The basic way to deal with prickly heat in infants is to keep their skin "cool and clean."
Heat rash is a condition caused by inflammation due to blocked sweat ducts, and it occurs more easily in infants due to their immature skin.
For prevention, it is important to adjust clothing to avoid trapping heat, regulate room temperature and humidity, and promptly wash or wipe away sweat after sweating.
The basic principle is to choose loose, breathable clothing and avoid excessive layering.
Applying moisturizers or petrolatum to areas with heat rash is not recommended.
This is because it can promote the blockage of sweat ducts by covering the skin surface, potentially worsening symptoms.

Baby powder is not recommended for use in infants, regardless of age.
Powders like talc and cornstarch can cause acute respiratory distress and severe pneumonia if inhaled or aspirated, and deaths have been reported.

🌿 Furthermore, the core of prickly heat prevention is environmental adjustment, and the use of powder products is considered to be of little significance.

If cooling and environmental adjustments do not provide improvement, use a low-potency topical corticosteroid for a short period.
If the redness spreads or is accompanied by a fever, it may indicate a bacterial infection and medical attention is required.

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【Basic Measures for Heat Rash】

Item	Content
Environment	Temperature control, maintain a cool environment
Clothes	Breathable clothing, avoid thick layers
Clean	Wash off or wipe away sweat when you sweat.
Moisturizing	Do not use on areas with heat rash.
Treatment	Use low-potency steroids when necessary

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[References]
Newborn Skin: Part I. Common Rashes. American Family Physician. 2008.
Treatment and Prevention of Heat-Related Illness. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2022.
Effects of an Emollient Application on Newborn Skin From Birth for Prevention of Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Controlled Study in Thai Neonates. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2022.
Respiratory Failure From Corn Starch Aspiration: A Hazard of Diaper Changing. Pediatric Emergency Care. 1996.
Two Infant Deaths After Inhaling Baby Powder. Chest. 1979.
Powder Aspiration in Children. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 1977.

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👶Baby Sun Protection: When to Start and What to Use?

☀️Sun protection for infants and young children should be adapted according to age.
For infants under 6 months old, sunscreen is generally not used. Instead, focus on sun protection through clothing, hats, and shade.
This is because the skin barrier function is immature, making it susceptible to external ingredients.
Sunscreen can be used from 6 months of age, and proper use is recommended to prevent UV damage.
Products containing ultraviolet scattering agents (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) as the main ingredients are recommended.
I use products with SPF 30 or higher that protect against both UVA and UVB rays.

Spray types carry the risk of inhalation and uneven application, so cream or lotion types are recommended.
"NonnaNo" and "Pediatrician Recommended" labels do not have unified standards, so please check the ingredient list.

When using, apply a sufficient amount evenly and reapply every 2 to 4 hours.
Sunscreen alone is not enough; the basic approach is to use it in combination with clothing and hats.

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How to choose sunscreen

Item	Content
Ingredients	Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide
SPF	SPF 30 or higher
UVA preparation	broad spectrum
Dosage form	Cream/lotion
Attention	Avoid spraying, do not over-rely on the label

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[References]
Traveling Safely with Infants and Children. CDC Yellow Book. 2025.
Sun Exposure in Travelers. CDC Yellow Book. 2025.
Current Principles of Sunscreen Use in Children. Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 2013.
Sunscreens: Safety, Efficacy, and Appropriate Use. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2002.

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The role of baby oil in infant skincare

Baby oil is used for dryness, but its applications are limited.

It is suitable for small applications for physiological skin dryness or for adding a small amount to the bathtub during bathing.

Not suitable for preventing or treating diaper rash.
Maintaining skin cleanliness and moisture, and protecting against irritation from urine and feces are important. Barrier creams such as petrolatum or zinc oxide ointment are recommended.

🌿While baby oil can prevent moisture evaporation, it is not sufficient for barrier protection.

As a measure against dryness, petroleum jelly or moisturizers can be substituted, and there are few situations where baby oil is essential.

⚠️ Avoid use on the face or around the mouth, and avoid excessive application, as this may cause steatosis pneumonia due to aspiration or suction.

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[Positioning of Baby Oil]

Item	Content
Usage scenarios	Mild dryness, assistance during bathing
Inappropriate	Diaper rash prevention
Recommended alternatives	Vaseline, moisturizer
Attention	Attraction and risk of aspiration

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[References]
Recommendations from a European Roundtable Meeting on Best Practice Healthy Infant Skin Care. Pediatric Dermatology. 2016.
Daily Emollient During Infancy for Prevention of Eczema: The BEEP Randomised Controlled Trial. Lancet. 2020.
Lipoid Pneumonia Secondary to Baby Oil Aspiration. Pediatric Emergency Care. 1985.

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👶Choosing and Using Insect Repellents for Infants and Young Children

Mosquito repellent is also important from the perspective of infectious disease prevention.

Products containing DEET, Icaridin, and IR3535 can be used from 2 months of age.

These ingredients have been confirmed for efficacy and safety.

On the other hand, products containing only natural essential oils and aroma components have a short-lived effect and provide insufficient protection.
Patches and wristbands also cannot provide full-body protection.

💡 Application should be done by the guardian. Apply to the face after taking it out.
Avoid the areas around the hands, mouth, and eyes.

When using with sunscreen, apply sunscreen first.

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[Insect Repellent Ingredient Comparison]

Ingredients	Age	Features
DEET	2 months ~	Highly effective
Icaridin	2 months ~	Low-irritation and easy to use
IR3535	2 months ~	High security
Natural essential oils	—	Short-lived effect
Patch type	—	No effect

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[References]
Comparative Efficacy of Insect Repellents Against Mosquito Bites. NEJM. 2002.
Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Arthropods. CDC Yellow Book. 2025.
Evaluation of Commercial Products for Personal Protection Against Mosquitoes. Acta Tropica. 2013.