Heat Rash Treatment for Adults

Heat rash is a type of skin rash caused due to excessive heat. Skin folds and friction due to clothing are often the main causes of heat rash amongst adults. A hot and humid weather or climate is another common cause. Also known as 'prickly heat', it may occur when there is a lot of physical activity which makes one sweat profusely. Along with rashes comes infections. The signs of infection may include pain, swelling, redness or warmth around the rash area, pus in the rash area, swollen lymph nodes, high fever, having chills without any reason, tiredness due to heat, along with dizziness and a rapid pulse. In case you are suffering from any of these symptoms, no need to panic. Just try these simple remedies to alleviate the discomfort. Generally, doctors are of the opinion that staying out of the sun and keeping the skin cool is the best treatment for adults and children.

Treatment of Heat Rash
Most of the time, heat rashes get healed within a day, usually on transfer to a cooler environment. The following are the steps which you can take for treating heat rash.

#1 Frequent Washing
Wash the affected area with a gentle soap. Now rinse the affected area and gently pat dry the area with a soft towel. Wash yourself by taking cool showers several times a day, especially after exercise or a long walk under heat exposure.

#2 Cooler Environment
Try to remain in a cool environment which will allow adequate ventilation of the skin. Resting in an air conditioned room also helps in relieving heat rash. But if you do not have access to air conditioning, go to places, like, indoor shopping malls, grocery stores, movie theaters, hotel lobbies, ice skating rinks, bowling alleys, etc. In short, avoid exposure to the sun.

#3 Avoid Skin To Skin Contact
Take pieces of clean and soft cotton cloth and place them in areas where there are skin folds, e.g. under the breasts, abdomen, etc. This will help in avoiding skin to skin contact. Another type of heat rash remedies is that you can apply frozen packs of peas or other cool packs over the affected areas, especially for heat rash on face. But be careful not to leave the frozen packs for more than twenty minutes.

#4 Oral Medication
You can also apply mild cortisone creams, like, hydrocortisone or prescribed cortisone creams like triamcinolone. These will be very helpful in resisting rashes. Oral medication such as diphenhydramine or loratadine can also help to decrease itching which can result from a heat rash. You can also take topical antibiotics that may be needed for anti bacterial infections.

#5 Wear Loose Clothing
Wear loose clothing that is made of natural fibers such as cotton as much as possible. You can also opt for polypropylene which is designed to remove sweat from the skin. Try to stay out of the heat and avoid going out into the sun as much as possible for a few days. Do this until the rash clears up. Consult a physician immediately in case none of the heat rash remedies works and the rash worsens, becomes infected or if you develop a high fever.

Preventive Measures
It is easy to prevent heat rash. Prevention is the same for children as well as for adults. Avoid overdressing or wearing tight clothes and allow your skin to breathe. If you are going out in the hot weather, make sure that you dress lightly and wear fabrics that can keep you cool from inside. Keep your skin cool and dry and avoid heavy moisturizers. You should also keep your sleeping area cool and well-ventilated.

So, these were some of the remedies for heat rash as well as its prevention. When you develop these rashes, wait for some days and then gradually expose yourself to the heat. But this should be done only after all your rashes gets healed.