As temps and humidity rise in metro Detroit, pediatricians like Dr. Shalini Sethi with Henry Ford Health in Plymouth start seeing more kids with rashes. And it’s not always what parents expect.
“It’s very common — one of the commonest rashes we see in babies, children and adolescents during the summer,” says Dr. Sethi. “Parents often ask, ‘Is it eczema? Is it an allergy?’ Many times, it’s heat rash.”
Here’s how southeast Michigan’s sticky summers play a role — and what parents need to know about spotting and treating heat rash in kids.
What heat rash is and what it looks like
Heat rash, also called “prickly heat” or miliaria, happens when sweat glands get blocked.
“Sweat is then trapped beneath the surface of the skin,” Sethi explains. “Skin folds of the neck are very common for this. It could also be the groin, or from tight clothing.”
It tends to happen during hot, humid months — usually June through August in Michigan — and especially when the heat index climbs above 103°F.
“There are actually three types of heat rash,” she notes:
- Mild (miliaria crystallina): Tiny red bumps or clear fluid-filled dots on the skin’s surface, often in sweaty areas like the neck or underarms
- More intense (miliaria rubra): Deeper blockages causing larger, red, itchy bumps
- Most severe (miliaria profunda): Trapped sweat leaks into tissue, leading to skin discoloration or texture changes
At a glance, here’s what to watch for when it comes to heat rash in kids:
- Small red bumps, often pinpoint-sized
- Clear, fluid-filled blisters or vesicles
- Itchiness or discomfort
- Redness or inflammation in affected areas
- Skin discoloration in more severe cases
- Rash appearing in sweat-prone spots like the neck, groin, underarms or under breasts
- No fever or spreading pain (if those are present, it may be something else)
Is it a heat rash or something else?
Other Michigan summer skin issues can look similar but need different care:
- Eczema: Usually in elbow and knee folds; often dry with a history of flare-ups
- Poison ivy: More painful and itchy, with vesicles that spread
- Insect bites: Localized swelling or hives at the bite site
- Impetigo: Honey-colored crusts from bacterial infection
- Fungal infections: Ring-shaped rashes or scaly, itchy patches
- Allergies: Linked to new soaps, detergents or lotions
Sethi strongly encourages in-person exams for an uncertain rash. “Parents can send pictures, but if you have any doubt, better to come and get it checked out — within a day or two.”
How to treat heat rash
“Once you start treatment, it may take five to 10 days totally to go away,” Sethi says. The good news? It typically isn’t complex.
“Whenever kids have these rashes, we want them indoors,” says Sethi, “In air conditioning, away from direct sun and heat. Don’t go back into the hot and humid until it’s healed.”
Next: “Cool the skin with a damp towel or cloth.” Quick cool showers are OK, too.
Parents can try oral antihistamines or anti-itch ointments if it’s severe, she adds. But: “Keeping cool is more important. It will go away slowly, but it will go away.”
And if it worsens or doesn’t improve in a week? “Message your doctor or come back in,” she says. “Sometimes heat rash can overlap with sunburn or bites, so we need to reassess.”
Tips for preventing heat rash
To help kids avoid heat rash during Michigan’s muggy summer months, Sethi recommends these proactive steps:
- Ease in gradually: “Any athlete or camper needs about two weeks to acclimatize to hot weather,” she says. “Start slow. Fifteen minutes, and then gradually increase activity time.”
- Dress for heat: “Wear loose cotton clothing, a hat and sunglasses to protect kids from the sun.”
- Avoid peak heat: “Early morning to late dawn and evening are better times to go outside.”
This content is sponsored by Henry Ford Health. For related content, visit Top Kids Health Questions Answered!
