What is miliaria? How does it affect the face? What are the symptoms and causes of miliaria on the face? Discover 10 effective home remedies to treat heat rash.

Understanding Miliaria: The Skin Condition Affecting the Face

Miliaria, commonly known as heat rash or prickly heat, is a common skin condition caused by the blockage and/or inflammation of eccrine sweat ducts. This condition is frequently observed in hot, humid, or tropical climates, as well as in hospitalized patients and newborns. Depending on the level of sweat duct obstruction, miliaria is classified into three distinct types: miliaria crystallina, miliaria rubra, and miliaria profunda.

Miliaria Crystallina: Superficial Sweat Duct Blockage

Miliaria crystallina, also known as sudamina, is the result of sweat duct obstruction near the skin’s surface, in the stratum corneum of the epidermis. This type of miliaria presents as 1-2 mm clear, superficial blisters that easily break, often resembling beads of sweat. There is typically no inflammation associated with miliaria crystallina, and the blisters leave a bran-like scale after breaking.

Miliaria Rubra: Mid-Epidermal Sweat Duct Blockage

Miliaria rubra, the most common form of miliaria, is caused by obstruction of the sweat ducts deeper in the mid-epidermis. This condition manifests as red, 2-4 mm non-follicular papules and papulovesicles that are very itchy. Erythema (redness) is often present in the background. In children, miliaria rubra typically affects the trunk and skin folds of the neck, axilla, or groin, while in adults, it often occurs on the upper trunk, scalp, neck, and flexures, particularly in areas of friction with clothing.

Miliaria Profunda: Deep Sweat Duct Blockage

Miliaria profunda, also known as tropical anhidrosis, is the result of sweat leaking into the middle layer of the skin (blockage at or below the dermoepidermal junction) following repeated episodes of miliaria rubra. This type of miliaria presents as asymptomatic, flesh-colored, 1-3 mm diameter papules on the trunk and extremities.

Who is Affected by Miliaria?

Miliaria crystallina is relatively common, affecting up to 9% of newborns, with a mean age of 1 week. It can also occur in adults with fever. Miliaria rubra is the most prevalent form, seen in children and up to 30% of adults who move to a tropical environment or are unexpectedly exposed to heat and humidity. Miliaria profunda is rare and typically presents in adult males.

Causes of Miliaria: Sweat, Heat, and Occlusion

The primary cause of miliaria is sweating. The main contributing factors include immature sweat ducts in newborns, hot and humid environments, intense physical activity, fever, and the occlusion of the skin with non-porous dressings or synthetic clothing. Hospitalized or bedridden patients lying on waterproofed mattresses or mattress protectors are also susceptible to developing miliaria.

10 Effective Home Remedies for Miliaria on the Face

While most cases of miliaria resolve within a day or two by changing to a cooler environment, there are several home remedies that can provide relief and promote healing:

1. Cool water compresses to soothe the affected area
2. Calamine lotion to relieve discomfort (may require an emollient due to its drying effects)
3. Oatmeal baths to alleviate itching
4. Aloe vera gel to cool and hydrate the skin
5. Baking soda paste to reduce inflammation and itch
6. Witch hazel to soothe and disinfect the rash
7. Coconut oil to moisturize and reduce irritation
8. Apple cider vinegar to restore the skin’s pH balance
9. Hydrocortisone cream to manage itching and inflammation
10. Antihistamine medication to provide relief from severe itching

Remember, it’s essential to avoid further irritation and maintain a cool, dry environment to promote the resolution of miliaria on the face.

Seeking Medical Attention for Miliaria

In severe cases or with repeated episodes of miliaria, a healthcare professional may recommend a punch biopsy for accurate diagnosis. Histological examination can distinguish miliaria from other skin conditions with similar presentations, such as herpes simplex or toxic erythema of the newborn.

In addition to the home remedies mentioned, medical treatment for miliaria may include topical steroids, antiseptics, and antibiotics for secondary infections. Addressing the underlying causes, such as fever or exposure to heat and humidity, is also crucial for effective management of this skin condition.

