Baby care during monsoon: Tips to get rid of prickly heat rash in babies!

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Prickly heat rash is a common skin problem during monsoon, particularly in children. This is because your baby's delicate skin is very vulnerable to skin problems. Prickly heat rash, also known as miliaria, is a red, itchy skin caused by sweating in hot and humid weather.

The rash often appears in the folds of the skin, and on parts of the body such as forehead, neck, upper chest, groin, etc.

Most prickly heat rashes disappear on its own in a few days unless the rash gets infected due to scratching it. Here are a few tips you can do to relieve and treat your baby's heat rash:

• Keep your baby in a cool airy room.
• Dress him in cotton clothing and try to give him/her as much nappy-free time as you can.
• Avoid synthetic fabrics, such as polyester and nylon that trap heat.
• Keep his skin cool by giving him a shower.

• Let the air dry your baby's skin rather than using a towel.
• Apply calamine lotion to ease the itching.
• If the rash is very severe, you may use hydrocortisone cream on the advice of your doctor or chemist.
• Make sure your child drinks plenty of water and fluids to prevent dehydration.
• See a doctor immediately if the rash doesn't go away or appears to be getting worse.