heat rash?

FtrMrsC

DS has what looks like heat rash.  It started last Tues. on the back of his neck and on his back.  The pedi said to keep an eye on it that it doesn't seem to get more red or inflamed but not to worry if it shows up on other places.  My question is, how long does heat rash last?  We keep the house between 68-71 degrees (69 the last few nights).  We've been dressing him in cotton onesies and swaddling only for sleep with a light blanket.  I even started powdering him with cornstarch morning and night (my mom said this should work).  The rash is still all over (back, neck, face, head, arm creases).  We've only been really vigilant about the powder and temp the past 2 or 3 days but is this normal?  I'm worried about keeping him too cool bc I'm so cold at night but I also don't want him to sweat and get worse.  New mom worries, but any advice is appreciated.

MaddysMama07

It can last for awhile. Does it go away or look better at all if you put a cool wash cloth on it for a few minutes? DD1 was born in the middle of summer and she used to get heat rash horribly on the back of her neck, the top of her back and her tummy. It lasted a week sometimes.

OliveBaby

DS had a little heat rash because we were keeping him too warm when we'd go out. (Any chance that's what you're doing too?) It's better if we bathe him more frequently and just keep an eye on it, but It lasted a few days and went away. 

g8orell

FtrMrsC:

DS has what looks like heat rash.  It started last Tues. on the back of his neck and on his back.  The pedi said to keep an eye on it that it doesn't seem to get more red or inflamed but not to worry if it shows up on other places.  My question is, how long does heat rash last?  We keep the house between 68-71 degrees (69 the last few nights).  We've been dressing him in cotton onesies and swaddling only for sleep with a light blanket.  I even started powdering him with cornstarch morning and night (my mom said this should work).  The rash is still all over (back, neck, face, head, arm creases).  We've only been really vigilant about the powder and temp the past 2 or 3 days but is this normal?  I'm worried about keeping him too cool bc I'm so cold at night but I also don't want him to sweat and get worse.  New mom worries, but any advice is appreciated.

I'm a pediatric derm PA - it can last awhile, it is not necessarily related to heat. It's something blocking the sweat glands...usually sweat (hence heat rash), but can be creams/lotions, etc. I wouldn't use powder...it can cause bronchial irritation, and it's going to block the sweat glands as well. You really don't need to do anything about it.

FtrMrsC

g8orell:

FtrMrsC:

DS has what looks like heat rash.  It started last Tues. on the back of his neck and on his back.  The pedi said to keep an eye on it that it doesn't seem to get more red or inflamed but not to worry if it shows up on other places.  My question is, how long does heat rash last?  We keep the house between 68-71 degrees (69 the last few nights).  We've been dressing him in cotton onesies and swaddling only for sleep with a light blanket.  I even started powdering him with cornstarch morning and night (my mom said this should work).  The rash is still all over (back, neck, face, head, arm creases).  We've only been really vigilant about the powder and temp the past 2 or 3 days but is this normal?  I'm worried about keeping him too cool bc I'm so cold at night but I also don't want him to sweat and get worse.  New mom worries, but any advice is appreciated.

I'm a pediatric derm PA - it can last awhile, it is not necessarily related to heat. It's something blocking the sweat glands...usually sweat (hence heat rash), but can be creams/lotions, etc. I wouldn't use powder...it can cause bronchial irritation, and it's going to block the sweat glands as well. You really don't need to do anything about it.

So using the cornstarch is counterproductive? It seems to be getting slowly better.  We hadn't used any lotions when it began, and haven't since we saw our pedi. Maybe we were over dressing him to take him out to the Dr. I'm a So. Cal wimp and feel freezing when it's 60 degrees outside.   I hope it goes away soon.