Miliaria | DermNet NZ

Author: Dr Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand, 1997. Updated by Dr Anita Eshraghi, Dermatologist, Sweden. February 2018. Revised September 2020

What is miliaria?

Miliaria is a common skin disease caused by blockage and/or inflammation of eccrine sweat ducts.  Miliaria is frequently seen in hot, humid, or tropical climates, in patients in hospital, and in the neonatal period. Miliaria is also known as sweat rash or prickly heat.

Based on the level of the sweat duct obstruction, miliaria is divided into three types:

• Miliaria crystallina (sudamina) is due to obstruction of the sweat ducts close to the surface of the skin in the stratum corneum of the epidermis
• Miliaria rubra follows obstruction of the sweat ducts deeper in the mid-epidermis
• Miliaria profunda (tropical anhidrosis) is the result of sweat leaking into the middle layer of skin (blockage at or below the dermoepidermal junction) following repeated episodes of miliaria rubra.

Miliaria

Who gets miliaria?

• Miliaria crystallina affects up to 9% of neonates, with the mean age of 1 week. It can also occur in adults with fever.
• Miliaria rubra is the most common form of miliaria. It is seen in children and in up to 30% of adults who move to a tropical environment or are unexpectedly exposed to heat and humidity. Although miliaria may develop within days of arriving in the tropics, it often takes several months to peak.
• Miliaria profunda is rare and presents in adult males.

Miliaria can affect all age groups and racial groups.

What causes miliaria?

Miliaria results from sweating. The main contributing causes are:

• Immature sweat ducts in a newborn child
• A hot and humid environment
• Intense physical activity
• Fever
• Occlusion of the skin with non-porous dressings or synthetic clothing against the skin
• Hospitalised or bedridden patients lying on waterproofed mattresses or mattress-protectors.

Other diseases and treatments that have been associated with miliaria are:

What are the clinical features of miliaria? 

• Miliaria crystallina presents as 1–2 mm superficial clear blisters that easily break. The blisters can look like beads of sweat. There is no inflammation. The blisters are usually seen widely spread on the head, neck, and upper trunk. The vesicles break easily to leave a bran-like scale.
• Miliaria rubra results in red, 2–4 mm, non-follicular papules and papulovesicles. They are very itchy. Background erythema is often present. In children, miliaria involves the trunk and the skin folds of the neck, axilla or groin. In adults, miliaria often affects the upper trunk, scalp, neck and flexures, particularly in areas of friction with clothing.
• Miliaria pustulosa is a variant of miliaria rubra with pustules.
• Miliaria profunda presents as asymptomatic deep papules. The flesh–coloured, 1–3 mm diameter papules develop on the trunk and extremities.

What are the complications of miliaria?

Complications of miliaria include:

How is miliaria diagnosed?

Miliaria is diagnosed on its typical clinical presentation.

In severe cases or repeated episodes, punch biopsy can be useful. Miliaria crystallina shows vesicles associated with the sweat ducts within or just under the stratum corneum of the epidermis. Histology of miliaria rubra shows spongiosis and spongiotic vesicles.

Tzanck smear taken from vesicles will distinguish miliaria from herpes simplex or toxic erythema of the newborn.

What is the differential diagnosis for miliaria?

Skin disorders presenting with papules, vesicles, or pustules that look similar to miliaria include:

What is the treatment for miliaria?

Resolution of miliaria requires minimising heat and humidity to reduce sweating and the avoidance of irritation to the skin. Strategies to avoid sweating and reduce irritation follow.

• Work in an air-conditioned office for at least a few hours a day.
• Sleep in a ventilated, cool bedroom.
• Move away from a tropical climate.
• Avoid excessive clothing and tight clothing.
• Avoid excessive soap and irritants.
• Wear shirts and blouses made of breathable synthetic fabrics or cotton.
• Remove wet clothing.

Treatment of miliaria may include:

• Cool water compresses 
• Calamine lotion to relieve discomfort; because calamine lotion is drying, an emollient may be required.
• Treatment of fever with antipyretic such as paracetamol (American terminology acetoaminophen)
• Mild topical steroids 
• Antiseptics and anti-staphylococcal antibiotics for secondary infection.

