How to relieve itching from prickly heat in children

Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
Updated on January 02, 2025
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Heat rash in children is primarily caused by blockages in the sweat ducts, due to the poor development of neonatal sweat ducts, a humid and hot external environment, and prolonged bed rest. Based on the appearance of the heat rash, it can be categorized into white heat rash, red heat rash, pustular heat rash, and deep heat rash. Red heat rash can feel itchy and burning; pustular heat rash can cause burning, itching, and pain; white and deep heat rash do not typically present noticeable symptoms. When a child's heat rash feels itchy, topical medications can be applied for relief. Local cold compresses or ice packs can also be used to alleviate itchiness and pain. Naturally, providing a cooler environment for the child is beneficial, including frequent baths to help clear the sweat ducts.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Can bathing with mugwort remove heat rash?

Bathing with mugwort can effectively help remove heat rash from the body, as mugwort itself has the effects of relieving itching and dispelling cold. It can adjust the skin well, and can dredge meridians and promote blood circulation, leading to effective improvements. It is particularly effective in treating heat rash, especially in cases like itchy eczema. To prevent heat rash, it is crucial not to stay in damp environments for too long and to bathe regularly to maintain dryness.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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How to remove baby's prickly heat

Baby prickly heat is mainly caused by the hot and humid living environment, which damages the skin. Therefore, it is important to enhance skin care, especially by improving the environmental temperature. Keeping the room ventilated by exchanging air is the best treatment method. If the skin symptoms are severe, Calamine lotion can be used, which can effectively alleviate the symptoms of prickly heat. The main treatment for prickly heat is prevention. Therefore, especially in summer, the clothes worn by infants should be loose and made of pure cotton. Avoid tight clothes or synthetic fabrics, as these can aggravate the symptoms of prickly heat by causing friction between the skin and the clothing. Also, pay attention to the diet and try to eat less spicy and stimulating food, choosing instead light and liquid-based foods. (The use of medication should be carried out under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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How to eliminate prickly heat?

To eliminate prickly heat, it is necessary to pay attention to the following points: First, it is recommended to use air conditioning to cool down during summer, maintain indoor ventilation, and ensure smooth airflow. Second, it is advisable to add some medicinal ointments or solutions that help treat prickly heat to the bath water. Third, you can apply prickly heat powder or talcum powder on the affected areas to help keep the skin dry and clean. Of course, you can also apply a mild astringent ointment to the affected areas to achieve a therapeutic effect.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Can children with prickly heat take baths?

Children can bathe when they have prickly heat, and it is even recommended to bathe frequently. Prickly heat is caused by the blockage of sweat ducts. Factors such as the underdevelopment of newborns' sweat ducts, humid and hot external environments, prolonged bed rest, and skin infections can all cause prickly heat. When children develop prickly heat, we can apply mild topical medications. In terms of diet, it is also important to avoid spicy, irritating, and allergenic foods, and to ensure frequent bathing and proper ventilation to improve the skin's external environment.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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What medicine is used for prickly heat?

Prickly heat is a common skin disease that often occurs in summer. For the treatment of prickly heat, we divide it into systemic treatment and topical treatment. Systemic treatment mainly involves taking antihistamines orally, such as loratadine tablets, when itching is severe. If there is a pus infection, it is recommended to use antibiotics for treatment. Another method is the topical treatment of prickly heat, which involves the use of cooling powders locally, such as prickly heat powder or cooling and itching-relieving washes, such as calamine lotion or menthol tincture. In cases of pustular prickly heat, calamine or berberine powder can be used topically.