Heat rash on a baby typically appears as very small spots, tiny red bumps, or tiny blisters filled with clear fluid. On babies with lighter skin, these spots or blisters often look red, while on darker skin they may appear brown, purple, or grey. The rash commonly occurs on areas such as the face, neck, upper chest, back, skin folds (like neck, armpits, elbow creases, and leg creases), and the diaper area. The rash can be itchy and may cause the baby to be fussy or restless
. The bumps or blisters are usually clustered and moist, resembling pimples or small blisters. Heat rash can cause a prickly or itchy sensation, sometimes described as "prickly heat." In some cases, if the blisters become infected, they may fill with yellow or white pus
. In summary, a heat rash on a baby looks like:
- Clusters of tiny red bumps or small blisters (fluid-filled)
- Often moist and may appear on the face, neck, chest, back, skin folds, and diaper area
- Redness on lighter skin; brown, purple, or grey spots on darker skin
- Itchy and can cause discomfort or fussiness in the baby
If the rash lasts more than a few days, appears infected, or the baby has fever or is unwell, medical advice should be sought