What is the outcome for miliaria?

Most cases of miliaria resolve within a day or two after changing to a cooler environment without any treatment or complications. 

Localized mid‐face miliaria as a consequence of filtering face piece respirator use during the COVID‐19 pandemic

As a novel coronavirus pathogen, COVID‐19 and the current associated pandemic have rapidly transformed daily life since its first detection in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Not only are strict social distancing measures now the status quo, but within the occupational setting of healthcare provision, healthcare workers (HCWs) have had to quickly adapt to an entirely different way of working. Part of this new routine encompasses the now habitual donning of personal protective equipment (PPE), not least the filtering face piece respirator (FFP), particularly for aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). In this regard, front‐line workers face the largest risk not only from COVID‐19 exposure, but also from the consequences of wearing PPE for extended periods.

Whilst specific cutaneous sequelae due to COVID‐19 itself have not yet been described, skin problems related to PPE worn during the pandemic are emerging, and have recently been recognized in the document published in April 2020 by NHS England which provides advice on how to prevent facial skin damage beneath PPE.
1
,
2
This document advocates use of a skin protectant if wearing PPE for extended periods, and promotes regular breaks (ideally every 2 h) from wearing a FFP mask to relieve tissue pressure and reduce humidity. The chosen barrier cream or tape should not compromise the integrity or fit of the mask.

We postulate that the cutaneous complications reported during the COVID‐19 pandemic stem from the hyperhidrotic effect of PPE, friction, epidermal breakdown, pressure urticaria and contact dermatoses, all of which may be exacerbated in the context of pre‐existing skin disease.
1
,
3
Experience from previous pandemics has shown skin inflammation and erythema, papules, maceration and scaling to be the most frequently reported adverse cutaneous outcomes of extended PPE use, with the most commonly affected sites being the nasal bridge, cheeks, forehead and hands.
4

Here, we report individual cases of two female theatre nurses working within the same surgical unit within the United Kingdom during the current COVID‐19 pandemic, neither with pre‐existing skin disease. Each sustained a morphologically similar cutaneous eruption following single use of a FFP3 respirator mask (make: 3M, model: 8835+, batch number 1c20058026), having assisted during an uninterrupted 4. 5‐h theatre list on the same day. Immediate symptoms upon removal of the mask consisted of mild erythema and pain which progressed overnight. The following morning, crops of 1–2 mm pustules with background erythema were evident over the nasal bridge, sidewall and ala, clinically in keeping with localized miliaria (Fig. ), with the differential being an occlusive (infective) folliculitis. Whilst tender on palpation, the area was not overtly cellulitic. Given that the epidermis was intact, and wanting to avoid further compromise to the skin barrier, bacterial swabs were not performed. Dermol^® 500 (Dermal Laboratories Ltd, Hertfordshire, UK) lotion was prescribed as an antiseptic soap substitute and emollient. Two weeks later, post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation was apparent in each case, with some residual scaling and dryness.

Crops of 1–2 mm pustules with background erythema over the nasal bridge, sidewall and ala, clinically in keeping with localized miliaria.

Miliaria, otherwise known as heat rash, is a disorder of eccrine glands due to obstruction and retention of sweat. It is usually associated with immobility, hot/humid environments and improper clothing or bedding which traps heat and perspiration. Within the clinical setting, it is most often seen in febrile inpatients who have been supine for extended periods. There are three subtypes – miliaria crystallina (typically face and trunk), miliaria rubra/pustulosa (most common; typically on the back) and miliaria profunda (rare; trunk and extremities).
5

To our knowledge, this is the first report of a localized facial miliaria secondary to FFP use. It is recognized that epidermal barrier interruption could enhance COVID‐19 acquisition
6
and as such, it is fundamental that steps are taken to minimize tissue trauma from PPE use, and to report such cases.

Acknowledgement

Informed written consent was gained for publication of clinical history and photographs.

