Prickly Heat

Prickly heat (miliaria rubra), also known as heat rash appears in the form of tiny red bumps on different parts of the body like the groin, thighs, back, armpits, breasts, knees and waist. Prickly heat is caused when the narrow ducts carrying sweat get clogged due to excessive sweating. The sweat gets trapped within and results in inflammation, which further triggers irritation, itchiness and discomfort. This in turn impedes the skin from regulating its own temperature effectively.

This skin problem can affect anybody from babies to adults to old people. However, some people are genetically more prone to be affected by this irritating prickly heat problem. People exposed to a lot of heat for long periods of time are seen to be mostly affected by it. Poor hygiene, allergies to deodorants, excess activities in hot and humid weather, high fever, being over-clothed, obesity, etc. can also conduce to irksome prickly heat rashes on the body.

Prickly Heat Symptoms

• Tiny, fluid-filled blisters on the skin
• Red, itchy rash on groin, armpits, feet, etc.
• Burning or stinging sensation
• Rash on thighs causes difficulty in walking.
• Prickly heat rash in babies is seen as diaper rash.
• Mild swelling in the affected area.

How to Treat Prickly Heat

Doctors prescribe antihistamine tablets and corticosteroid creams or lotions (with methanol) as prickly heat rash treatment. Some people apply the highest factor of sunscreen available, however, for those with eczema, application of sunscreen worsens the rash. Moreover, those with sensitive skin need to be really careful about what they apply on their skin. There are several natural treatments available that one can try out, as natural remedies are always safer.

Cooling the Skin
When struggling with prickly heat, the best way to soothe the skin is by cooling it. To cool the skin get a wet flannel or cotton and dunk it into a large bowl of cold water. Place this wet flannel onto the affected areas of the body and wait for the cold water imbibed by the flannel fibers to soothe your burning sensation. One should also take frequent cool water baths or go for a swim. After bathing, one should make sure the skin is completely dry, for which one can use a blowing fan because any friction created can be quite painful.

Drink Citrus Juices
Another way of cooling down the body is by drinking a lot of citrus juices. The juice of oranges, lemons, pineapples, etc. help lower the body temperature and reduce the stinging sensation caused by prickly heat. Just eating slices of watermelon will also help cool the body and reduce itching.

Cornstarch
Add a little water to some cornstarch and prepare a loose paste. Apply this paste on the areas of the body plagued with prickly rash and allow it to work on the rash for the next half an hour. The paste would have dried by then, after which you should take a cold water bath and gently wash the paste away.

Prickly Heat Relieving Paste
This special paste gives great relief from the stinging, itchy rash. To prepare this paste take equal amounts of coriander seeds, sandalwood, roots of poppy-seed grass and nutgrass tubercle and mix them together. Add some rose-water to form a loose paste. Apply the paste onto the affected areas and leave for sometime. Have a cold water bath and wash it off.

Prickly heat occurs mainly in those areas where friction from clothing is the highest. The best thing is that prickly heat is a temporary condition and will heal in a few days time. Babies are more prone to be affected by it, as their sweat glands are not fully developed. Heat rash in babies can make the baby very irritable. Frequent changing of diapers and allowing them to not wear a diaper for some time also helps. Since children have very sensitive skin, it is wise not to try out any of your treatments on them. Consult the doctor and pay heed to his advice.

People suffering from prickly heat must try to keep their skin cool and dry at all times. One can use powders (to soak up the sweat) or antiperspirants to keep the skin dry. Since excess sweating is the cause of prickly heat, to prevent it, we have to prevent excess sweating. One can prevent sweating by staying in an air-conditioned environment. Moreover, wear loose, light clothing (cotton or linen) and avoid going out in the sun!