Page 48 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

46 COMMON CONDITIONS: SKIN, HAIR, AND NAIL PROBLEMS

Heat rash and sunburn

Heat rash, also known as prickly heat, is an itchy, red, pimply rash that may develop around your neck and
on your chest, back, armpits, and groin in hot or humid weather, particularly during exercise. Babies who
overheat because they are dressed too warmly, or because of a fever, are particularly susceptible to heat rash.
Sunburn is the result of overexposure to sunshine or to ultraviolet rays on a tanning bed. If you are mildly
burned you will have red, sore skin on areas such as your shoulders, arms, thighs, back, and nose, which may
begin to itch and peel a few days later. More severe sunburn can cause blistering and pain. Although you are
most likely to burn in hot summer sun, you can also burn on an overcast day, in water, or at high altitudes.
Babies, children, and fair-skinned people with red or blond hair and blue eyes are most at risk.

See also Fever (children), p.135; Fever (babies), p.142.

See your doctor first
PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
Arrange to see a doctor immediately if:
Treating a baby with heat rash
● You are not sure that a baby has heat rash,
A baby with heat rash needs to be cooled down
or a baby has a rash with fever
promptly. The rash should then disappear.
● You have severe sunburn with extensive
blistering, and/or feel unwell, with vomiting, ● Take off your baby’s clothes and diaper and lay
fever, confusion, or headaches him or her on a cotton sheet or towel to let the air
● A child or baby gets sunburned circulate around the skin. Allow your baby to kick
freely until he or she cools down.
● Don’t use ointments, lotions, or powders because
they may block the pores and aggravate the rash.
What you can do yourself ● If your baby has a fever, give him or her plenty of
fluids and take steps to reduce body temperature
You can treat an attack of heat rash or a case of (see FEVER [BABIES], p.142).
mild sunburn with the following measures. They
will make your skin feel more comfortable and Cooling down
help speed your recovery. Once your baby is undressed,
the air will help cool his
Heat rash or her skin.
● Loosen or remove your clothing and find a cool
place to sit, such as an air-conditioned room. If
available, use a fan to help cool yourself down,
and avoid any activity that might make you sweat.
● Have plenty of cool, nonalcoholic drinks.
● Apply a cold compress to affected areas. Soak
a sponge or washcloth in cold water, wring it out,
and apply to your skin. Use it as often as needed.
NATURAL REMEDIES
● If your baby develops heat rash, take immediate
steps to cool him or her down (see PRACTICAL Aloe vera (see p.177) is found in many after-
TECHNIQUE, right). sun lotions and is also available as a gel. It has
soothing properties that help cool sunburned skin
● To soothe dry, itchy skin, try taking frequent,
lukewarm baths with oatmeal bath oil (see p.187). and relieve dryness and irritation. However, don’t
Pat your skin dry afterward. use gels or cream to treat heat rash.