American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD)

Miliaria describes a group of conditions associated with the retention of sweat in the skin. When the sweat cannot flow from the sweat glands out onto the surface of the skin due to obstruction the results are a variety of signs and symptoms. The location of the trapped sweat in the dermis or epidermis and how it looks determines which of the four types of miliaria that develops. The four types are:

• Miliaria crystalline
• Miliaria rubra
• Miliaria pustulosa
• Miliaria profunda

Miliaria crystalline (also known as sudamina) consists of superficial, noninflammed, subcorneal vesicles that easily rupture when rubbed.

Miliaria rubra (also known as prickly heat) results when the retained sweat moves into the living layers of the epidermis as well as the upper dermis causing itching and an inflammatory response (red skin around the sweat pores). This is particularly common in infants but can also happen in adults after repeated bouts of exposure to a hot, humid environment. Usually the problem goes away or improves within a day or so after entering a cool environment. Sometimes these same miliaria rubra vesicles will become pustular and then it is called miliaria pustulosa.

Miliaria profunda occurs when the retained sweat actually leaks out of the sweat ducts into the dermis of the skin. This can occur during exposure to intense heat resulting in the formation of discrete, flesh colored papules that resemble goose bumps.

Miliaria then is caused by retained sweat at different levels of the sweat gland and its duct. However it is not known exactly why someone will develop one type of miliaria versus another. Nonetheless the treatment is to cool the skin and the person suffering from the condition and to avoid further exposure to the causative environment.

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The medical information provided in this site is for educational purposes only and is the property of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice and shall not create a physician – patient relationship. If you have a specific question or concern about a skin lesion or disease, please consult a dermatologist. Any use, re-creation, dissemination, forwarding or copying of this information is strictly prohibited unless expressed written permission is given by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.

Miliaria: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology

Heat Rash (Prickly Heat) | Miliaria | Sweat Rash

Dr Sarah Jarvis MBE

What is heat rash?

Miliaria is a rash that develops in some people when they sweat more than usual. The rash is also sometimes called prickly heat, or a heat rash, or a sweat rash. It is not usually serious but it can be itchy and uncomfortable.

What causes heat rash?

Prickly heat (miliaria) is due to blockage of sweat ducts. You have thousands of sweat glands that lie just under the skin surface. These glands make sweat which travels down the sweat duct to the skin surface. If the sweat duct is blocked, the sweat seeps into the nearby skin. This causes tiny pockets of swelling (inflammation) which cause the rash.

What blocks the sweat ducts?

Some people are more prone to miliaria than others. It seems that a germ (bacterium) called Staphylococcus epidermidis may play a role. This bacterium lives harmlessly on the skin and miliaria is not an infection. However, this bacterium makes a sticky substance. This substance combined with excess sweat and dead skin cells may cause the blockage. One study reports that people who develop miliaria when they sweat have, on average, three times as many bacteria per unit area of skin compared with those who do not develop miliaria when they sweat.

Anything else that blocks the sweat ducts can also cause miliaria. For example, if you place polythene tightly on your skin for 3-4 days, you are likely to develop a miliarial rash on the covered skin.

Who develops prickly heat/heat rash (miliaria)?

Prickly heat (miliaria) can develop in anyone at any age. However, it is most common in children and babies, as their immature sweat glands are more prone to becoming blocked. It is particularly common in newborn babies but soon clears.

Another common time for the rash to occur is when people travel to a warmer climate and sweat more than usual – typically, on going to a hot country for a holiday. Up to 3 in 10 people who travel to a warmer climate and who sweat a lot may be affected by miliaria. The rash may begin within a few days of arrival in the warmer country. However, it might develop weeks, or even months, later.

Miliaria can also occur in cooler climates when sweating is a problem. For example, people who lie on their back for long periods due to illness may get miliaria on their back. This can occur after having a stroke or a major operation. It can also occur if you are wearing too many clothes or the bedding is too warm.

What does heat rash look like?

Attribution: by Sentient Planet (own work) via Wikimedia Commons

Heat rash symptoms

There are several types of prickly heat (miliaria):

Miliaria crystallina

This is sometimes called miliaria sudamina. This is caused when the blockage of the sweat ducts is close to the surface of the skin. The rash is like tiny clear spots that appear in crops. They may look like beads of sweat. The spots tend to disappear within a few hours or days. This is the least itchy form of the condition and there may not be any itch at all. The rash may simply be a curious event that you notice on your skin.

