As summer arrives and the weather gets warmer, babies are prone to heat rash. For many new parents, it is not yet possible to correctly distinguish between prickly heat and eczema. What is the difference between prickly heat and eczema? There is a big difference between prickly heat and eczema in terms of the causes, season, location and symptoms of prickly heat and eczema.
A. The difference between eczema and prickly heat
1, the cause is different
Prickly heat is caused by blockage of sweat holes, while eczema is caused by a number of reasons, often unstable. Eczema is commonly caused by: eating some such as fish, shrimp, eggs, beef, mutton, etc.; inhalation of certain pollen, such as dust mites, wool, etc.; focal infections such as tonsillitis; living environment of sunlight, heat, dryness, etc.; chemical substances such as cosmetics, soap, etc.; indigestion, gastric dysfunction, metabolic disorders of new production, etc. It can be seen that prickly heat is a temporary disease, eczema is a chronic course.
2, occurring at different times of the year
Prickly heat occurs in the summer, mostly seen in children. Eczema is not seasonal, and can occur throughout the year, regardless of gender and age. But often in the winter recurrence or intensification, there is a tendency to exude, chronic course, easy to recur.
3, the occurrence of different parts
Prickly heat appears in the neck, chest and back, elbow fossa, popliteal fossa and other parts, children can occur in the head, forehead and other sweaty parts. Eczema can occur in any part, mostly in the cheeks, forehead, eyebrow arch, behind the ears and other parts.
4, the symptoms are different
Prickly heat is actually a mild inflammation of the sweat glands, starting with red skin and then appearing as pinhead-sized red papules or papules in dense patches, some of which are pus-like. Prickly heat is followed by severe itching, pain, and sometimes a hot burning pain, among other manifestations.
Eczema is an inflammatory skin disease of the epidermis and superficial dermis that begins with red skin with pinhead-sized red papules. The manifestations are symmetrical, exudative, pruritic, polymorphic, and recurrent. Eczema is characterized by a diversity of rashes, symmetrical distribution, intense itching recurrent episodes, and a tendency to evolve into chronic.
Second, the symptoms of prickly heat
According to the damage of sweat ducts and sweat overflow site, prickly heat is divided into the following types, and the symptoms shown are different.
1, red prickly heat
Symptom overview: Red rashes and papules that are scattered, extremely itchy and accompanied by a tingling, burning or prickly sensation, with pin-cap sized blisters or pustules visible on top, and lesions that fuse. The rash starts within days to weeks of exposure to heat and usually occurs in areas of indirect friction, such as the anterior elbow fossa, popliteal fossa, trunk, abdomen, and groin.
Symptom interpretation: The onset is generally rapid and it is the most common type of heat rash in babies.
2. White prickly heat
Symptom overview: Small, clear, very superficial and non-inflammatory blisters. Increased sweating due to fever or clothing that prevents heat and moisture from escaping, for example, like babies who are often wrapped, may develop white heat rash.
Symptom interpretation: The rash is asymptomatic, easily ruptured by slight friction, and thus exists for a short time, which is a relatively mild prickly heat rash.
3.Pustular prickly heat
Symptom overview: Pustular prickly heat is induced by damage, destruction or blockage of sweat ducts due to other dermatitis before it occurs, and generally develops from red prickly heat. The pustules are distinct, superficial and separate from the hair follicles. Pruritic pustules are most commonly found on interscalene areas, the curved sides of the extremities, the scrotum, and the back of bedridden children.
Symptom interpretation: Pustular prickly heat is the highest symptom level of prickly heat and is more difficult to heal, so mothers should pay attention to protect the baby’s skin dryness and indoor ventilation.
Three, the symptoms of eczema
The main symptoms of eczema are erythema, rice-like papules, herpes, vesicles, oozing and crusting on the surface of the skin, a pronounced inflammatory reaction, and a burning and itching sensation on the local skin. It is usually found on the baby’s head, cheeks, outer ears, or even across the entire face and neck, and in severe cases on the hands, feet, chest and abdomen.
Eczema is initially bright red, slightly edematous, with clear borders and a moist surface, and then turns into the main symptom.
Four, prickly heat and eczema care methods
Prickly heat and eczema are different because they are caused by different reasons, so the care methods are also different. The main care for baby prickly heat is to pay attention to ventilation, to bathe and change clothes; eczema requires avoiding seafood, meat, eggs and other foods.
Baby prickly heat care methods.
1, should pay attention to environmental ventilation, avoid overheating, encounter high temperatures (above 30 ℃), can be appropriate to use air conditioning to reduce the indoor temperature or use electric fans to keep the air circulation.
2, pay attention to skin cleanliness and hygiene, see the baby sweating profusely, you should promptly dry sweat, change clothes regularly, keep the skin clean and dry. If the baby sweats a lot and does not dry in time, causing the sweat pores to be blocked, it is also particularly prone to heat rash.
3, diligent baby bath, bath can be appropriate in the water with some ten drops of water, flower lotion, there is a prickly heat effect.
4, do not wear too much, to avoid a lot of sweating, to wear loose, breathable, moisture absorption are good cotton clothes, such as undershirts, sleeveless clothes more suitable for babies.
5, in the hot summer, do not always embrace the baby, try to let the baby alone in the cooler to play, so as not to spend a long time in the arms of adults, poor heat dissipation, covered with heat rash.
6, keep the baby’s spirit happy, do not provoke the baby to cry.
7, drink more water, especially cool water, often drink mung bean soup and other cool drinks, usually eat light and easy to digest food, less greasy and stimulating food.
Baby eczema care methods.
1, avoid seafood, meat, eggs. Eczema may be a manifestation of allergic diseases, so avoid eating seafood, meat, eggs and other foods that tend to make the symptoms worse.
2, when the baby is scratching a lot, put gloves on the baby, so that even scratching will not leave scars.
3, use cool water for massage. Soap or shampoo can aggravate the symptoms of eczema. Massage with a towel soaked in cool water when scabbing can reduce itching and also eliminate the feeling of heat on the skin.
4.Wear cotton clothes. Wear only cotton clothes, avoid synthetic or woolen clothes.