Home remedies for heat rash: 12 natural methods

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Many home remedies, such as cold compresses, calamine lotion, and oatmeal baths, can help soothe the uncomfortable symptoms of heat rash.

Heat rash, also known as miliaria, sweat rash, or prickly heat, can appear anywhere on the body. It often presents as a red rash, or small red bumps that look like beads of sweat or acne. People may experience uncomfortable, itchy, burning, or prickly sensations.

Heat rash happens when sweat cannot escape from the sweat ducts to the surface of the skin. This blocks the pores and causes an inflammatory response from the body in the form of a rash.

Heat rash can happen for various reasons, including:

• being in a hot, humid environment
• wearing tight, synthetic clothing
• long lasting bed rest
• intense exercise

Heat rash is common in newborns and affects up to 9% of all babies. This is because their sweat glands are still developing.

Heat rash can clear up by itself in a few days, but there are also treatments people can do at home to help relieve itching and cool the skin.

One of the best ways to relieve heat rash is to cool the skin down.

People can apply a cold compress, such as an ice pack or cold cloth, to the area of skin to reduce redness, itching, and swelling.

If using an ice pack, make sure to wrap the ice pack in something, such as a towel, to protect the skin (never apply an unwrapped ice pack directly to the skin).

Do not leave ice on for extended periods. A good rule of thumb would be to keep the ice pack in place for 5–10 minutes, remove for the same amount of time, reapply, and continue to repeat the process.

Taking a cool bath or shower cools the skin and can help to soothe itchy skin. Using a gentle exfoliant on the skin may help to unblock the pores.

Fans and air conditioning can help to keep temperatures low indoors and help the body stay cool. This is especially important for anyone on bed rest. Make sure to move anyone who is immobile regularly to ensure all parts of their body are getting cool air.

When exercising in hot climates, make sure there is air conditioning indoors. When outdoors, choose to exercise during cooler parts of the day or in the shade to reduce excess sweating.

Wearing loose clothing allows air to circulate around the body, keeping it cool. Wearing lightweight, breathable clothing, such as cotton or natural fabrics, rather than synthetic, might also help.

Using calamine lotion can help to relieve itching. However, it can be very drying on the skin, so it might be a good idea to use a moisturizer alongside it to prevent further irritation to the skin.

The National Health Service in the United Kingdom report that calamine lotion may help with heat rash.

Share on PinterestThe antioxidant properties of oats may help people with certain skin conditions.

Oatmeal is effective in treating many skin issue. Oats contain avenanthramides, which have antioxidant properties.

These compounds give oatmeal its anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties.

A person can soak in a colloidal oatmeal bath to soothe their skin. To do this, add oatmeal to a warm bath and soak. Oatmeal also cleanses the skin.

Taking an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine tablet can help to relieve the itching and any swelling of heat rash. Oral antihistamines, such as hydroxyzine and diphenhydramine, can help to relieve itching. Some types can cause drowsiness, so it may be best to use them at night.

Using an OTC hydrocortisone cream can help to relieve the itching and discomfort from heat rash. Applying the cream 1–2 times daily can help reduce the rash in children. If people are treating babies with heat rash, do not use hydrocortisone cream under their diaper.

Adding baking soda to a bath may help soothe irritated skin. A 2004 study looked at the effects of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) on 31 people with mild to moderate psoriasis. Those that bathed in a baking soda bath reported improvements in skin itching and irritation.

However, a 2019 study on 30 people found that applying baking soda topically to areas of psoriasis was not effective. Scientists need to do further research into the benefits of baking soda for easing skin irritation.

Aloe vera has many medicinal properties, and the gel has strong anti-inflammatory effects. People may find that applying aloe vera gel onto heat rash can help to ease the irritated skin.

A 2017 study on rats found that sandalwood had analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties may help relieve some of the uncomfortable symptoms of heat rash.

People can try mixing sandalwood powder with water to form a paste and apply this to the area of heat rash. People should first test the paste on another area of skin, to make sure they do not have an allergic reaction.

Pine tar has anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat itchy or irritating skin conditions. Applying a topical treatment that contains pine tar may help to relieve the itching of heat rash.

Buying remedies

People can find most of the remedies discussed in this article in drug stores or supermarkets. Otherwise, people can choose between a range of brands online:

Share on PinterestIf a rash lasts longer than a week, it is important to speak to a doctor.

Most cases of heat rash should clear up in a day or two after cooling the skin. Anyone who has a rash that lasts longer than a week after treatment should see their doctor.

People should see their doctor if they notice any of the following symptoms:

• the rash is all over the body
• a fever
• the rash blisters
• pain
• the rash produces yellow or green fluid
• a crusty or bleeding rash
• the rash appears suddenly and spreads quickly

If a child has a heat rash, they should see their doctor if they have:

• a heat rash does not go away after 7 days
• a fever
• an aching body
• a sore throat or other signs of illness

If people have a rash and have difficulty breathing, they should seek emergency medical help, as they may be experiencing anaphylactic shock, which is a severe allergic reaction.

Heat rash can be a warning sign that the body is getting too much heat. If a person is outdoors, they can move out of direct sunlight and wear loose clothing to keep cool. If people are indoors, keeping the room well ventilated with fans or air conditioning can help keep the body cool.

Heat rash usually clears up within a day or two, and people may find relief from the itching and burning sensation by trying the home remedies above. If heat rash does not clear up within 7 days, or if people notice other symptoms, they should see their doctor.

Home remedies for heat rash: 12 natural methods

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Many home remedies, such as cold compresses, calamine lotion, and oatmeal baths, can help soothe the uncomfortable symptoms of heat rash.

Heat rash, also known as miliaria, sweat rash, or prickly heat, can appear anywhere on the body. It often presents as a red rash, or small red bumps that look like beads of sweat or acne. People may experience uncomfortable, itchy, burning, or prickly sensations.

Heat rash happens when sweat cannot escape from the sweat ducts to the surface of the skin. This blocks the pores and causes an inflammatory response from the body in the form of a rash.

Heat rash can happen for various reasons, including:

• being in a hot, humid environment
• wearing tight, synthetic clothing
• long lasting bed rest
• intense exercise

Heat rash is common in newborns and affects up to 9% of all babies. This is because their sweat glands are still developing.

Heat rash can clear up by itself in a few days, but there are also treatments people can do at home to help relieve itching and cool the skin.

One of the best ways to relieve heat rash is to cool the skin down.

People can apply a cold compress, such as an ice pack or cold cloth, to the area of skin to reduce redness, itching, and swelling.

If using an ice pack, make sure to wrap the ice pack in something, such as a towel, to protect the skin (never apply an unwrapped ice pack directly to the skin).

Do not leave ice on for extended periods. A good rule of thumb would be to keep the ice pack in place for 5–10 minutes, remove for the same amount of time, reapply, and continue to repeat the process.

Taking a cool bath or shower cools the skin and can help to soothe itchy skin. Using a gentle exfoliant on the skin may help to unblock the pores.

Fans and air conditioning can help to keep temperatures low indoors and help the body stay cool. This is especially important for anyone on bed rest. Make sure to move anyone who is immobile regularly to ensure all parts of their body are getting cool air.

When exercising in hot climates, make sure there is air conditioning indoors. When outdoors, choose to exercise during cooler parts of the day or in the shade to reduce excess sweating.

Wearing loose clothing allows air to circulate around the body, keeping it cool. Wearing lightweight, breathable clothing, such as cotton or natural fabrics, rather than synthetic, might also help.

Using calamine lotion can help to relieve itching. However, it can be very drying on the skin, so it might be a good idea to use a moisturizer alongside it to prevent further irritation to the skin.

The National Health Service in the United Kingdom report that calamine lotion may help with heat rash.

Share on PinterestThe antioxidant properties of oats may help people with certain skin conditions.

Oatmeal is effective in treating many skin issue. Oats contain avenanthramides, which have antioxidant properties.

These compounds give oatmeal its anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties.

A person can soak in a colloidal oatmeal bath to soothe their skin. To do this, add oatmeal to a warm bath and soak. Oatmeal also cleanses the skin.

Taking an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine tablet can help to relieve the itching and any swelling of heat rash. Oral antihistamines, such as hydroxyzine and diphenhydramine, can help to relieve itching. Some types can cause drowsiness, so it may be best to use them at night.

Using an OTC hydrocortisone cream can help to relieve the itching and discomfort from heat rash. Applying the cream 1–2 times daily can help reduce the rash in children. If people are treating babies with heat rash, do not use hydrocortisone cream under their diaper.

