Baby Heat Rash: What You Need To Know

Baby heat rash is a type of rash that can occur in babies and children. It presents as small red bumps, most often on the neck, buttocks and skin folds, but it can appear anywhere on the body. The rash is caused by excessive heat and moisture buildup. “Heat rash occurs more in babies as the sweat glands are immature and babies’ skin can be very sensitive to heat and temperature changes,” says Sara Siddiqui, M.D., pediatric and adolescent specialist at NYU Langone Huntington Medical Group.

Baby heat rash can cause red bumps that become itchy. According to Erum N. Ilyas, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology, there are two main types of heat rash that are common in babies.

Miliaria Crystallina

This type of baby heat rash occurs mostly in newborns, and it only involves the uppermost surface of the skin. Here, you may notice a rash that looks like water droplets on the skin. “These early cases of heat rash resolve easily and don’t typically involve redness or inflammation,” says Dr. Ilyas.

Miliaria Rubra

Miliaria rubra is the more common form of baby heat rash, characterized by widespread red bumps that occur in areas where the baby’s skin rubs, such as between the legs, between the skin folds and under the arms. “With blocked sweat ducts, the sweat, heat and friction of the folds can inflame the skin, making it appear red or irritated,” says Dr. Ilyas.

There are a few causes of baby heat rash to be aware of. By avoiding these factors, you may be able to reduce or eliminate most benign cases of heat rash in babies.

Overdressing in Warm Weather

“I usually recommend dressing the baby similarly to how parents are dressed,” says Dr. Siddiqui, with perhaps one extra layer in case of temperature changes when going outside. “For example, if it is warm outside and the parents are dressed in only one layer or short sleeves, then that’s how you would dress your baby. Keeping them cool is actually better than keeping them too warm,” she explains.

Excess Heat and Humidity

Due to their limited range of motion and inability to express when they’re feeling hot, many babies can experience heat rash when they spend time in an excessively hot or humid location. When you’re indoors in the summer, consider bumping the A/C down if it’s starting to feel warm and stuffy, or running a ceiling fan or portable fan to help circulate air and reduce humidity. Just avoid pointing the fan directly at your baby; if your fan has the option to oscillate, that’s a good way to generate air flow without making your baby feel too cold.

Using Too Much or Excessively Heavy Products on Baby’s Skin

Newborn skin can dry out quickly, which is why there are shelves full of baby moisturizing products at the store. Sometimes, well-meaning parents can overdo it by applying heavy creams and lotions to their baby’s skin. This can lead to heat rash, says Dr. Siddiqui, since it can cause sweat glands to become blocked.

Treating heat rash in babies is relatively simple, but it’s crucial to first ensure you’ve made a proper diagnosis, notes Dr. Siddiqui. “There are other rashes in babies that can easily be mistaken for heat rash, so it’s important to check with your baby’s pediatrician if you notice a rash,” she says. If your baby’s doctor determines heat rash is the culprit, and there is no inflammation, signs of infection or discomfort, most cases of baby heat rash will self-resolve, says Dr. Ilyas.

Here are some other tactics you can try to treat baby heat rash:

• Cool off the skin by keeping baby in a comfortably cool environment
• Avoid overdressing or using multiple layers in the affected area
• Dress baby in clean, dry, breathable fabrics like cotton
• Avoid using thick moisturizer like ointments or salves
• Use clear lotion and gentle soap on your baby’s skin, free from scents or dyes

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The best way to prevent heat rash in babies are the same steps you’ll take in order to treat baby heat rash. Simply avoid overdressing your little one and keep cool air circulating. A good rule of thumb to use when wondering if it’s too hot? “If you’re feeling uncomfortably warm, baby probably is, too,” says Dr. Siddiqui. Further, unless your baby has a different skin condition (like baby eczema) that requires the use of a heavier lotion, just apply a light, fragrance-free lotion after baby’s bath in order to keep skin moisturized. Nothing more than that should be necessary, says Dr. Siddiqui.

Think it’s silly to consult a doctor for baby heat rash? Think again. There are lots of rashes in infants and babies that can easily be confused for the more benign heat rash. “Pediatricians can help to determine if a rash is concerning, so it is best to contact them to discuss evaluation and treatment,” says Dr. Siddiqui. “Parents should always seek medical attention if unsure of the diagnosis or the rash seems to be persisting or worsening.”

Conditions that can be confused with baby heat rash:

• Contact dermatitis
• Eczema
• Folliculitis
• Post-viral rash
• Herpes simplex
• Neonatal acne

Call your pediatrician if:

• Baby is irritable and cranky
• Baby has a fever
• Baby is having fewer than normal wet diapers
• Baby has other signs of illness like decreased appetite or lethargy