Prickly heat, also known as heat rash or miliaria, is a common skin condition that shows up when your body gets too hot. It is caused by blocked or inflamed sweat ducts, and can affect babies and adults. When you sweat, your pores can get blocked, which ends up trapping sweat and causing tiny, itchy bumps and blisters. This can make your skin feel prickly, that’s why it’s called prickly heat. Though, it is usually harmless, it can be very itchy which can cause a lot of discomfort.
People in hot, humid conditions often suffer from prickly heat. It’s a way of your body telling you it is overheated, due to excessive sweating. But it usually goes down once the skin cools down. It is usually self-diagnosable, and you can treat it by yourself. However, some cases might require you to see a doctor, especially if it is linked to chronic health conditions. And in other cases, you may prefer to get medical treatment.
Symptoms of prickly heat
These are the things you see if you have prickly heat, heat rash or Miliaria.
- Itching or prickly felling
- Redness
- Red or pink blisters (can include small raised spots)
- Mild swelling
- Pain from scratching which causes a peppery feeling
- Face itch
- Sleep interference
Causes/ triggers of prickly heat
- Excessive sweating
- Hot weather
- Intense exercise
- Poor airflow
- Nuts like groundnut which cause a reaction
- Unhappiness (can lead to over-thinking and anxiety)
- Stress
- Eating certain foods like butter
- Tight clothing
- Not showering properly
- Irregular exfoliation
- Dirty clothes (can cause skin irritation and may lead to rash)
Treatment
How to practice self-treatment
If you’re dealing with prickly heat make sure you keep your skin cool to avoid sweating and irritating the rash.
Home remedies to try
1 . Wear loose cotton clothing
2 . Get methylated bar soaps.
3 . Use lightweight bed sheets.
4 . Use mentholated powder ( apply or sprinkle on the affected area).
5 . Take cool baths or showers.
6 . Use cool compresses or cold packs
7 . Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Lifestyle changes to make
1 . Avoid strenuous activities (take a break from hard core workouts). Or you can do some light weight exercises.
2 . Avoid the sun as much as possible.
3 . Wear clean clothes (don’t wear clothes you sweat in, especially if was a lot).
4 . Stay in airy places (open windows, doors or sit outside).
5 . Shower more often.
6 . Use fans or air conditioners for cooling.
7 . Keep your skin dry and clean
8 . Do not use perfumed shower gels or cream.
9 . Do simple hairstyles, avoid doing heavy or full hair braids, which can cause heat and sweats.
10 . Limit the amount of times you wear wigs , especially full and long ones.
11 . Tie in your in a bun or ponytail to prevent your hair from touching your neck or back area.
12 . Tap or pat the rash instead of scratching it.
13 . Avoid resting on your back too frequently on the sofa, it can make the area heated, and itchy.
14 . Avoid scratching.
Medical treatment
1 . Consult a pharmacist
A pharmacist can help with prickly heat, so speak to a pharmacist about it. They can give advice and suggest the best treatment to use. They might recommend the following:
2 . Hydrocortisone cream
3 . Calamine lotion
Note that hydrocortisone is not for children under 10, you need to get advice from a doctor before giving them this treatment.
Can you use Prednisolone for prickly heat?
Prednisolone is a steroid medication, and it is typically not recommended for treating prickly heat. Though, it is used to treat many skin conditions, it has some serious side effects like suppressing the immune system, which leaves you vulnerable to infections. If you’re pregnant, you mustn’t use it, unless your doctor assures you of it.
There are many reasons you don’t need to use Prednisolone for prickly heat, or skin rash:
- Prickly heat, or heat rash is usually a mild condition that resolves on its own.
- Steroids like Prednisolone are reserved for more severe skin conditions.
- Long-term use of steroids has some extremely nasty side effects such as:
- Increased risk of infections
- Adrenal gland suppression
- Osteoporosis
- Mental health issues like depression
- Thinning skin
However, you can consider Prednisolone for prickly heat:
- If the prickly heat is severe with widespread rash
- intense itching or discomfort
- infection or severe inflammation
However, never use Prednisolone or any medication for heat rash without consulting a healthcare professional. They will assess the severity of the condition and recommend the best treatment for you.
Don’t be tempted to take any steroids for heat related skin conditions.
Re-occurrence risk
The chances of heat rash showing up again are quite high, as it is a skin condition caused by blocked sweat ducts and trapped sweat. Which are possible events. However, it is possible to stop it from happening again by avoiding trigger factors.
Factors that increase the likelihood of reoccurrence:
1 . Physical activity that causes excessive sweating.
2 . Tight or synthetic clothing.
3 . Poor personal hygiene.
4 . Carrying excessive body weight.
5 . Hormonal changes (for example pregnancy, and menopause).
6 . Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, and thyroid disorders.
7 . Certain foods like butter and nuts.
Therefore, to avoid triggering symptoms make sure you practice good hygiene, eat foods that are good for you, wear loose clothing especially when it is hot, use a fan or air conditioning, and avoid excessive physical activity in hot environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does prickly heat typically last?
Prickly heat or heat rash typically lasts for several days to a week, it depends on the severity of the condition and how effective the treatments are.
What are the signs that I have severe heat rash?
Signs of severe prickly heat, also known as heat rash or miliaria rubra are
- Widespread rash
- Elevated body temperature (usually above 38 degrees)
- Increased pain
- Pus-filled blisters
- An unpleasant smell from affected areas
- Skin peeling
- Difficulty moving
- Swollen nymph nodes
Prickly heat or heat rash have common symptoms that are also uncomfortable, but they’re usually not at this level. If you’re experiencing these things then it they’re severe. At this point, it is best you see a doctor or a pharmacist.
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