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Children with ichthyosis are more vulnerable than most children to temperature and the weather. Overheating can become a significant problem since the child’s thickened skin does not allow the body to get rid of body heat through sweating. During hot weather and when your child is active at play, watch carefully for signs of overheating. The skin may redden, your child may appear cranky, and, when seriously overheated, your child may become listless and lethargic. Overheating is a potentially dangerous situation, and steps must be taken immediately to bring your child’s core temperature down to normal levels. Take him or her into a cool environment and, if necessary, put him or her into a lukewarm bath. Applying wet, cool washcloths to the face and extremities may also be helpful if the overheating is not yet too serious.  If you are seriously concerned about how overheated your child is, call 911.

The best treatment of overheating is prevention. Make ice water or juice available all the time.  A spray bottle of cold water is useful for counteracting the effects of hot weather, for example when riding in a car. A game may be made of spraying with cool water. For outside play during warm weather, one mom dresses her child in wet clothes. Available, too, are “cool vests,” which are pocketed smocks in which packs of frozen coolant gel are placed. In excessively hot weather, your child may need to stay inside.

If your child spends time in preschool or with any outside caregiver, the person must be aware of the signs of overheating, and must be able to respond to them at once.

When overheating is due to fever, try to keep the fever down with an aspirin substitute (for example, acetaminophen, or Tylenol); you may also use lukewarm baths to cool your child. During a fever, avoid thick creams that can hold in the heat. Many parents have noticed that after a high fever, their child’s skin takes a turn for the worse. This is a temporary setback, but may require extra attention for a few days.

To help avoid overheating due to warm weather, dress your child in layers that can be removed as needed. When out in the sun, use a hat with a wide brim to protect both eyes and skin. Ask your doctor about sunscreens.

The Foundation publishes a resource sheet on overheating that details the signs and symptoms of overheating, what do to in a heat emergency, and resources for cooling products and sun protective clothing.  Parents may request this resource sheet and copy it to all the individuals who help care for their child.