Rash in babies is one of the commonest complaints amongst parents. The appearance of the skin, discolouration and discomfort can become a thing of worry for parents.
However, as worrisome as it may be it’s important to mention that there are different types of rashes in babies and they all require different treatment/management.
Some common rashes that often affect babies cradle cap, diaper rash, baby allergy rash (eela) etc
Common causes of rashes in babies;
- Irritants; A baby’s skin can be so sensitive that even their saliva from excessive drooling can cause a rash. Other irritants include lotions, soaps, fabric softeners, detergents, stool( in cases of diaper rash)
- Allergic reaction; a common one in our society is the one known as eela among the yorubas which often present as a skin discolouration making the skin appear red and scaly
- Infections; Rash can develop from various types of infections including bacterial, viral, fungal infections etc and the treatment of each type of rash varies
- Acne; A harmless type of rash which usually occurs within the first month of baby’s life
- Heat rash; This is another common rash caused by trapped sweat
- Diaper rash; As the name implies, its a type of rash that occurs due to wet diapers
For the purpose of this article, we will discuss heat rash and for the other types of rash you can see below:
HEAT RASH
Heat rash in babies occurs due to baby’s sweat being trapped under the skin. It is usually seen in hot weather or when baby is overdressed with multiple layers of clothings with very little air reaching the skin.
The rash is usually seen on baby’s head, face, neck, shoulders and chest, other parts of the body can be affected too. The rash can be red and itchy
Prevention and treatment of heat rash:
- Avoid overdressing your baby in multiple layers of clothings especially in hot weather condition
- Use mild lotions that are dermatologically tested
- Powders can worsen rash in babies, it should be avoided
- Avoid using too many products on baby’s skin
- Identify and avoid products baby is sensitive or allergic to
- In hot weather, keep room cool with just enough air reaching baby
- Keep baby’s skin care routine as mild as possible and avoid unprescribed products you aren’t sure about their safety
Heat rash will usually go away on it’s own as long as you avoid activities that can worsen it as listed above