Miliaria rubra

This is the common type and the one most people would identify as prickly heat. It is caused when the blockage of the sweat ducts occurs at a deeper part of the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis). Crops of tiny red bumpy spots (tiny papules) develop. The spots are just a few millimetres in size and may look like tiny blisters. Several crops of spots usually appear in different parts of the body. They occur mostly where there is friction with clothes. They can be very itchy – although it may be more of an intense prickling sensation. Some areas of skin become red.

The rash may occur within days of coming into a hot climate. However, often the rash does not appear until weeks or months have passed in the hot climate. The rash tends to go within a few days if you get out of the hot environment and stop sweating.

On the affected areas of skin there is a reduced amount of sweat, or no sweat at all. You may feel tired and become intolerant of heat. If you continue to sweat and the rash covers a large part of your body then you have a small risk of developing a high temperature (fever) and/or heat exhaustion. This is because you are not able to sweat properly to get rid of body heat.

Miliaria profunda

This is uncommon. It is caused when the blockage of the sweat ducts occurs at the level of the middle layer of the skin (the dermis). This typically occurs in people who live in a hot climate who have had repeated episodes of miliaria rubra. Bigger lumps develop on the skin when you sweat. These tend to be flesh-coloured as they are deeper than the miliaria rubra form. There is little itch with this type of miliaria but there is a greater risk of developing a fever and heat exhaustion if much of the skin surface is affected. 

Miliaria pustulosa

In this type of miliaria, the bumps on the skin become infected with the bacteria living on the skin surface. The fluid inside the bumps contains pus.

Heat rash treatment

In most cases the rash will clear without any treatment. However, severe cases can last for several weeks. One or more of the following may help to treat prickly heat (miliaria) and prevent further episodes from developing:

• If possible, avoid heat and humidity.
• Avoid further sweating. Even if this is possible for just a few hours each day it can make a big difference. For example, staying in an air-conditioned room for a few hours a day. A cool bath or shower can also be soothing and help to avoid sweating. Some people take frequent cool showers to avoid developing the rash.
• Simple creams may cool and soothe the skin. (An example is calamine lotion. This may have a drying effect, however, and you may then need to use a moisturising cream afterwards.)
• Wear loose cotton clothing or clothing that has breathable fabric.
• Using an antibacterial soap or antiseptic wash may help to keep the number of germs (bacteria) on your skin down. This may reduce the risk of developing miliaria. There are no research trials that have been done to prove this but it sounds sensible.
• Some people feel that moisturising creams that contain anhydrous lanolin help to prevent blockage of the sweat ducts – for example, E45® cream. If you are prone to developing miliaria then it may be worth a try. Apply some to your skin before activities that make you sweat or on arrival in a hot climate.
• A steroid cream may soothe the irritation whilst you are waiting for the condition to clear. Steroids work by reducing inflammation. A mild steroid cream such as hydrocortisone 1% can be purchased over the counter. You should not use it on your face. Follow the instructions and use it sparingly.

If you feel generally unwell, you may be developing heat exhaustion or heatstroke. If this occurs, seek medical attention.

Sweat Gland Disease – an overview

MILIARIA

The miliarias are a clinically heterogeneous group of diseases which occur when the free flow of eccrine sweat to the skin surface is impeded. Three variants of miliaria have been defined according to the depth at which this sweat duct obstruction occurs.

Miliaria crystallina (miliaria alba), which results from superficial obstruction in the stratum corneum, is characterized by asymptomatic, clear, 1–2 mm vesicles which rupture easily with gentle pressure.³⁷ Congenital onset is exceedingly rare.^38,39 Onset in the first week of life is not uncommon.⁴⁰ It has also been reported in adult patients in an intensive care setting.⁴¹ It may have been caused by drugs producing enhanced α-adrenergic stimulation of sweat gland myoepithelium.⁴¹ Isotretinoin can also cause miliaria crystallina.⁴¹ It is a self-limited condition that resolves without complications over a period of several days.