Adding baking soda to a bath may help soothe irritated skin. A 2004 study looked at the effects of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) on 31 people with mild to moderate psoriasis. Those that bathed in a baking soda bath reported improvements in skin itching and irritation.

However, a 2019 study on 30 people found that applying baking soda topically to areas of psoriasis was not effective. Scientists need to do further research into the benefits of baking soda for easing skin irritation.

Aloe vera has many medicinal properties, and the gel has strong anti-inflammatory effects. People may find that applying aloe vera gel onto heat rash can help to ease the irritated skin.

A 2017 study on rats found that sandalwood had analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties may help relieve some of the uncomfortable symptoms of heat rash.

People can try mixing sandalwood powder with water to form a paste and apply this to the area of heat rash. People should first test the paste on another area of skin, to make sure they do not have an allergic reaction.

Pine tar has anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat itchy or irritating skin conditions. Applying a topical treatment that contains pine tar may help to relieve the itching of heat rash.

Buying remedies

People can find most of the remedies discussed in this article in drug stores or supermarkets. Otherwise, people can choose between a range of brands online:

Share on PinterestIf a rash lasts longer than a week, it is important to speak to a doctor.

Most cases of heat rash should clear up in a day or two after cooling the skin. Anyone who has a rash that lasts longer than a week after treatment should see their doctor.

People should see their doctor if they notice any of the following symptoms:

• the rash is all over the body
• a fever
• the rash blisters
• pain
• the rash produces yellow or green fluid
• a crusty or bleeding rash
• the rash appears suddenly and spreads quickly

If a child has a heat rash, they should see their doctor if they have:

• a heat rash does not go away after 7 days
• a fever
• an aching body
• a sore throat or other signs of illness

If people have a rash and have difficulty breathing, they should seek emergency medical help, as they may be experiencing anaphylactic shock, which is a severe allergic reaction.

Heat rash can be a warning sign that the body is getting too much heat. If a person is outdoors, they can move out of direct sunlight and wear loose clothing to keep cool. If people are indoors, keeping the room well ventilated with fans or air conditioning can help keep the body cool.

Heat rash usually clears up within a day or two, and people may find relief from the itching and burning sensation by trying the home remedies above. If heat rash does not clear up within 7 days, or if people notice other symptoms, they should see their doctor.

Home remedies for heat rash: 12 natural methods

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Many home remedies, such as cold compresses, calamine lotion, and oatmeal baths, can help soothe the uncomfortable symptoms of heat rash.

Heat rash, also known as miliaria, sweat rash, or prickly heat, can appear anywhere on the body. It often presents as a red rash, or small red bumps that look like beads of sweat or acne. People may experience uncomfortable, itchy, burning, or prickly sensations.

Heat rash happens when sweat cannot escape from the sweat ducts to the surface of the skin. This blocks the pores and causes an inflammatory response from the body in the form of a rash.

Heat rash can happen for various reasons, including:

• being in a hot, humid environment
• wearing tight, synthetic clothing
• long lasting bed rest
• intense exercise

Heat rash is common in newborns and affects up to 9% of all babies. This is because their sweat glands are still developing.

Heat rash can clear up by itself in a few days, but there are also treatments people can do at home to help relieve itching and cool the skin.

One of the best ways to relieve heat rash is to cool the skin down.

People can apply a cold compress, such as an ice pack or cold cloth, to the area of skin to reduce redness, itching, and swelling.

If using an ice pack, make sure to wrap the ice pack in something, such as a towel, to protect the skin (never apply an unwrapped ice pack directly to the skin).

Do not leave ice on for extended periods. A good rule of thumb would be to keep the ice pack in place for 5–10 minutes, remove for the same amount of time, reapply, and continue to repeat the process.

Taking a cool bath or shower cools the skin and can help to soothe itchy skin. Using a gentle exfoliant on the skin may help to unblock the pores.

Fans and air conditioning can help to keep temperatures low indoors and help the body stay cool. This is especially important for anyone on bed rest. Make sure to move anyone who is immobile regularly to ensure all parts of their body are getting cool air.

When exercising in hot climates, make sure there is air conditioning indoors. When outdoors, choose to exercise during cooler parts of the day or in the shade to reduce excess sweating.

Wearing loose clothing allows air to circulate around the body, keeping it cool. Wearing lightweight, breathable clothing, such as cotton or natural fabrics, rather than synthetic, might also help.

Using calamine lotion can help to relieve itching. However, it can be very drying on the skin, so it might be a good idea to use a moisturizer alongside it to prevent further irritation to the skin.

The National Health Service in the United Kingdom report that calamine lotion may help with heat rash.

Share on PinterestThe antioxidant properties of oats may help people with certain skin conditions.

Oatmeal is effective in treating many skin issue. Oats contain avenanthramides, which have antioxidant properties.

These compounds give oatmeal its anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties.

A person can soak in a colloidal oatmeal bath to soothe their skin. To do this, add oatmeal to a warm bath and soak. Oatmeal also cleanses the skin.

Taking an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine tablet can help to relieve the itching and any swelling of heat rash. Oral antihistamines, such as hydroxyzine and diphenhydramine, can help to relieve itching. Some types can cause drowsiness, so it may be best to use them at night.

Using an OTC hydrocortisone cream can help to relieve the itching and discomfort from heat rash. Applying the cream 1–2 times daily can help reduce the rash in children. If people are treating babies with heat rash, do not use hydrocortisone cream under their diaper.

Adding baking soda to a bath may help soothe irritated skin. A 2004 study looked at the effects of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) on 31 people with mild to moderate psoriasis. Those that bathed in a baking soda bath reported improvements in skin itching and irritation.

However, a 2019 study on 30 people found that applying baking soda topically to areas of psoriasis was not effective. Scientists need to do further research into the benefits of baking soda for easing skin irritation.

Aloe vera has many medicinal properties, and the gel has strong anti-inflammatory effects. People may find that applying aloe vera gel onto heat rash can help to ease the irritated skin.

A 2017 study on rats found that sandalwood had analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties may help relieve some of the uncomfortable symptoms of heat rash.

People can try mixing sandalwood powder with water to form a paste and apply this to the area of heat rash. People should first test the paste on another area of skin, to make sure they do not have an allergic reaction.

Pine tar has anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat itchy or irritating skin conditions. Applying a topical treatment that contains pine tar may help to relieve the itching of heat rash.

Buying remedies

People can find most of the remedies discussed in this article in drug stores or supermarkets. Otherwise, people can choose between a range of brands online:

Share on PinterestIf a rash lasts longer than a week, it is important to speak to a doctor.

Most cases of heat rash should clear up in a day or two after cooling the skin. Anyone who has a rash that lasts longer than a week after treatment should see their doctor.

People should see their doctor if they notice any of the following symptoms:

• the rash is all over the body
• a fever
• the rash blisters
• pain
• the rash produces yellow or green fluid
• a crusty or bleeding rash
• the rash appears suddenly and spreads quickly

If a child has a heat rash, they should see their doctor if they have:

• a heat rash does not go away after 7 days
• a fever
• an aching body
• a sore throat or other signs of illness

If people have a rash and have difficulty breathing, they should seek emergency medical help, as they may be experiencing anaphylactic shock, which is a severe allergic reaction.

Heat rash can be a warning sign that the body is getting too much heat. If a person is outdoors, they can move out of direct sunlight and wear loose clothing to keep cool. If people are indoors, keeping the room well ventilated with fans or air conditioning can help keep the body cool.

Heat rash usually clears up within a day or two, and people may find relief from the itching and burning sensation by trying the home remedies above. If heat rash does not clear up within 7 days, or if people notice other symptoms, they should see their doctor.

Home remedies for heat rash: 12 natural methods

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Many home remedies, such as cold compresses, calamine lotion, and oatmeal baths, can help soothe the uncomfortable symptoms of heat rash.

Heat rash, also known as miliaria, sweat rash, or prickly heat, can appear anywhere on the body. It often presents as a red rash, or small red bumps that look like beads of sweat or acne. People may experience uncomfortable, itchy, burning, or prickly sensations.

Heat rash happens when sweat cannot escape from the sweat ducts to the surface of the skin. This blocks the pores and causes an inflammatory response from the body in the form of a rash.

Heat rash can happen for various reasons, including:

• being in a hot, humid environment
• wearing tight, synthetic clothing
• long lasting bed rest
• intense exercise

Heat rash is common in newborns and affects up to 9% of all babies. This is because their sweat glands are still developing.

