During summer, one thing that troubles you is the itchy and inflamed rashes. Spending a day under the scorching heat may leave you with some tiny, itchy, and reddish rashes. These are sometimes called prickly heat or heat rash. Prickly heat itself is not actually grave or serious condition. however, it is something that needs an intensive care in the right way and immediate time. This condition is actually discomforting and irritating. Thus having enough information about the causes, symptoms, and of course, the treatments for heat rash will be beneficial. If you want to know all of these and more, feel free to read on to this article.
Heat Rash: What is this condition?
The other terms for heat rash are prickly heat or miliaria. This condition may actually happen to anyone, may it be the children or even adults. The condition usually happens when the sweat becomes confined under the skin. Children are more prone to the condition than the adults. Heat rash may lead to feeling a prickly, warm or stinging sensation on the skin. Furthermore, usually, the feeling goes along with small red dots in the area as well. Not only that, the rash may also contain some blisters.
The face, the neck, chest, as well as the shoulders are the most common parts of the body where prickly heat occur. This is even though the heat rash may appear anywhere in the body. Furthermore, prickly heat or heat rash may clear up on its own after just a few days. However, in various severe cases, the heat rash may interfere with the heat-regulating mechanism of the body and may cause heat exhaustion.
A more serious condition that may occur when the is not able to cool itself any longer, is heatstroke. This will then need an immediate medical attention or emergency.
Heat Rash: What causes it?
Although the prickly heat is quite common in the summer season, it may occur in winters as well. the excessive sweat is the main thing that causes the clods in the skin pores. This will in turn trigger the rashes. Furthermore, this occurs when the perspiration becomes stuck beneath the skin, as a replacement for evaporating. This is the reason why the prickly heat rashes are commonly seen along the skin folds, like in the neck, armpits, groin, as well as the waist. The exact cause r reason for prickly heat is yet to be known. However, there are some causative factors that are involved.
The common factors that may trigger prickly heat may be:
- Various medications like those medications for blood pressure or ADHD
- Wearing clothes that are excessively warm in winter, which may trigger perspiration
- The use of some oil-based cosmetics that may lead to the clogging of the seat glands
- Exhaustive exercising or various physical activities that involve high levels of sweating
- Clothes that are made from synthetic fibers, which may prevent the perspiration from evaporating.
Heat Rash: What are its symptoms?
Prickly heat or heat rash can easily be identified because of its upfront symptoms. The tiny red bumps, as well as the itching on the area of the skin that has been exposed to sweat and heat for a long period of time, are just some of the most common symptoms of heat rash.
Furthermore, there are times that the red bumps may develop into some series of tiny blisters. The blisters or the bumps may swell, become itchy, irritated, and may become red as the rashes progress. The condition may spread all throughout the body. However, it is not infectious. Under the normal circumstances, there is actually no way to pass the rash to some other people.
Treatments for Heat Rash
Prickly heat or heat rash will usually vanish on its own. However, it may cause some troublesome symptoms. There are many people who can benefit from the use of some home treatments for heat rash. (You can check the list below for the different effective home treatments for heat rash.)
Treating the heat rash or prickly heat may also involve the quick cooling off. This is to avoid any additional sweat. Furthermore, sitting in front of the air conditioner or in a fan may also be beneficial. Not only that, cold showers or baths may also help in reducing the body temperature and may help in clearing up the condition much faster.
The cooling effect of menthol or camphor may also be beneficial in reducing the itchiness. Those people who are prone to the condition may find a relief from the regular washing of the body with mild soap after doing something that is sweating. This is beneficial in reducing the number of sweat and the number of bacteria on the skin.
Below are some of the most effective home treatments for heat rash or prickly heat:
- Neem
- Lavender essential oil
- Talcum powder
- Papaya
- Cucumber
- Indian gooseberries
- Honey
- Lime juice
- Henna powder
- Ice cubes
- Ginger
- Watermelon
- Raw potato
- Baking soda
- Aloe vera gel
- Oatmeal bath
