What is heat rash?
Heat rash (also known as prickly heat or miliaria) is a disorder caused by excessive sweating and occurs when the skin is unable to disperse heat, which causes the eccrine glands to become blocked. It commonly affects infants and children, especially in the summertime, when they may be too covered-up for the warmer temperatures. In some cases, heat rash can also occur in adults, often as a result of doing sport while wearing synthetic clothing. Heat rash appears on the trunk and face, and rarely on the arms or legs. In some cases, heat rash can also occur in adults, often as a result of doing sport while wearing synthetic clothing.
Heat rash appears on the trunk and face, and rarely on the arms or legs.
What does heat rash look like?
Heat rash appears as clusters of small, whitish, shiny papules that are often mildly or severely itchy, depending on the individual. In infants and children with sensitive or atopic skin, heat rash can become even more inflamed and extremely itchy.
What are the causes of heat rash?
Heat rash appears when excessive sweating blocks the sweat glands and they fail to release sweat droplets.
These droplets then become trapped beneath the skin and form the whitish papules synonymous with heat rash.
How to treat heat rash
Treatment
Apply Lenitive Cream to the affected area by massage twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Lenitive Cream facilitates healing through a dual action:
- Helps control sweating
- Dries the skin
Continue treatment until symptoms disappear, which should usually be within a few days.
During hot weather, ensure that the skin is well ventilated by choosing clothing made from breathable, natural fabrics such as cotton, linen or silk.
- Avoid applying creams of any kind that could further block pores and worsen the condition.
- Avoid cortisone ointments that could cause infections.
- Avoid powders such as talcum powder, as they can adhere to sweaty skin creating an almost “cement” that further blocks pores.