Heat rash can clear up by itself in a few days, but there are also treatments people can do at home to help relieve itching and cool the skin.

One of the best ways to relieve heat rash is to cool the skin down.

People can apply a cold compress, such as an ice pack or cold cloth, to the area of skin to reduce redness, itching, and swelling.

If using an ice pack, make sure to wrap the ice pack in something, such as a towel, to protect the skin (never apply an unwrapped ice pack directly to the skin).

Do not leave ice on for extended periods. A good rule of thumb would be to keep the ice pack in place for 5–10 minutes, remove for the same amount of time, reapply, and continue to repeat the process.

Taking a cool bath or shower cools the skin and can help to soothe itchy skin. Using a gentle exfoliant on the skin may help to unblock the pores.

Fans and air conditioning can help to keep temperatures low indoors and help the body stay cool. This is especially important for anyone on bed rest. Make sure to move anyone who is immobile regularly to ensure all parts of their body are getting cool air.

When exercising in hot climates, make sure there is air conditioning indoors. When outdoors, choose to exercise during cooler parts of the day or in the shade to reduce excess sweating.

Wearing loose clothing allows air to circulate around the body, keeping it cool. Wearing lightweight, breathable clothing, such as cotton or natural fabrics, rather than synthetic, might also help.

Using calamine lotion can help to relieve itching. However, it can be very drying on the skin, so it might be a good idea to use a moisturizer alongside it to prevent further irritation to the skin.

The National Health Service in the United Kingdom report that calamine lotion may help with heat rash.

Share on PinterestThe antioxidant properties of oats may help people with certain skin conditions.

Oatmeal is effective in treating many skin issue. Oats contain avenanthramides, which have antioxidant properties.

These compounds give oatmeal its anti-inflammatory and anti-itch properties.

A person can soak in a colloidal oatmeal bath to soothe their skin. To do this, add oatmeal to a warm bath and soak. Oatmeal also cleanses the skin.

Taking an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine tablet can help to relieve the itching and any swelling of heat rash. Oral antihistamines, such as hydroxyzine and diphenhydramine, can help to relieve itching. Some types can cause drowsiness, so it may be best to use them at night.

Using an OTC hydrocortisone cream can help to relieve the itching and discomfort from heat rash. Applying the cream 1–2 times daily can help reduce the rash in children. If people are treating babies with heat rash, do not use hydrocortisone cream under their diaper.

Adding baking soda to a bath may help soothe irritated skin. A 2004 study looked at the effects of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) on 31 people with mild to moderate psoriasis. Those that bathed in a baking soda bath reported improvements in skin itching and irritation.

However, a 2019 study on 30 people found that applying baking soda topically to areas of psoriasis was not effective. Scientists need to do further research into the benefits of baking soda for easing skin irritation.

Aloe vera has many medicinal properties, and the gel has strong anti-inflammatory effects. People may find that applying aloe vera gel onto heat rash can help to ease the irritated skin.

A 2017 study on rats found that sandalwood had analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties may help relieve some of the uncomfortable symptoms of heat rash.

People can try mixing sandalwood powder with water to form a paste and apply this to the area of heat rash. People should first test the paste on another area of skin, to make sure they do not have an allergic reaction.

Pine tar has anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat itchy or irritating skin conditions. Applying a topical treatment that contains pine tar may help to relieve the itching of heat rash.

Buying remedies

People can find most of the remedies discussed in this article in drug stores or supermarkets. Otherwise, people can choose between a range of brands online:

Share on PinterestIf a rash lasts longer than a week, it is important to speak to a doctor.

Most cases of heat rash should clear up in a day or two after cooling the skin. Anyone who has a rash that lasts longer than a week after treatment should see their doctor.

People should see their doctor if they notice any of the following symptoms:

• the rash is all over the body
• a fever
• the rash blisters
• pain
• the rash produces yellow or green fluid
• a crusty or bleeding rash
• the rash appears suddenly and spreads quickly

If a child has a heat rash, they should see their doctor if they have:

• a heat rash does not go away after 7 days
• a fever
• an aching body
• a sore throat or other signs of illness

If people have a rash and have difficulty breathing, they should seek emergency medical help, as they may be experiencing anaphylactic shock, which is a severe allergic reaction.

Heat rash can be a warning sign that the body is getting too much heat. If a person is outdoors, they can move out of direct sunlight and wear loose clothing to keep cool. If people are indoors, keeping the room well ventilated with fans or air conditioning can help keep the body cool.

Heat rash usually clears up within a day or two, and people may find relief from the itching and burning sensation by trying the home remedies above. If heat rash does not clear up within 7 days, or if people notice other symptoms, they should see their doctor.

Heat rash – Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis

You don’t need tests to diagnose heat rash. Your doctor diagnoses it by its appearance.

Treatment

Avoiding overheating may be all you need to do for mild heat rash. Once skin is cool, heat rash tends to clear quickly.

Ointments

More-severe forms of heat rash may require ointments you apply to your skin to relieve discomfort and prevent complications. Such topical treatments may include:

• Calamine lotion to soothe itching
• Anhydrous lanolin, which may help prevent duct blockage and stop new lesions from forming
• Topical steroids in the most serious cases

Lifestyle and home remedies

Tips to help your heat rash heal and to be more comfortable include the following:

• In hot weather, dress in loose, lightweight clothing that wicks moisture away from your skin.
• Spend as much time as possible in air-conditioned buildings.
• Bathe or shower in cool water with nondrying soap, then let your skin air-dry instead of toweling off.
• Use calamine lotion or cool compresses to calm itchy, irritated skin.
• Avoid using creams and ointments that contain petroleum or mineral oil, which can block pores further.

Preparing for your appointment

A doctor’s appointment usually isn’t necessary for heat rash. If your rash is more severe, you may want to see your primary care doctor or a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist) to be sure it’s heat rash and not another skin disorder.

Before you go, it’s a good idea to list questions you have about your condition. For heat rash, questions to ask your doctor include:

• What could have caused this rash?
• How can I treat it?
• Do I need to limit physical activity until the rash clears?
• How can I prevent it in the future?

March 03, 2020

Show references

1. Miliaria. The Merck Manual Professional Edition. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch218/ch218e.html. Accessed Jan. 9, 2018.
2. Miliaria. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/miliaria.html. Accessed Jan. 9, 2018.
3. How to beat heat rash. American Osteopathic Association. http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-health/health-conditions-library/general-health/Pages/heat-rash.aspx. Accessed Dec. 19, 2014.
4. Ishimine P. Heat illness (other than heat stroke) in children. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 9, 2018.
5. Pielop JA. Benign skin and scalp lesions in the newborn and young infant. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 19, 2018.

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How to Identify & Treat Heat Rash

With warmer weather upon us, you’re probably itching to get outside. We don’t blame you. But, to prevent injury or illness, it’s important you take precautions to protect yourself and your family.

Time spent outdoors can lead to ailments like sunburn, dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and allergy exacerbations. Hot and humid weather also makes you more susceptible to heat rashes, especially if you’re playing sports or engaged in an intense physical activity that makes you sweat. 

How can you be sure your rash is in fact a heat rash? And, if it is, what’s the fastest way to get rid of it? Let’s take a look.

What Does Heat Rash Look Like?

Given that your skin is the largest organ in your body, it’s not surprising that many different skin rashes exist. Heat rashes (also known as miliaria) are one of the most common types of rashes, affecting both children and adults.

Source

They form when your sweat glands become clogged and can’t expel sweat, thus trapping perspiration under your skin. Heat rashes usually appear in skin folds or areas where clothes cause friction. For children, this is often in the neck, shoulders or chest areas, whereas adults more typically develop heat rashes in the armpits, elbow creases and groin.

Regardless of the weather outside, babies, in particular, are prone to heat rashes since their sweat ducts aren’t fully developed.

Source

4 Types or Stages of Heat Rash

If you’re looking for a sure sign of how to identify a heat rash, unfortunately, there isn’t one. That’s because there are different types of heat rashes, which range in severity from superficial blisters to deep, red lesions.

To determine what type of rash you might have, be on the look out for the following heat rash signs and symptoms.

