What Should You Do If Your Newborn Develops Heat Rash on the Face?

       During summer, high ambient temperatures and humidity hinder the timely evaporation of infants’ sweat. Prolonged retention of excessive sweat on the skin surface causes swelling (hydration) of the stratum corneum, leading to obstruction of the sweat duct openings and resulting in miliaria (prickly heat). So, what should be done if a newborn develops miliaria on the face?

How to manage miliaria on a newborn’s face

After miliaria appears on a newborn’s face, maintain local ventilation and dryness as much as possible. In most cases, with appropriate attention to indoor environmental conditions—such as ensuring adequate airflow, moderate temperature, and low humidity—the rash will resolve spontaneously. Mild cases may benefit from the appropriate use of talcum powder or calamine lotion. If secondary bacterial infection occurs—manifesting as pustular miliaria—topical antibiotic ointments, such as erythromycin ointment or mupirocin ointment, may be applied.

Regarding diet, emphasize light, easily digestible meals and avoid spicy or irritating foods, which may exacerbate miliaria. Alternatively, brewing honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) tea for oral intake offers heat-clearing, detoxifying, and dampness-resolving effects, providing both preventive and therapeutic benefits for neonatal miliaria. Another option is preparing a soup from mung beans, adzuki beans, and black beans, which also helps clear heat, detoxify, strengthen the spleen, and resolve dampness.

If any signs or symptoms of illness are observed, seek prompt medical evaluation to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment. We hope this information proves helpful.