Summer is fun as it is a time when you could lounge by the beach and bond with your family and friends. However, the fun comes to an end when you begin to see small, prickly red bumps on parts of your body that are often covered with clothes. These bumps are called heat rashes.

However, how do these rashes actually happen? What causes them and what can you do to get rid of them? Here’s what you need to know.

Symptoms

How do you know that you have heat rashes? You would get to see red, pimple-like dots on the neck, shoulders, back, and even the stomach. These are truly itchy, especially when covered by clothes, when the weather gets too hot, of if you’re sweating a lot. Other times, infections may also begin to develop because of the said rashes.

Causes

So, what actually causes heat rashes?

Well, first you have to understand that when sweat cannot get out of the surface of the skin, it causes your body to give certain reactions—one of it being heat rash. Some people are not used to the hot weather, even if they have already experienced it before, and thus, they sweat more than regular people do.

When certain things block sweat glands, it means that the person is not able to perspire the way the body believes it should. An example of which is when someone wears tight clothing—corsets, anything made out of leather, or just anything that’s not loose. This does not happen to everyone, but again, when one is sensitive to heat, chances are he or she could suffer from this.

Another thing that could bring forth heat rashes is the use of heavy creams or lotions on various parts of the body. One thing that most people fail to realize is that when topical solutions have fragrances on them, or when they can feel greasy and the like, there really is a big chance that they might not be that good for the body—especially if one has sensitive skin. This is why it is better to use cooling or gel lotions or creams as they are lighter, and could even help cool and soothe the skin.

Next, you also have to keep in mind that when the weather is too hot and you use too many bedsheets and blankets, they just might take away the chance for your body to feel cool and might just make you feel a whole lot hotter than you should. While some people find comfort in bundling up, you do have to keep in mind that there should be enough air going around. However, if you are all bundled up because you have fever or are not feeling well, make sure not to wrap the blankets too tight so your skin can breathe.

Lastly, sometimes, heat rashes happen because of natural flaws of the body, such as creases in the thighs, neck, armpits, or the stomach—these are parts of the body where you usually feel sweat forming in. Sometimes you may even find yourself scratching these parts of the body, too. Of course, you cannot just cut these parts off or anything, so basically you just have to be mindful of sweat in there and give them enough ventilation. It’s always important for perspiration to evaporate and not just stay in one place or not get out at all.

There are also times when heat rashes sprout as a result of medications you are taking so always make sure to check medical information and ask your doctors about possible side effects.

Treatment

Just because heat rashes are there does not mean that you have to suffer from them all the time. However, you can do some things for immediate relief.

While heat rashes may stop and cool off on their own, if they are getting really itchy and you are getting irritated, you could try home remedies to ease the irritation and make sure there won’t be more rashes involved. You can try adding oatmeal to your bath water or using oatmeal soap to help your skin breathe. Make use of sandalwood powder and pat it on the affected areas. You can also try bathing in cold water, even with few cubes of ice, or take a bath or shower up to two or three times a day, especially if the weather gets too hot.

Margosa leaves

Aside from what was mentioned, you can also make use of Margosa leaves. Just grind them and place on the affected areas. Baking soda and water is also a good combination that can soothe the skin. These things all work against bacteria and inflammation so it would be nice to always have them in handy.

Of course, it would also be good to see a doctor especially if your rashes are already disrupting you from your day-to-day activities. Usually, your doctor would prescribe antibiotics or topical creams for this. Over-the-counter medication could help, too.

It is also important to try to prevent heat rashes from happening or worsening, and you can do that by wearing loose, breathable clothing; avoiding exercising in hit weather; taking regular baths; making use of proper ventilation and air conditioning, and; trying to lose some weight or just being mindful of the way your body feels. Eat more fruits, and drink loads of liquids, too!

Feel Cool Again

By following the tips given above, you can be sure that going through hot weather would be a breeze. Stay cool and calm, and always keep in mind that you can prevent heat rashes, and you should not be afraid of them at all.