1. Miliaria crystallina is the mildest form of heat rash and affects the sweat ducts on the epidermis, or top layer of skin. If you have miliaria crystallina, you’ll notice small clear or white bumps filled with fluid that can easily break. Despite popular belief, this type of heat rash doesn’t itch and shouldn’t cause discomfort. It’s also most common in babies.
2. Miliaria rubra (or “prickly heat” rash) is known to be more painful than miliaria crystallina because it occurs deeper within the epidermis. This type of heat rash causes red bumps, an itchy or prickly sensation and a decreased amount of sweat in the affected area. It can also result in inflammation and soreness of the skin since the body can’t release sweat through the skin’s surface. It’s more common in adults than babies and children.
3. Miliaria pustulosa is similar to miliaria rubra, except the red bumps associated with the heat rash fill with pus, forming lesions and causing them to become inflamed and pustular, or pus-filled.
4. Miliaria profundal is the least common form of heat rash and affects the dermis, or a deeper layer of skin below the epidermis. Sweat from your sweat glands is retained in your skin, forming larger, flesh-colored bumps. This type of heat rash usually occurs in adults after a long period of physical activity and can reoccur or become chronic.  

What Heat Rash Remedies Are Helpful?

The best way to get rid of a heat rash quickly is to ensure the affected area is kept cool and dry. Avoiding exposure to the heat that caused your rash can expedite healing as well.  

It is important to note that taking a warm or hot shower will make the symptoms worse!

If you’re experiencing prickliness or itching, heat rash creams like calamine lotion can help relieve discomfort and prevent complications.

Other homeopathic substances, including colloidal oatmeal, sandalwood powder, baking soda, aloe vera, and epsom salt, can also soothe itchiness.

For more serious instances of inflammation, your healthcare provider might prescribe a topical steroid for heat rash treatment.

To prevent a heat rash from occurring in the first place, stick to more breathable clothing made from cotton and moisture-wicking fabrics. When the weather is hot and humid, stay in the shade or air conditioning and keep your sleeping area cool and well ventilated. Plus, avoid ointments and lotions that can clog your pores.

When to See a Medical Professional

In most cases, heat rashes will clear up on their own within a few days. However, you should see your doctor if your rash or your child’s rash gets worse, or you notice signs of infection. This can include:

• Increased swelling, pain, redness, or warmth around the affected area
• Golden yellow crust formation or pus draining from lesions
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin
• Fever or chills

Not sure if your skin irritation is a heat rash or something more serious? Save your spot online or just walk into the GoHealth Urgent Care center that’s most convenient for you. Use the dropdown menu below to locate a center nearby.

How to Get Rid of Heat Rash With the Right Treatment

• Heat rash is a skin condition that occurs when sweat ducts are clogged during hot or humid weather. 
• Most commonly, heat rash looks like small red or pink bumps, which may appear similar to bug bites or pimples. 
• To get rid of heat rash, you should avoid sun, wear breathable fabrics, and put a damp cloth on the skin and let it dry — do not use any lotion or ointment on the skin. 
• This article was medically reviewed by Jason R. McKnight, MD, MS, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine. 
• This story is part of Insider’s guide to Heat Illness. 

After a hot day in the sun, have you ever found water bubbles or red bumps on your skin? If so, you’ve likely had a heat rash. 

Heat rash is a fairly common ailment, especially for the elderly and infants. You can usually get rid of it within hours or days, and it rarely requires a visit to the doctor. 

Here’s how to recognize the symptoms of heat rash and treat it effectively at home.   

What is heat rash? 

Heat rash, also called prickly heat or miliaria, occurs when sweat gets trapped and can’t leave your skin, typically during periods of hot or humid weather. 

In most cases, heat rash is caused by clogged sweat ducts, which trap your sweat and cause irritation. 

You’re most likely to find heat rash in places where you experience excessive sweating and skin-on-skin friction — like the neck, armpits, buttocks, or waistline. That’s because it can be difficult for your body to release moisture in these high-sweat areas, especially if the area is blocked by tight clothing or skin folds. 

According to a 2008 article in the American Academy of Family Physicians about newborn skin, infants are especially prone to heat rash because their sweat ducts are small and their bodies are not yet adept at temperature regulation. 

Elderly people are also at a higher risk of heat rash, because the supportive skin tissue that keeps the sweat ducts open tends to break down or collapse as we age. 

Overall, heat rash is considered a benign condition by doctors, and associated symptoms of heat illness — like dehydration, heat cramps, or heat exhaustion — are a much bigger concern. 

What does heat rash look like? 

The most common type of heat rash is miliaria rubra, pictured here.

jaojormami/Shutterstock

Heat rash commonly appears as red or pink bumps, and may look similar to pimples or

bug bites
.  

Sometimes, heat rash can present as skin-colored water bubbles that break easily, or slightly larger, painful cysts. 

This chart can help you identify the three different types of heat rash: 

Ruobing Su/Insider

How to get rid of heat rash

Most cases of heat rash will resolve on their own. To soothe your irritation and get rid of heat rash quickly, here’s how you can treat it at home: 

1. If you’re exposed to the sun, go inside 

First, you’ll want to lower your body temperature to stop the sweating that causes clogged ducts and leads to heat rash. 

If you’re outside, try to find a place in the shade. Or, if you can, go indoors where there’s air conditioning.

2. Put a cool, damp cloth over the area — and then let it dry

To bring down your body temperature and provide temporary relief, wet a small cloth with cold water and place it on the inflamed area for 20 minutes.

Then, dry the inflamed area and let it sit, exposed to cool air. If the inflamed area is in a place prone to sweat, like the armpits, you can use baby powder to soothe your skin and prevent further irritation. 

3. Avoid lotions, ointments, or any other topical solutions 

“These clog the skin,” says Dawn Davis, MD, the director of pediatric dermatology at Mayo Clinic Rochester. 

It may feel automatic to reach for lotion to soothe your rash, but according to Davis, the best thing to do is to let your skin breathe without additives. 

4. Avoid scrubbing the area

Exfoliation may cause temporary relief, but it can actually incite long-term skin damage, Davis says — especially for children and the elderly, who have more sensitive skin. 

5. Change into breathable clothing

Heavy or non-breathable clothing, like cotton, also traps your sweat. Consider wearing clothing made of polyester blends instead, which are highly breathable. 

If you’re taking care of an infant, be sure the baby isn’t over-swaddled, or wrapped in too many layers of clothing.

This can be a problem for people in professions like firefighting and those in the military, too, especially if they travel frequently to warm places.

In a 2018 study on occupational heat rash for the Journal of Medical Case Reports, researchers found that wearing flame-resistant clothing in hot working environments led to heat rash; they recommend that workers in these environments change clothes often and make concerted efforts to stay cool and dry.   

6. Know how to prevent future cases of heat rash

According to Davis, the best method of treatment is to understand what causes heat rash, and learn how to avoid it going forward. 

“You can prevent and decrease the likelihood of irritation by dressing for the climate, changing positions, and not over-swaddling young kids or elderly people,” Davis says. 

Davis also recommends taking care of your skin tissue by avoiding the sun, not smoking, and wearing sunscreen. This keeps the skin structure strong, which can prevent the collapsed ducts that lead to high heat rash risk.

How long does heat rash last?

For adults, heat rash usually resolves within a few hours, or in more severe cases, up to a few days or weeks. 

There are a few possible timelines for recovery, depending on the severity of your rash: 

1. If your heat rash appears as water bubbles on the skin, you’re likely to see a resolution within a few hours, but it may take as long as a few days. 

2. If your heat rash presents as redness (and looks like a bug bite or pimples), it may take a couple of days to a few weeks to resolve because the inflammation is deeper, Davis says. 

3. If you’re experiencing deep, painful nodules (which is rare), you should check in with your doctor. You may need to take anti-inflammatory medication, like Tylenol, to address the pain; these cases can take longer to resolve, often up to several weeks.

While you wait for your rash to subside, you may experience heat intolerance, or discomfort when you’re exposed to warm temperatures. You should also drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration during this time, according to the UK’s National Health Service.

When to see a doctor 

You should see a medical professional if you’ve been treating your heat rash and it hasn’t improved after several weeks, or if you experience the following symptoms, which could indicate infection: 

• Pus or swollen lymph nodes
• A fever or chills
• Excessive pain 
• increased swelling around the rash 

Most infants grow out of heat rash when their parents learn to dress them in more breathable clothing, according to Davis, or when they reach toddlerhood and their sweat ducts mature.

If your child frequently has heat rash, you should talk with your doctor further about preventive measures and how to keep them cool. 

90,000 Treatment of hyperhidrosis of the palms – Miracle-Doctor multidisciplinary clinic in Moscow

Excessive sweating of the hands (palms) is just as common as sweating in the armpits.

