wearing too many clothes or clothes that don’t breathe. They can’t sweat enough and so their skin gets irritated.

Tiny bumps

A heat rash may look like tiny bumps surrounded by red skin. Symptoms can range from minor blisters to deep, red lumps. Some forms of heat rash can be intensely itchy or cause a prickly sensation.

Adults usually develop heat rash in folds of skin or in places where clothing causes friction. In infants, the rash usually develops on the neck, shoulders and chest. But it also can occur in the armpits, elbow creases and groin.

Factors that contribute to heat rash include:

• Hot, humid weather

• Physical activity, intense exercise, hard work or activity that causes you to perspire extensively

• Fabrics that don’t allow air to pass through and help perspiration to evaporate

• Prescription medications that increase sweat gland function

• Keeping your body too warm by wearing too many clothes or clothes that are too heavy or sleeping under too many blankets

• Use of thick creams or ointments, which can block the sweat ducts

• Immature sweat ducts, such as a newborn has

Cool it

If you or your child experience heat rash, you should start the cool-down process right away.  Do as much as you can to cool them off.

Rather than trying to dry off the sweat with a towel, cool them off with a fan, or bring them into the air conditioning. Putting you kids in a cool bath also can help.

Heat rash typically clears up in a few days and leaves no permanent damage to the skin.

Be sure to call your doctor if heat rash symptoms persist, seem to get worse, or if you see signs of infection, such as:

• Increased pain, swelling, redness or warmth around the affected area

• Pus draining from the lesions

• Swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, neck or groin

• Fever or chills

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