It often appears on his neck, chest and back. Our pediatrician recommended that we use special powders like cornstarch talc powder and other prickly heat talc powder. Do you have other suggestions or advice? How do we help him cope with it? What other ointments, powders, creams that we can use? -Jo-ann Viernes, Quezon City

Paolo says

Prickly heat or heat rash can be a real problem for babies especially during the hot summer months. In fact our 1 1/2-year old is having a really bad case on and off for the last few months. It really disturbs her rest as she doesn’t sleep well because of the irritation from the itchiness which then causes her to scratch and scratch till her skin is raw.

Our tried and tested remedies include the usual cornstarch baby powders and other powders made especially for relieving/preventing prickly heat. We sometimes also use creams made for relieving diaper rash on her prickly heat and it seems to work too. When she does scratch till her skin is raw though, we switch to an antiseptic cream like neosporin at night to help small lesions heal.

One thing that goes a long way of course is preventing heat rash in the first place. Light cotton fabrics are best for our hot summer months; avoid warm clothes in fabrics that trap sweat. Keeping them cool and dry is the key, so change their shirts and diapers often so that they’re never soaked in sweat. In fact we sometimes let our toddler go shirtless if it’s a very hot day.

Keep your baby in cool, well ventilated areas, especially during naptime when we might not notice their extra sweatiness. Also, a cool bath in the middle of the day helps them feel refreshed. As I understand it, excessive sweating is the real problem when it comes to heat rash, so anything that you can do to prevent that is a step in the right direction.

If you are into more home remedies and natural therapies, I have read that aloe vera is a good treatment, as is baking soda dissolved in some water and applied with a cotton ball or gauze pad. These can offer some relief from the itching.

And since heat rash is caused by excessive sweating, make sure your baby has extra fluids too if you notice the signs of heat rash. I hope these suggestions help with your "itchy" situation.

Suzi says

Hello there mommy!

I’m so sorry to hear about your baby’s heat rash. It’s always very disconcerting for parents to see their children being so uncomfortable and irritable because of the dreaded bungang araw. Heat rashes (which may or may not automatically mean prickly heat) are caused by the overheating of the skin. That’s why you will find most heat rashes in the areas that you mentioned because it gets very hot under clothing and in the folds of the skin that do not get enough ventilation. Heat rashes are caused by overheated sweat ducts that get blocked and rupture. And when the child sweats again, it irritates the ruptured ducts thus causing the itch.

I’m sure you remember your own parents using powder for your prickly heat when you were young. As advised by your pediatrician, powder may give relief for your child’s itchy skin. Others recommend though to just wait out the rash while improving the environment your child stays in.

Since heat rashes are in fact caused by a hot environment, try to make sure that your child is kept in a cool place. Gently pat away any sweat that may still build up. Don’t wipe, as even the softest towel may still feel uncomfortable when rubbed. Make sure your child is dressed in thin cotton as the natural material can help his skin breathe better. Also, avoid using creams and lotions on the affected areas so as not to block the sweat glands. For treatment, powders and sometimes calamine lotion will help. If your child is really uncomfortable, you can use a cool compress to soothe his skin. Make sure to dry gently after. It is not usually necessary to use antibiotics, unless the rash causes a secondary infection.

The general idea here is that the environment of your child may be too hot for him. So just make sure the area in your home where he usually stays is better ventilated from now on. Good luck mommy! I hope the cooler months ahead will be more comfortable for your beloved child.