This disease is called palmar hyperhidrosis. In this condition, the inner side of the hand always remains wet and cold, and during stressful situations, these symptoms only intensify.

Sometimes, in addition to excessive sweating, palms can itch a lot, smell unpleasant, and often a rash appears on the skin.Such a pathological condition is completely safe for the patient’s life, but it is unpleasant in itself and causes severe psychological discomfort, especially in women.

The most common causes of excessive hand sweating include:

• Hormonal disorders in the body;
• Drug overdose;
• Stressful situations;
• Genetic predisposition;
• The body’s response to various stimulants – exposure to high temperatures, physical activity, etc.P.;
• Increased number of sweat glands.

Perhaps some people perceive the sweating of the palms as a problem only from an aesthetic point of view. However, this disease needs treatment, and for this it is necessary to contact a specialist who can offer the best solutions to the problem.

Treatment

Today Botox and Dysport are widely used in the treatment of hyperhidrosis of the inner side of the hand.In this case, these drugs are much more effective than in the fight against mimic wrinkles.

An active substance that acts on muscle and nerve fibers under the skin is botulinum toxin in a low concentration. It is he who is the main component of Botox and Dysport. Its main task is to block the nerve endings of the sweat glands, which leads to impaired impulse transmission and temporary inhibition of the sweat glands.Accordingly, the production of sweat is reduced.

Injections with these drugs can reduce sweating in the palms, keeping them dry. This effect lasts for 6-9 months. During this period, a person forgets about the constant humidity of the palms and an unpleasant odor. And after the expiration of the period of action of the drugs, it is only necessary to repeat the procedure, which will prolong the effect.

Due to the fact that injections must be performed systematically, a completely natural question arises – does the patient get used to these procedures psychologically? Forgetting about wet palms for six months, hardly anyone wants to return to the previous state, when sweat literally drips off.Accordingly, patients decide to repeat the course of treatment with the neurotoxin. If at the end of the action of the drug, local hyperhidrosis of the palms is not treated by this method, then this will not affect the physiological state of a person in any way. The only thing is that the palms will sweat again and the patient will experience psychological discomfort from this.

Benefits of treating hyperhidrosis of the palms in the Miracle Doctor clinic

Our clinic employs a close-knit team of doctors who are real professionals in their field.These are high-level specialists with excellent training and rich work experience. All our employees have certificates that allow them to provide cosmetology services, as well as non-injection and injection treatment. And this is a guarantee of quality and patient confidence!

After completing the necessary training, specialists can work on sophisticated medical equipment that is used to treat various diseases. Our doctors are constantly developing and improving their skills, gaining new knowledge while communicating with manufacturers of advanced equipment.They are also published in well-known medical publications, which find many admirers not only among professional specialists, but also among ordinary people.

We are proud that we employ certified and certified employees. And the biggest reward for us is satisfied patients who trust us!

Acne and acne – what is it, causes, symptoms, acne treatment in the Clinic under the supervision of doctors

Table of Contents

There are many reasons why people have various rashes on their face: acne, pimples.Acne, or acne, is a phenomenon that is typical, first of all, in adolescence. But sometimes it worries both adult men and women. If the problem is not taken seriously, the situation can worsen over time. It’s not just that the skin on which the rash appears looks ugly. If inflammation begins, acne on the face can lead to more serious illnesses.

People want to look beautiful. But not everyone is naturally lucky to have healthy skin.Many are faced with various rashes on the face: acne, pimples.

You should not try to solve the problem on your own. Acne treatment must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. He will determine how serious the disease is and determine the optimal treatment tactics.

Acne: What is it?

Acne on the face is a pathological manifestation of an inflammatory nature. It appears as a result of damage to the sebaceous glands and excretory ducts.When this ailment occurs, the composition of sebum changes in a person: the proportion of fatty acids in it decreases, it loses its disinfecting properties and cannot effectively prevent the growth of bacteria.

As a result, the pores become clogged with a viscous and hard fatty secretion. It mixes with particles of dead skin cells. At the same time, bacteria actively multiply in the glands, and because of this, pus is formed. Oil can also accumulate under the skin.

The main area where acne appears is the face.But rashes can often be seen on other parts of the body, for example, on the shoulders or on the back between the shoulder blades. In this case, acne must be distinguished from acne. Usually a pimple is called a reddened tubercle, and acne is an inflamed sebaceous gland duct that appears as a black dot on the skin.

Causes of acne

There are many reasons leading to acne and blackheads. Usually, their occurrence is influenced by several factors at once, which can be divided into two large groups – internal and external.

Internal factors are, in particular:

• Hormonal imbalances that can be caused by puberty, pregnancy, childbirth and other causes
• Metabolic disorders
• Incorrect power supply
• Avitaminosis
• Reduced immunity
• Allergy
• Stress

External factors include:

• Improper skin care
• Using cosmetics that clog pores
• Increased perspiration
• Subcooling or overheating
• Various skin lesions

Squeezing out the rashes will not help solve the problem, on the contrary, over time, the number of acne and acne will grow.Treatment of the cause of acne is required, eliminating the factors that cause their appearance.

Main symptoms

How do you know if you need treatment for acne on your face or other areas of your body? The rashes are clearly visible, and if, when looking in the mirror, you see that not everything is in order with the skin, it is worth contacting a specialist.

The aforementioned reddish pimples and black acne are classic symptoms. But other options are also possible, for example:

• White pustules – cavities filled with pus and appear as spots or small tubercles of white color
• Rosacea – pinkish nodules that form in places of expansion of the subcutaneous vessels and, as a rule, arise on the nose and in the nasolabial folds
• Red acne – typical for women over 30 years old and occurs as a reaction of the body to problems with the vascular and neuro-vegetative systems

Of course, if you find a single pimple, you are unlikely to need treatment with medication.Just do not squeeze it out and do not use other methods of self-medication. When the disease is at an early or intermediate stage, you need to pay special attention to skin care. But if within one and a half to two months you have not been able to eliminate acne on your face, the treatment must be transferred to a new level – consult a doctor who will conduct an examination and tell you what to do next.

Also, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible if the rash is extremely profuse and painful.

Acne Treatment

Treatment for acne depends a lot on the underlying cause. Therefore, diagnosis is essential. The specialist interviews the patient to get more information about his lifestyle, and, if necessary, sends him for tests: this can be, for example, a biochemical blood test or hormonal tests.

Treatment of acne on the face and other rashes, as a rule, is carried out in a comprehensive manner.The medicinal effect is combined with the regulation of food nutrition, the correction of hormonal levels and the use of various skin care products.

In no case should you squeeze out acne and pimples, as this can lead to scarring or the development of inflammation. It is also important to choose the most suitable cosmetics – for example, creams and lotions that will not clog your pores.

Treating acne, which is particularly difficult, requires antibiotics and, in some cases, vitamins.In parallel with antibiotics, probiotics are usually prescribed, which maintain the normal digestive activity of the body. This is another reason why you need to see a doctor. Only a specialist can select a set of medicines that is suitable for a specific patient and will ensure the maximum effectiveness of treatment.

If stress is recognized as the main cause of skin rashes, the focus should be on addressing the underlying causes.

Salon procedures are worth mentioning separately.It can be:

• Leather cleaning – mechanical, vacuum or ultrasonic
• Peeling
• Phototherapy
• Ozone therapy

The technique is selected taking into account both the needs of the patient and his financial capabilities.

Nutrition for acne

Treating acne and blackheads will not be effective enough without adjusting the patient’s eating behavior. It is necessary:

• Reduce consumption of foods with a high glycemic index, in particular white bread, muffins and sweet pastries
• Increase consumption of foods containing vitamins A, C and E

You also need to adjust the diet in such a way as to ensure the elimination of toxins from the body.

To get more vitamin A in your body, you need to eat carrots, cabbage, spinach, and a variety of orange vegetables such as pumpkin. Vitamin C is found in cabbage, potatoes, strawberries and various citrus fruits – oranges, tangerines, lemons. Other sources of vitamin A are almonds, peanuts, and leafy vegetables.

White rice, white flour products, and sugar lead to an excess of insulin in the blood. Therefore, they do not need to be abused. It is also advisable to exclude from the diet everything smoked, spicy, salty and fried, stop eating fast food, give up sweet pastries, sweets, sauces and mayonnaise.

According to experts, you need to drink more water. Every day you need to drink at least 7 glasses, since with a lack of moisture, the healing and renewal of the skin slows down. At the same time, it is worth cutting down on coffee consumption. It is better to refuse to drink alcoholic beverages altogether.

