Heat buttons are common in children, especially the baby, when temperatures increase. Adults can also be affected.
It often happens that small pimples appear when it starts to get hot. “What is conventionally called” heat pimples “or skin military, are more frequent in very small infants – during the first weeks of life, Notes Dr. Fabienne Kochett, pediatrician. Young children can also be achieved. In adults, there are more other pathologies linked to heat such as dyshidrosis, dermatoses with extremely pruritic vesicles (which scratches, editor’s note) touching the hands and feet. “
Definition: What are heat pimples?
“The heat button corresponds to a small skin irritation due to heat. The lesions appear in summer when temperatures are climbing and the child transpires to regulate his temperature, explains Dr. Fabienne Kochet, pediatrician. In the baby who transpires; The channels of the sweat glands are blown away which causes the eruption. “
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Heat buttons are small pink or red lesions in relief on the skin that palpates to the touch. “In children, we often see them at the level of the neck, chest, chews, scalp. In older ones, we can see them at the level of the folds (elbow, knee, armpits, groin)“” specifies the specialist. The heat buttons are not very annoying but can scratch.
Treatment: What to put on it?
Nothing or almost nothing. Doctors advise to apply as little as possible on the skin of babies – and children in general – due to the great permeability of the skin barrier. “The heat pimples are benign, applying any cream will not change the evolution”, Indicates Dr. Kocher. For her, it is necessary “Avoid using non -validated treatments and with risks for benign pathologies and” spontaneously favorable “evolution”.
- Discover the child.
- Refresh the skin with a small lukewarm shower, damp cloths,
- Spray a little thermal water, even possibly the thermal water enriched with zinc which is astringent (like Serozinc®).
- Stay in a fresh environment, wear loose clothes to avoid perspiration, drink enough.
How long does it last?
Generally, heat pimples do not stay long. “If there are waves of heat that last 3 to 4 days, as soon as temperatures become more lenient, they leave on their own.”
When to consult?
The heat button itself is not a reason for consultation, “If the child is doing well and he has just small red pimples, there is no indications to consult. What we advise parents is to consult when the child has a behavior that worries, so as not to miss another diagnosis during periods of hot weather. In small infants, you have to consult if the child has a fever, if he goes wrong, reacts little to stimulation.
Can we have heat pimples in winter?
Does your child have red pimples on the skin in the middle of December? Are these heat pimples? “Not in winter” Responds Dr. Kochet. “In winter we rather have irritative dermatitis in the folds. In the little ones, we will have redness by friction linked to clothes.” It can also be an eruptive viral dermatosis (roséole, handmade feet syndrome).
Thank you to Dr. Fabienne Kocher, pediatrician in Orleans.
