Sweat Rash

Sweat rash is a skin ailment common among people living in hot and humid climates and during the summer season. This condition is otherwise known as miliaria, prickly heat rash, heat rash or heat pimples. Sweat rashes are caused when sweat is retained in the skin, instead of exiting the body through the pores in the skin. Even though people of all ages are prone to this condition, sweat rash or heat rash is more prominently seen in infants and children, who have underdeveloped sweat glands.

Symptoms and Causes of Sweat Rash
Sweat rash is characterized by small pimple-like eruptions on the skin, which are called 'papules'. These papules can be itchy or can cause a prickling sensation and may appear on any part of the body, the most common among them being the face, neck, skin folds, under the breasts and under the scrotum. Some types of sweat rash may cause severe redness of the skin or fluid filled vesicles. Normally, the sweat produced by the sweat glands travels through the sweat gland ducts and exit through the pores in the skin. If these ducts are blocked by dead skin cells or bacteria, like Staphylococcus epidermidis (commonly found on the skin) or are inflamed, the sweat gets retained under the skin of the affected area. This leads to irritation, a prickly sensation, itching and appearance of small skin rashes on the affected area. Usually, the whole body is not affected by sweat rash, as it is a localized condition. While children are often affected by this skin ailment due to their underdeveloped sweat glands, some adults may get affected due to excessive sweating. Sweat rash is common in hot and humid climates and in hot interiors without proper ventilation.

Types of Sweat Rash
Sweat rash is classified into various types, depending upon the level of obstruction or inflammation. The most common among them are miliaria crystallina, miliaria rubra, miliaria pustulosa and miliaria profunda. When the obstruction or inflammation (of the sweat gland duct) is near the surface of the skin (in the epidermis), it is called miliaria crystallina. This type of sweat rash is characterized by small vesicles on the skin, which are fluid-filled. These rashes may also cause itching and look like tiny clear drops, which may rupture while scratching.

Miliaria rubra is the most common among the various types of sweat rash and unlike miliaria crystallina, this type of sweat rash produces small rashes, which are not fluid-filled. In this case, the obstruction in the sweat gland duct is deeper into the epidermis, as compared to the former. This leads to retention of sweat in the deeper layers of the epidermis and the underlying dermis. This type of sweat rash causes tiny bumps on the skin, accompanied by slight redness, intense itching and prickling sensation. Miliaria pustulosa is also characterized by itchy and red skin, but the main symptom is the occurrence of small blisters with pus. If the obstruction or inflammation occurs in the deeper layers of the skin, i.e. the dermis, then this type of sweat rash is termed as miliaria profunda. This type of sweat rash may cause red skin, but usually, eruptions are not present. In some cases large bumps may develop, which can be painful. Unlike, other types, miliaria profunda is not itchy and is uncommon, but if large areas are affected, it can cause fever. Following are some tips about how to get rid of heat rash or sweat rash.

Prevention of Sweat Rash
You can prevent the occurrence of sweat rash by keeping your body cool, especially during hot, humid climates and while doing any strenuous physical activities and exercises that induce sweating. It is advisable to use air conditioners or fans to cool the atmosphere and wearing light clothing. You may also resort to frequent showers with a mild soap. Regular scrubbing is effective in removing dead cells, which can block the sweat gland ducts, whereas using antiperspirants can provide some temporary relief.

How to Treat Sweat Rash?
Most cases of sweat rash do not require any treatment and subside with time. But severe cases need adequate treatment, like using antibacterials and other topical agents. Avoid usage of oil-based ointments and creams for sweat rash treatment, as they may cause an increase in the rate of blockage of sweat gland ducts. Sweat rash cure includes the use of topical agents with anti-itching properties, like calamine, menthol and camphor-based preparations, which are also effective for reducing the severity of the symptoms.

However, it is always better to consult a doctor to detect the exact type of sweat rash and the proper treatment. Medical attention is very necessary for severe cases of sweat rash, which may last for a very long time, if left untreated.