Prevention

There are effective methods of preventing acne, and if you pay more attention to them, you can not be afraid of acne: treatment, accordingly, will not be needed at all.The basic principles are simple, you just need:

• Pay more attention to hygiene
• Choose water-based cosmetics, do not use scrubs when caring for your skin – they can injure the skin, which leads to infection, the development of inflammation and the appearance of rashes
• Normalize weight, minimize consumption of fast food, sugary sodas, baked goods and anything else that can lead to skin problems
• Balance hormones
• Be more outdoors, rest more often, be less nervous and try to avoid situations that lead to stress

If you need advice on proper nutrition, it is worth contacting a specialist.It will help you adjust your diet based on your lifestyle, financial capabilities, and other factors.

Benefits of acne treatment in MEDSI

The MEDSI network of clinics offers assistance to all who are concerned about acne. Our experts are well versed in the problem of acne and its treatment. They possess modern techniques that allow not only to get rid of symptoms, but also to eliminate the causes that led to the appearance of acne, acne and other rashes.Clinic staff can:

• Quickly relieve inflammation
• Reduce the number of breakouts
• Cleanse the skin, give it a beautiful and healthy look

The clinic provides assistance to patients regardless of age: adolescents and mature people, men and women. An individual approach makes it possible to choose the optimal treatment for each person, taking into account his characteristics. Our employees successfully cope with diseases of any complexity.

To sign up for a consultation with a specialist, call +7 (495) 7-800-500.

What is Keto Rash & How Can You Prevent it?

You started a low-carb ketogenic diet and then started itching. And we mean REALLY itching. What’s the matter? Is it eczema or dermatitis? In fact, while not common, some people new to keto experience an inflammatory skin condition called prumentose , which is called a “keto rash” in relation to keto, although there are other possible causes. by which people get it.What is a keto rash and why do some people get this common “keto flu” symptom? Let’s take a look at the symptoms, theories, and steps you can take to treat or avoid it.

Keto rash symptoms

If you feel an itchy rash, are new to the keto diet and want to know if you have a keto rash, look for the following telltale signs:

• The rash appears light pink and symmetrical ( on both sides of the body), most often on the back, chest and neck, but also possibly on the arms and legs.
• You started experiencing mild to intense itching and skin irritation shortly after starting the keto diet (during the first few weeks), and the itching is intense enough to disrupt your sleep, and worse with exercise and sweating.
• Your rash may or may not look like red bumps with fluid (not hard papules) that darken over time.

Why Do Some People Get A Keto Rash?

So what’s causing this pesky keto rash? The exact cause is still unknown and there hasn’t been much dermatological research done to determine the origin.But there are several theories to explain why this happens when you switch to a low-carb diet and significantly reduce your carbohydrate intake. Some common theories include:

Acetone

Acetone, a type of ketone that can be released through sweat when ketone levels rise, may be excessive during the transition to ketoshi s.This can irritate the skin.

Ketone-inspired inflammation

The ketone bodies circulating in your body as a result of ketosis may have an inflammatory effect on some people.

Autoimmune conditions

An underlying autoimmune condition, such as Sjogren’s syndrome , or an infection may have “ignited” with a change in diet.

Gut bacteria

An imbalance in gut bacteria (dysbiosis), which means you may have more harmful than good gut bacteria, may have caused a skin reaction.

Side Effects of Diabetes

A sudden flare-up of existing diabetes from ketosis can trigger a rash.

How to Prevent or Eliminate a Keto Rash

There are several ways to help prevent or cure a keto rash:

Be patient

Acetone levels usually decrease as your body becomes more efficient at burning ketones. So, if the rash is acetone in sweat, it should clear up (just like breathing acetone clears up) once you’re fully in ketosis (up to three weeks, but usually sooner).

Eat More Carbs

The fastest way to get rid of your keto rash is to slightly increase your carb intake.The problem is that eating fewer keto-friendly foods can get you out of ketosis and hinder your progress. It’s best to re-add a little more carbs to your diet to see if that helps reduce inflammation. If you can’t get rid of the rash any other way and just can’t stand it anymore, put carbs back in your diet, wait for the rash to clear up, and then try keto again. Many people who have not started this diet for the first time can return to keto without any problems after their rash disappears.

Clean Up After Workout

Don’t stay in your sweaty workout clothes after your workout. In fact, you may want to shower after exercise to get rid of the sweat on your skin. Otherwise, the acetone in sweat (and the sweat itself, which contains bacteria) can cause a rash or irritate an existing one, which increases the time it takes for it to heal.

Dress for Success

We all know that friction, heat and limited clothing make rashes even more annoying.Tight clothing will only limit the rash, causing further irritation, so wear cool, loose, lightweight, comfortable clothing (especially around the rash) so your skin can breathe and no longer irritate.

Think of a food allergy

A food allergy can cause an inflammatory rash. If your keto rash is due to foodborne inflammation, it starts in the gut and is caused by foods that are not suitable for your body. To remedy this, review your meal plan and try to remove some of the common food allergens from your keto diet and consider glucose and ketone testing to see if you are responding to the foods you consume .

Add Appendix

If your rash is caused by an imbalance in gut bacteria, take Quality Probiotic to help boost your beneficial bacteria. Most of us can benefit from a probiotic even if we don’t have a problem. You can also add probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut (kimchi), which also contain beneficial bacteria and enzymes to help you digest food.

Look at your doctor

As we mentioned earlier in this article, one of the causes of keto rash can be inflammation from an underlying condition.If you do not find relief in other ways, you can discuss the rash with your doctor. Some doctors will treat keto rashes with antibiotics because of their anti-inflammatory effects.

The Last Word

If you are new to keto and experiencing a keto rash, we recommend using some of the tips above and talking to your doctor to rule out other underlying medical conditions. If you feel really good during the keto diet and are experiencing some of the health benefits such as weight loss, lower blood sugar, improved mood, and improved skin, then don’t be discouraged; Hopefully you can figure it out and get back to your high fat diet.

Sweaty feet: why scientists are studying this smell

• David Robson
• BBC Future

August 14, 2015

Photo author, Getty

The unique scent of sweaty feet is not only a subject of awkwardness for the owner, but also a potential the key to saving lives. Correspondent

BBC Future tried to figure out the ecosystem of our feet.

Renate Smallegange is a connoisseur and connoisseur of smelly feet, and she is quite persistent in her research.Sometimes she collects nylon socks that have a characteristic scent.

If that is not enough, she collects “analyzes” by asking subjects to rub their sweaty feet with glass beads. In some cases, she puts a plastic bag on other people’s feet, sometimes releasing the accumulated aroma from it for tasting.

This work, of course, is not the most pleasant in the world, but Smullegange as a whole is not worried about the cheese bouquet accompanying her craft. “Nothing special,” she says. “Of course, some people smell nicer than others – from my personal point of view.”

Smullegange may occasionally wrinkle his nose politely when faced with particularly percussive miasms, but this scent appeals to her main subjects: the malaria mosquitoes.

Smallegange is trying to figure out exactly which cocktail of chemicals gives feet their scent in order to find new ways to combat the spread of malaria.

No matter how regularly a person washed, getting rid of the smell of the feet is still unlikely to be possible due to their anatomical features.

Photo author, Science Photo Library

Photo caption,

It is the staphylococci on the human foot that is accompanied by a smelly chemical compound

On average, there are 600 sweat glands on each square centimeter of the foot – there are several hundred fewer of them in the skin of the armpits. These glands secrete a mixture of various salts, glucose, vitamins and amino acids, which is ideal food for bacterial colonies.

In exchange for food, bacteria leave a bouquet of characteristic-smelling fatty acids on the skin.

There are so many different bacteria on our feet that it is very difficult for microbiologists to understand which of them cause the smell, and where exactly they live.

Discarding complexes, James Reynolds and colleagues from the British University of Loughborough recently tried to answer this question by cataloging the microcosm of their own legs.

As a result of this study, five groups of microscopic animals were noted: corynebacteria, micrococci, propionic acid bacteria, beta-proteobacteria and brevibacteria.

But staphylococci are especially distinguished among other, and, which is characteristic, they are accompanied by a particularly smelly chemical compound – isovaleric acid.

“Imagine a well-aged stilton [English blue cheese] – this is what a bottle of this substance smells like when you open the cap,” explains Reynolds. “If you accidentally spill a drop in the laboratory, it will stink awful all day.”

