What Is the Difference Between Baby Heat Rash and Eczema?
Disease description:
Recently, my baby has developed some small bumps on the skin, and I’m unable to tell whether they’re eczema or heat rash. What are the differences between infantile heat rash and eczema?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Li Yanmei
Infantile prickly heat and eczema are distinct conditions, and can be differentiated based on the following aspects:
1. **Etiology**: Prickly heat in infants commonly results from high temperatures, humidity, excessive clothing, or delayed cleansing of the skin; in contrast, eczema can occur at any time of year and is not season-dependent.
2. **Distribution**: Prickly heat typically appears in areas prone to sweating—such as the neck, axillae, and perianal region—whereas eczema may affect any part of the body.
3. **Lesion Characteristics**: Prickly heat lesions tend to be uniform and consist mainly of small, millet-sized papules; eczema, however, commonly presents with erythematous plaques, vesicles, and papules.
