Heat rash or prickly heat develops when sweat ducts, or commonly known as pores, become blocked and perspiration is trapped under your skin. Prickly heat usually affects babies and children because their sweat glands are not fully developed, but adults can be affected too. The rash is most common on areas of the body that are covered by clothing – at the back, abdomen, neck, upper chest, groin or armpits, but prickly heat can affect any area of the skin.

Playing under the heat of the sun!

It’s not yet summer but Gab developed prickly heat on his neck. It’s usually during hot and humid weather that he develops the itchy heat rashes. May be because of physical activity – he always wants to go running or riding his bike that makes him sweat more these days.

To relieve symptoms of heat rash or prickly heat,  here’s are some tips to cool the skin and prevent sweating:

1. Avoid exposure to heat and spend time in the shade. Further exposure to heat will make you sweat more and may make the rash worse if you already have them.

2. In hot weather, use fans or air conditioning if available. Take a bath to stay cool and remember to dry skin thoroughly.

2. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothes ideally made from cotton. When exercising, choose certain fabrics can wick away sweat and allow perspiration to evaporate normally.

3. Use calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to help sooth the sore and irritated skin. For infants and toddlers, as they have delicate skin, pedias can recommend a more appropriate treatment. For us, we were prescribed to use zinc oxide. This is the same cream we use to prevent and treat diaper rash.

Prickly heat usually heals without problems  and they clear up on its own, but sometimes the rash becomes infected causing inflamed and itchy pustules. When this happens, it is advised to check with your doctor for proper medicines for infection.

We hope that Gab’s rash will go away soon. We want to enjoy summer without the itchy prickly heat.

Source: WebMD/ Mayo Clinic