Populations of staphylococci were found to be especially numerous on the sole of the foot, namely, in the area of ​​the arch of the foot.Perhaps this explains the strong odor of these areas.

Comparison with cheese is quite appropriate: many cheeses contain a similar bouquet of volatile compounds, and the microworld of Limburg cheese is especially close in composition.

Photo author, Thinkstock

Photo caption,

Imagine a well-aged Stilton or Limburger … Does it smell familiar?

All these investigations in the end can bring a fragrant future closer for humanity. “If we know which compounds cause bad odors and which types of bacteria produce them, we can, for example, create clothes that absorb or neutralize odors,” Reynolds theorizes.

In addition, the information obtained by the researchers may lead to new breakthroughs in the field of deodorants. But not everything is so simple – after all, along with the smelly bacteria on the skin of the feet, there are also friendly microorganisms that protect us from infections.

Nature may already have a solution: in a recent experiment, Japanese experts found that three chemical compounds contained in citrus fruits destroy staphylococci without harming other bacteria.

In some situations, the smell of sweaty feet is not just a social inconvenience, but a matter of life and death. Dutch scientist Bart Knols was one of the first to notice that this smell attracts some species of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. His work inspired many of Smallegange’s subsequent research at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

She, in particular, discovered that the malaria parasite seems to affect the sense of smell of mosquitoes, causing them to flock to smelly socks – like bees flying to a flower bed.

“There is evidence that certain proteins in the mosquito’s head are somehow transformed and affect the mosquito’s olfactory response,” says the scientist.

Photo author, Getty

Photo caption,

Here it is, the parasite that makes scientists suffer such torment

This sophisticated mechanism helps the parasite find new potential victims to continue its life cycle in their bodies. “This is why the mosquito is such an effective carrier of malaria,” explains Smallegange.

This knowledge can help us in the fight against malaria in several ways. Smullegange is also trying to figure out how different combinations of bacteria affect the chances of being bitten – staphylococci, unsurprisingly, turned out to be the most attractive to mosquitoes.

Finding effective ways to combat this genus of bacteria can help in the fight against malaria.

On the other hand, the characteristic smell is also good as bait in mosquito traps. Smelly socks can be used for this purpose: they seem to remain attractive to mosquitoes for at least eight days after wearing.

If you don’t want to spend dirty, but quite suitable wardrobe items for this, then you can take Limburg cheese – Knols once found out that it also works quite efficiently.

Smallegange is working on a synthetic equivalent of this odor using isovaleric acid and other compounds. “The exact composition is very important,” she explains. “Overall, a combination of chemicals works better than one single component.”

However, it is possible that for each type of mosquito carrying malaria, it will be necessary to develop an individual mixture – mosquito preferences may vary.

Photo author, Thinkstock

Photo caption,

Having felt the familiar unpleasant scent, it is worth remembering the heroic work of Renate Smallegange

It is not yet clear how effective these measures will be in the practical fight against malaria. An experiment is underway on the island of Rusinga, near Kenya, in which scientists are investigating whether it is possible to use traps to kill or distract enough mosquitoes in order to reduce the total number of bites and infections of the deadly disease.

These traps can ultimately be used as an indicator of the presence of anopheles mosquitoes nearby.

For most of us, the smell of sweaty feet is nothing more than an inconvenience, easily (albeit temporarily) eliminated through a shower.

But, having felt the familiar unpleasant aroma, it is worth remembering the work of Renate Smallegange. Surrounded by smelly socks and a cheesy spirit, she does a vital job that few would tackle. No need to turn your nose up from this.

How to get rid of a rash between your legs? Complete treatment in 2 stages

Skin damage may seem like a minor issue. But when your clothes rub against your skin for an extended period of time, wear and tear can cause big problems. Most of the rash between the legs is caused by fraying. The skin can become irritated, and if sweat gets stuck under the skin, the rash can become infected. Fortunately, most rashes can be treated at home before complications develop.

Rash treatment

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1 Choose clothing that breathes. Wear cotton and natural fibers throughout the day. Your underwear should be 100% cotton. When exercising, wear synthetic materials (such as nylon or polyester) that absorb moisture and dry quickly.

Avoid wearing materials that are rough or prickly (such as wool or leather).

2 Wear loose-fitting clothing. The clothing around your legs should be loose enough to keep your skin dry and breathable.Your clothes should not be tight or as if they are pinching your skin. Clothes that are too tight will chafe, causing irritation.

The rash usually occurs along the inner thighs, groin, underarms, under the belly, and near the nipples.

If the irritation is left untreated, it can become sore and infected.

3 Keep your skin dry. Always dry moisture from your skin, especially after taking a bath or shower. Take a clean cotton towel and apply it gently to your skin.Rubbing can irritate the rash. You can also use the hair dryer on the lowest setting to dry the rash area completely. Avoid using high temperatures, which can aggravate the situation.

It is important to keep the area dry and sweat-free. This is because sweat is high in minerals that can make your skin look worse.

4 Know when to see your doctor. Most rashes caused by chafing can be treated at home without medical intervention.But if your rash doesn’t get better within 4-5 days, or gets worse, call your doctor and see you. This is especially important if you suspect your rash is infected (if you have fever, pain, swelling, or pus around the rash).

5 Follow your doctor’s recommendations. Your doctor will do a physical exam to see if your rash is showing damage. If your doctor thinks you have a bacterial infection, they will probably do a test for you. It will show your doctor what strain of bacteria or fungi is causing your infection and what treatment is needed.

Itching removal

1 Clean the area of ​​the rash. Since the area will be sensitive and may be sweaty, it is important to wash the area with a mild, unscented soap. Rinse with warm or cool water, being careful to completely rinse off the soap. Soap residues can further irritate the skin.

Look for soaps made from vegetable oil (such as olive, palm, or soybean), vegetable glycerin, or vegetable oils (such as coconut or shea).

2 Apply dry powder.When your skin is clean and dry, you can lightly apply the powder to prevent moisture buildup between your skin. Choose baby powder, but check to see if it contains talc (which you should use in small amounts). In some studies involving talcum powder, it has shown an increased risk of ovarian cancer in women.

3 Moisturize your skin. Keep your feet moist so they don’t irritate each other. Use a natural lubricant such as almond oil, castor oil, lanolin, or calendula oil.Make sure your skin is clean and dry before applying the lubricant.

Apply the lubricant at least twice a day, or more often if you notice the rash is still rubbing against your clothing or skin.

4 Add essential oil to the lubricant. While moisturizing your skin is important, you can also apply herbal essential oils that have healing properties. You can add medicinal honey. To use herbs, add 1 to 2 drops of any of the following oils:

Calendula oil: The oil from this flower can heal skin wounds and acts as an anti-inflammatory.

St. John’s wort: Commonly used to treat depression and anxiety, but traditionally used to treat skin irritation. Children or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use St. John’s wort.

Arnica Oil: More research is needed to understand the healing properties of this vegetable oil, which is made from flower beds. Children or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use arnica oil.

Yarrow Oil: This essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties and supports healing.

Nei oil: has anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties.

5 Test the mixture on the skin. Since your skin is already sensitive, you must determine if the vegetable oil mixture will cause an allergic reaction. Dip a cotton ball into your mixture and apply a small amount to your elbow. Put a bandage on it and wait 10-15 minutes. If you don’t notice a reaction (such as a rash or itching), you can safely use the mixture throughout the day. Try applying it at least 3 or 4 times to make sure the rash heals.

These herbal mixtures should not be used by children under 5 years of age.

6 Take an oatmeal bath. Pour 1 – 2 cups of oats into a nylon stocking. Tie the stocking so that the oats cannot spill out and tie it to the bathtub faucet. Turn on warm water so that it passes through the oats as it fills the tub. Lie down for 15-20 minutes. Repeat once a day.

A soothing bath is especially helpful if the area to be rubbed is large.

Translation and adaptation of “Brainum”

90,000 Acne in the décolleté area: what to do and who to go to

Treat yourself to something sweet, and the next day you notice a rash that appears at the wrong time.But often such a picture can be seen not only on the face, but also in the décolleté area or on the back. It is not scary when such a picture is rarely observed, and does not cause concern. But when rashes on the chest become the norm and do not go away at all, you cannot do without the help of a specialist, and often several.

Let’s figure out why acne appears on the chest.

There can be many reasons, ranging from banal non-observance of hygiene rules and ending with a dermatological disease of an infectious nature.But often the causes of rashes in the décolleté are: improper unbalanced diet, bad habits, improper skin care, hormonal imbalance, allergic reaction, reduced immunity and, of course, stress and nervous disorders. But to determine the exact cause, a comprehensive examination of the body and consultation of highly specialized doctors with mandatory laboratory tests are often required.

