What is prickly heat?

Have you ever been in a scorching hot climate that causes your skin to tingle? If that tingle was followed by a rash, redness, and blemishes, then you may have experienced prickly heat.You’ve probably heard of prickly heat by its alternate names “heat rash” or Milaria.Heat rash happens when your sweat glands are clogged. Your sweat generally drips when it wants to cool your body, so it makes sense that it occurs when you are hot. Since the sweat cannot be released, red bumps form and cause you to become uncomfortable.

There are several types of prickly heat

There are 3 types of prickly heat. They are essentially the same but occur in different layers of the skin. Depending on which layer is effected, prickly heat can also produce different results.

1. Crystalline happens when the blockage is happening toward the surface of your skin. If you suffer from this type of prickly heat, you’ll experience small bumps but they won’t be red.
2. Rubra happens when the blockage is in the middle layers of the skin. Your bumps may be sparatic, but they also tend to appear in groups. Rubra can sometimes be itchy and irritating. This is the most common form of prickly heat.
3. Profunda happens when the blockage occursin the bottom layers of the skin. If you suffer from profunda, you’ll notice white lesions that aren’t likely to itch or become red.

How do you get prickly heat?

As discussed earlier, prickly heat occurs when your body temperature rises but your sweat glands cannot release the sweat. Other factors that contribute to prickly heat including bad food choices, stress, consuming drugs and alcohol, food poisoning, and certain medications.

Getting rid of prickly heat naturally may work

Cornstarch

Cornstarch.jpg

This ingredient not only makes a killer gravy, but it also helps get rid of prickly heat. Using cornstarch will help absorb sweat, so it doesn’t sit on the skin and cause irritation. To use cornstarch for your concern mix it with enough water to make a thick paste. Spread the paste over the area of interest and let it sit for about 30 minutes, and thenrinse with cold water.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is known for its soothing properties. Many professional beauty brands add thisingredient in masks and scrubs to help with inflamed skin. To use it, run a warm bath and fill it with the oatmeal (you may decide the amount). Sit in the water for about 15 minutes and then rinse and dry your skin.

Fuller’s earth

Fuller’s earth is a type of clay that is often used for skin diseases like psoriasis and eczema. People love using this ingredient to help combat prickly heat because it helps absorb excess moisture. Add water to fuller’s earth to create a paste and spread it over the area of concern. Then, let the mixture sit for a few hours and rinse it with cold water.

Banyan tree bark

This ingredient will help expedite the healing of prickly heat. Try finding bark that has been ground into a powder, and then apply the powder directlyto the heat rash.

There are dozens of other remedies to get rid of prickly heat, including:

• Chickpea flour
• Baking soda
• Potato
• Watermelon
• Ginger
• Talcum powder
• Lime juice
• Honey cucumber
• Papaya
• Camphor
• Gram flour
• Plum
• Sugarcane juice
• Mint tea
• Garcinia indica
• Lavender
• Maragosa
• Sandalwood
• Gooseberries
• Aloe
• Nettle leaves

There are a few over the counter medications fit for getting rid of prickly heat

Hydrocortisone cream

This cream is commonly prescribed by doctors for skin irritations including redness and itching. Hydrocortisone is a steroid that mimics cortisol, which is already present in the body. These topical treatments may be prescribed to you by a medical professional but are also available over the counter. If you get heat rash often, be careful when using hydrocortisone because your skin can become dependent on it.

Calamine lotion isn’t only for chicken pox

Remember the funny pink lotion your parents used to soothe the itch of the chickenpox? Well, it can also be used to calm prickly heat. Calamine works by providing the skin with a cooling sensation that takes your mind off theitchy skin.

There are ways to prevent prickly heat from resurfacing:

• Stay away from places with hot temperatures, opt for somewhere cool.
• Try to consume foods that are rich in zinc, vitamin c, and vitamin e.
• Foods that combat inflammation will also help; try eating a few slices of cucumber.
• Losing weight is another way to prevent heat rash from occurring. When you are overweight, you tend to feel warmer than others. You also have larger folds for prickly heat to occur in.
• When the temperature is up, wear loose-fitting clothing, be sure your fabric is breathable.
• Make sure the air flow in your home is up to par.
• Sleep in loose clothing or none at all.
• Shower right after working out.
• Drink more water.
• Avoid direct sunlight.
• Never use heavy creams because they can further block the glands.
• Keep your stress level low, stress is a cause of prickly heat.

Get rid of another type of skin heat, razor burn!