By Amerley Ollennu
Also known as prickly heat, heat rash can come on fast and furious when temperatures soar. But despite how quickly it appears, it doesn’t vanish as fast. Which means that the hot weather and heatwaves we’re now experiencing may leave you with an itchy rash to contend with, long after temperatures have cooled.What is heat rash?
When you get hot and sweaty and sweat is trapped in the skin, blisters, lumps, and bumps rise up on the surface. The type of heat rash you develop depends on how deep sweat is embedded into the pores.The mildest form presents as tiny bumps or blisters filled with clear fluid that break open easily. But if you develop small, inflamed blisters that feel itchy, it’s likely that you have miliaria rubra, a form of heat rash that is due to sweat stuck deep within the pores. Over time this can develop into an inflamed blister-like rash.
If you breakout in a rash that looks bumpy and inflamed, is red or darker than your natural skin tone, then it’s likely your sweat has reached the deepest layer of the skin, the dermis, and this can be somewhat painful.
Where does heat rash develop?
You’ll find heat rash generally appears in skin folds, in the neck, groin, underarms, inner elbows, behind the knees, under breasts and even on the face.Can you prevent heat rash?
According to the NHS the best way to avoid developing heat rash is to…- Wear loose cotton clothing
- Use lightweight bedding
- Take cool baths or showers
- Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
How do you treat heat rash?
Avoid hot baths and showers and cleanse the skin with hypoallergenic cleansers that are designed for sensitive skin types. A cold compress can help relive itching, as can calamine lotion. If your heat rash is especially uncomfortable, antihistamines can help relive swelling and itching.Keep your skincare simple if you’re suffering from heat rash on your face and neck—your skin is likely to be more sensitive, so ditch your active-packed serums. However, if your rash doesn’t clear after a couple of days, use a gentle BHA or AHA liquid exfoliant to cut through pores and eliminate sweat from the skin.