Of course, if you drank a lot of soda or ate sweets heartily and two or three pimples jumped out, then you shouldn’t run headlong through all the doctors.After all, in fact, the reason is already clear. But if you notice focal rashes, which, moreover, also ache, you can do without a specialist in any way. After all, self-medication can seriously disrupt the normal functions of the skin, and besides this, without finding out the reason, there is a high probability that all acne will not only return, but also bring friends with them in the form of new inflammatory foci, and it is good, if only them.

What to do if acne is still found

First, don’t panic.Yes Yes. After all, this is what often happens. And then we begin to press, everything turns red, we begin to burn, as my grandmother advised, and then when everything is burned, we try to mask it, although it is rather difficult to mask the burnt skin. And here it is not far from despair. But the skin in the décolleté area is very delicate, and a couple of touches of alcohol lotions do their dark job.

Therefore, do not start using aggressive products, the first effect may please you, but as a result you will get the opposite result, because the more you dry, the more sebum is released, the more oily the skin becomes.Do not press on the pimples themselves, because as we have already said, the skin in the décolleté area is delicate, and scars and scars are very close. Observe hygiene, take a shower regularly (preferably a contrast one), do not wear sweaty clothes after exercise, give preference to natural fabrics when choosing clothes, do not neglect exfoliating agents. Use quality cosmetics that will minimize the manifestation of allergic reactions. Conduct a regular medical examination, then you can timely detect diseases leading to the appearance of rashes in the décolleté area

And, of course, pay attention to your diet, exclude foods that sprinkle you, try to consume a minimum of sugar, fatty, salty and fried.Spend more time walking in the fresh air and healthy relaxation. Check with a specialist, especially if you choose to use any prescription medication. And the most important recommendation: be less nervous. Indeed, according to the results of numerous studies, stress affects all systems of our body, including the appearance of acne.

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90,000 The secret and clear meaning of human sweat

• Jason G.Goldman
• BBC Future

August 21, 2015

Photo Credit, Getty

We all know that people sweat when they are hot or when they feel anxious or embarrassed. Less well known is the fact that sweat actually carries certain emotional messages. The signals transmitted by the evaporation were picked up by the correspondent

BBC Future .

In 1934, a respected British physiologist and physician named McSweeney, speaking to his colleagues at a meeting of the Royal Society of Medicine, complained that many pundits neglected the study of the chemical composition of human sweat.Instead, their focus is solely on the mechanism by which sweat evaporates from the surface of the body, allowing it to cool.

But McSweeney knew that the meaning of perspiration is much deeper and is not limited to just cooling the body through evaporation. Under certain conditions, “the loss of blood plasma components due to prolonged sweating can be quite significant.”

In other words, along with sweat, some other substances are excreted from the human body.But what are these substances and to what effect – positive or negative – does their loss lead?

Periodic Table and Beyond

Our sweat contains certain substances that we would not want to lose. Take, for example, chlorine compounds, i.e. chlorides.

These components – chlorine atoms, which often combine with sodium atoms to produce (table) salt – are important for maintaining acid-base balance, regulating the movement of fluids in cells and intercellular space, and for transmitting impulses along nerve fibers.

When some of these compounds are released from the body along with sweat, this is normal, but in some cases, the body can lose too much chloride.

For example, imagine that you work for several hours in the heat. Most of us know that we need to drink water in order to maintain the required level of fluid in the body. But if you sweat too much and drink too much water, you will develop symptoms of water poisoning.

Author of the photo, Getty

Caption to the photo,

Human sweat contains ammonia, proteins, sugars, potassium and bicarbonate (soda), as well as many trace metals

In such conditions, the body is simply not able to quickly restore the amount of chlorides that leaves the body with sweat.

Sweat also contains urea, the substance that gives urine its name. According to at least one estimate, 0.24 to 1.12 milligrams of this substance is dissolved in every cubic centimeter of sweat.

It may seem that this is not so much, but taking into account that from 600 to 700 cubic centimeters of sweat are excreted from the human body every day, it turns out that together with it, up to 7% of the urea it needs is excreted from the body daily.

Human sweat also contains ammonia, proteins, sugars, potassium and bicarbonate (soda).Not to mention trace metals such as zinc, copper, iron, nickel, cadmium, lead and even a little manganese.

For many of these metals, perspiration is an important mechanism for removing them from the body.

Valves for perspiration

Sweat leaves the human body through two types of glands. The apocrine glands are found in the armpits, nostrils, nipples, ears, and parts of the genitals.

However, there are many more eccrine sweat glands in the body, millions of which are located practically on the entire surface of the human body – everywhere except the lips and genitals.

Photo author, Getty

Photo caption,

How a person sweating smells sends a certain signal to those around him

When the body and skin get too hot, heat receptors send a message to the brain that determines the degree of heating. In the brain, the hypothalamus – a small collection of cells that controls hunger, thirst, sleep, and body temperature – sends a message back to the apocrine and eccrine glands, signaling them to begin pumping sweat.

There is also a third type of sweat gland that was discovered in 1987.They are found in the same locations as the apocrine sweat glands, but since researchers were unable to classify them as apocrine or eccrine, they are called apoecrine sweat glands.

Some scientists believe that these are eccrine glands that undergo changes during puberty.

Means of communication

Not all substances that leave our body with sweat are chemical in nature.

Each of us at one time or another began to sweat due to the fact that we ate something spicy; and most people are familiar with sweating emotionally, feeling fear, embarrassment, anxiety, or pain.

It is not surprising that sweating caused by emotions is often associated with parts of the body such as palms, foreheads and feet. In these places, eccrine glands are located with a much higher density, up to 700 pieces per square centimeter, while, for example, on the back there are only 64 of them per square centimeter.

Emotional sweating turns out to be an important communication tool. In fact, the tinge of sweat that we smell in such a situation can tell us a lot about what other people are experiencing.

During

In one experiment, conducted by five psychologists from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, scientists collected sweat samples from 10 men while they watched a video designed to induce feelings of fear (excerpts from the movie “The Shining”) or disgust (excerpts from the TV series “Freaks”, on MTV).

Photo author, iStock

Photo caption,

The sweat of skydivers smells special for the first time

engaging in excessive physical activity two days before their sweat samples are taken.

The researchers then asked 36 women to determine what kind of emotions the men felt when sweat samples were taken from them.

Scientists have found that the faces of women who sniffed sweat samples taken while the man was afraid expressed the same feeling.

When women were asked to sniff samples from disgusted men, their faces mirrored the same emotions.

(The unused sweat pads were used as control samples to check the results of the experiment; they did not cause any predictable expressions on the faces of the participants in the experiment).

Thus, the results of the experiment give reason to believe that sweat, apparently, is an effective means of transferring the emotional state of one person to another.

It is important that the expressions on the faces of women when they sniffed samples were completely independent of their individual perceptions of how unpleasant or intense the odor was. Therefore, they could express feelings of disgust even if they had previously said that a particular sweat sample smells good.

Similar examples could be observed in other experiments. In 2006, psychologists from Rice University in Houston, Texas,

made an interesting discovery.

They found that women who sniffed sweat samples from a frightened person (this time from both men and women) performed better on the word association task than those who sniffed sweat samples taken from a frightened person. people who watched videos with neutral content.

The same thing happened with people who sniffed pads that did not contain sweat.The signals sent by the frightened people sweat sharpened their perception of their surroundings.

Smell older than speech

In 2012, psychologists and psychiatrists at New York State University took sweat samples from T-shirts of 64 donors. Half of the donors wearing these T-shirts were parachuting from an airplane for the first time, and the other half were doing intense physical exercise with increased stress.

People who sniffed samples of paratroopers’ sweat became nervous at the sight of angry faces, as well as those with vague and neutral expressions.

Psychologists attribute this to heightened vigilance: the sweat taken from the parachute jumpers prompted participants to pay attention to any possible hidden social cues that otherwise might have gone unnoticed.

Photo author, Getty

Photo caption,

Even the sight of sweaty skin can cause quite certain emotions

Those who smelled the sweat of tired people doing physical exercises tensed only at the sight of angry faces, which would be expected under any conditions.

However

another experiment by German psychologists and neurologists showed that the sweat of anxious men (who took part in tightrope walking courses) caused women to make risky decisions after spending more time contemplating their choices in a computer game designed to assess risky behavior.