Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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 Ask Dr. Cates
Worried about Infant's Skin after Heat Rash | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Cates,
My 2½-month-old infant had heat rash all over her face. Now most of it is gone and dry skin has taken its place. Is this common? Should I apply moisturizer or just leave it alone and wash it with just water? How long does it usually take for her normal skin pigment to come back? Will her face ever be the same? I feel so terrible as a new mom. And once when she was a newborn, the discharge nurse told me to be careful to not let my child get too cold when sponge bathing her. So I warmed up the restroom with a boiling skillet (which caused heat and humidity). Her forehead started to peel. Is this the cause of her skin overheating?
— Alwaysworried in Fort Smith, AR, USA | | | ANSWER |
April 11, 2002 | | | Dear Alwaysworried,
It sounds to me like you are a great mom! I only wish all mothers were so careful and concerned about their little babies! Unfortunately, it isn't possible for me to tell exactly what kind of rash your daughter had, or when the pigmentation will come back, but I can say that most of the time babies' skin will heal completely and the pigmentation will return over a period of a few weeks.
Sometimes moisturizers or baby oil help with dry, peeling skin, but there may be some creams or ointments that will help even better, so I think it's a good idea for you to have her checked by her regular healthcare provider.
I don't think the heat and humid air caused her rash, but I am concerned about having boiling water near an infant. As she gets older, she will be able to move around more and you might accidentally bump the skillet and burn her (or yourself), so I think you can stop warming the restroom now. Just be sure to bundle her up well as soon as you take her out of the bath if the air is cold, and she should be warm enough. — by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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