When you notice red, prickly bumps on your baby’s skin, it may be time for heat rash treatment. This itchy breakout looks unpleasant and feels uncomfortable, but it’s not usually a serious medical concern. With a bit of TLC and home care, your baby’s skin will soon be back to normal. Try these 12 remedies to soothe your baby’s rash.
1. Keep the temperature in your home comfortable. Heat rash treatment should begin with keeping your baby at a comfortable temperature. When the weather is hot, stay indoors as much as possible and run fans or air conditioners. In cold weather, do not heat the house more than necessary.
2. Dress your baby in breathable, loose-fitting clothing. Natural fibers such as cotton are ideal; you can also let her be naked for a while. Too many layers of clothes, especially snug clothes, can cause babies to end up hot and sweaty. Even snug swaddling can contribute.
3. Apply a cool, wet washcloth to your baby’s heat rash. This is a quick way to give them relief, but it may not work for long periods of time. Washcloths can be reapplied as needed.
4. Use gentle, non-drying soap on your baby. Also, make sure to bathe her in warm (but never hot) water. Instead of towel drying her, let her air dry. Be especially vigilant to wash between folds of skin and let these areas dry fully.
5. Let him soak in an oatmeal bath. Oatmeal has soothing anti-inflammatory properties, and it’s a completely natural treatment option free of harsh chemicals. Soak your baby in a cool bath with one cup of ground oatmeal powder mixed in.
6. Apply a baking soda-water mixture to your baby’s heat rash. Make a mixture of baking soda and water, and apply it with a washcloth. It can help sooth baby’s itching and help get rid of those irritating red bumps. Take care to avoid baby’s eyes and ears, along with open wounds.
7. Make a soothing paste with margosa leaves. Margosa leaves, otherwise known as neem, have natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory capabilities. Grind the leaves into a paste, apply it to baby’s painful areas, and let it sit until it dries. Then, wash it off with cold water.
8. Or, try a paste out of sandalwood powder. Another natural home remedy, sandalwood powder can be combined with rose water to form a paste to be applied to baby’s skin. This has overall cooling effects, which can help soothe pain and reduce symptoms.
9. Mix up a paste out of Fuller’s earth. Fuller’s earth is yet another natural mineral used in the beauty industry. It is also mixed with rose water and applied to rashes and rinsed with cool water. It has the ability to reduce oils and is a natural antiseptic.
10. Rub Aloe vera gel on your baby’s skin. Also used to treat sunburn and other skin ailments, aloe vera has soothing, cooling an anti-inflammatory capabilities. Rub gel from the aloe vera leaf onto your baby’s affected areas, leave it on for 20 minutes, and rinse with cool water. You can do this twice a day.
11. Rub a peeled cucumber on her skin. While it may sound silly, rubbing a peeled cucumber on the skin can help to soothe heat rash and provide antioxidants. Alternatively, you can take cucumber pulp, leave it on the skin for 30 minutes, and wash it off.
12. Avoid certain lotions and creams with mineral oil and petroleum. Those ingredients can clog pores and make the problem worse. The same goes for baby powder. Although calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream are often used for heat rash treatment, don’t rush to put those on your baby. First, consult your child’s doctor to ensure that these treatments are recommended for your baby.
Chances are good that if you apply these home remedy suggestions, your baby’s heat rash will clear up quickly. However, if your child has a fever, the rash is severe or it doesn’t go away, make an appointment with your doctor, who may recommend creams or ointments. Working together, the two of you will soon have your baby’s skin as good as new.
Photo: Getty
