Prickly Heat.

What Is Prickly Heat?

Prickly heat rash occurs when the sweat ducts become blocked, either by excessive sweating or too much surface bacteria, which causes sweat to leak back into the skin and become trapped. When this happens the skin becomes irritated and inflamed, leading to the development of a sore, bumpy rash on the skin. True to its name, a strong prickly or itching sensation is a common symptom associated with this condition and the constant need to scratch the affected area can make the situation a lot worse and harder to control.

Who Does It Affect?

Prickly heat can affect almost anyone but young children and those who are prone to excessive sweating are the most at risk. While it is more prominent during the summer months and holidays abroad, any occasion that causes you to sweat more than usual can trigger a flare-up. It tends to affect areas of the body where the skin folds or bends such as the neck, elbows, backs of the knees and thighs, but it can also show up on the face, chest and back in more severe cases.

How Can You Prevent/Treat It?

It might sound obvious but keeping as cool as possible is the best way to prevent the onset of prickly heat. Avoid wearing tight clothes and synthetic fabrics, drink lots of water and stay out of the sun during the hottest period (11am-3pm) in order to limit the amount of sweat your body produces. Wear a high unperfumed broad-spectrum sunprotection. Personally I believe that one of the causes of prickly heat is a sensitivity to UVA rays.The cooler you can keep your body temperature the better, so whether that means having a fan close to your desk during working days or taking regular cool showers to keep the skin’s temperature down, the chance of developing heat rash is greatly reduced. In terms of skin care, look for lightweight gel moisturisers that contain Aloe Vera or Vitamin E to cool the skin and repair any damage while refreshing Hyaluronic Acid-infused facial sprays can calm the condition on the go.Natural yogurt from the fridge put directly on the rash can really soothe the condition.

For more severe bouts of prickly heat, take antihistamines and apply a hydrocortisone cream to the affected area to calm the inflammation and prevent itching. If this does not  solve the problem, visit your Doctor for more advice.