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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

To help protect yourself or your child from heat rash:

  • In summer, dress in soft, lightweight, cotton clothing. Also, avoid overdressing in winter — children should wear the same amount of clothing that an adult would wear to stay comfortable.
  • Avoid tightfitting clothes that can irritate tender skin.
  • When it's hot, stay in the shade or in an air-conditioned building or place a fan at a safe distance to gently circulate the air.
  • Keep your sleeping area cool and well ventilated.
  • Bathe in cool water with a nondrying soap that doesn't contain fragrances or dyes.
  • Avoid using creams or ointments — they don't prevent heat rash and can block pores.
Lifestyle and home remedies
References
  1. Miliaria. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for HealthCare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch118/ch118e.html. Accessed Nov. 20, 2011.
  2. Miliaria. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/miliaria.html. Accessed Nov. 20, 2011.
  3. Acne, rosacea and related disorders. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 5th ed. Edinburgh, U.K.; New York, N.Y.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..X0001-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&uniqId=230100505-57. Accessed Nov. 21, 2011.
  4. Disorders of the sweat glands. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1608/0.html. Accessed Nov. 21, 2011.
  5. O'Connor NR, et al. Newborn skin: Part I. Common rashes. American Family Physician. 2008;77:47.
  6. Berger TG. Dermatologic disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2012. 51st ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=747. Accessed Nov. 22, 2011.
  7. Waters TA, et al. Heat emergencies. In: Tintinalli JE, et al. Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6366972. Accessed Nov. 22, 2011.
  8. Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 22, 2011.
DS01058 March 7, 2012

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