Miliaria rubra (prickly heat) consists of small, discrete, erythe­matous papulovesicles with a predilection for the clothed areas of the body.⁴² The lesions are often pruritic. In severe cases, with recurrent crops of lesions, anhidrosis may result.⁴³ Occasionally, pustular lesions (miliaria pustulosa) may coexist. Both miliaria rubra and pustular miliaria rubra have been reported in infants and children with type I pseudohypoaldosteronism.^44–46 Miliaria rubra can also occur in Morvan’s syndrome, a form of generalized myokymia (OMIM 160120).⁴⁷

Miliaria profunda refers to the development of flesh-colored papules resembling gooseflesh, associated with obstruction of the sweat duct near the dermoepidermal junction.^48,49 It usually follows severe miliaria rubra and is associated with anhidrosis. A case has been reported in which large white plaques with an erythematous border were present.⁵⁰ The lesions expanded centrifugally until they were several centimeters or more in diameter. They were localized to sites at which occlusive tape had been applied.⁵⁰

Although it has been presumed since the 19th century that obs­truction of the eccrine duct is involved in the pathogenesis of the miliarias, the nature of this obstruction and its etiology have been the subject of much debate.⁴⁸ The first demonstrable histological change is the accumulation of PAS-positive, diastase-resistant material in the distal pore,⁴⁸ although this has not always been found.⁵¹ This material has been designated ‘extracellular polysaccharide substance (EPS)’.⁵² It is likely that there is an earlier stage of obstruction, which cannot be demonstrated in tissue sections. After several days, a keratin plug forms as part of the repair process, leading to further obstruction of the duct, often at a deeper level. Various factors may contribute to the initial duct obstruction.^53,54 These include changes in the horny layer related to excess sweating, the presence of sodium chloride in more than isotonic concentration,⁵¹ and lipoid depletion. In many cases there is an increase in the number of resident aerobic bacteria, particularly cocci.^48,55–57 Certain strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis produce the PAS-positive material known as EPS (see above) and these organisms may play a central role in the pathogenesis of miliaria.⁵² Miliaria have also developed at the site of previous radiotherapy; there was associated keratotic plugging of the eccrine orifices.⁵⁸

Histopathology

In miliaria crystallina there is a vesicle within or directly beneath the stratum corneum. There is often a thin, orthokeratotic layer forming the roof of the vesicle and a basket-weave layer of keratin in the base. A PAS-positive plug may be seen in the distal sweat pore.

Miliaria rubra is characterized by variable spongiosis and spongiotic vesiculation related to the epidermal sweat duct unit and the adjacent epidermis (Fig. 5.7). There is a small number of lymphocytes in the areas of spongiosis. An orthokeratotic or parakeratotic plug may overlie the spongiosis.⁴² Sometimes there is edema in the papillary dermis adjacent to the point of entry of the eccrine duct into the epidermis. A mild lymphocytic infiltrate is usually present in this region. If the edema is pronounced, leading to subepidermal vesiculation, then miliaria profunda is said to be present. Miliaria pustulosa is characterized by neutrophils beneath the stratum corneum and/or in the epidermal sweat duct (Fig. 5.8).

Less commonly, there is only slight spongiosis in the region of the acrosyringium in miliaria rubra associated with dilatation of the terminal eccrine duct.⁴² It should be remembered that not all eccrine ducts are involved.

The secretory acini show few changes in the miliarias.⁴² They may be mildly dilated. Often there is slight edema of the connective tissue between the secretory units. Lymphocytes are not usually present, unless there is a prominent inflammatory cell infiltrate elsewhere in the dermis.

Heat Rash

Is this your child’s symptom?

• A fine pink rash caused by overheating
• Mainly on the neck, chest, and upper back

Symptoms of Heat Rash

• Tiny, pink bumps
• Mainly on the neck, chest and upper back
• Occurs during hot, humid weather or after lots of sun
• Heat rash can be itchy
• Older children may have a “prickly” pins and needles feeling
• In babies, the rash can have some tiny water blisters
• No fever or illness
• Also called “prickly heat”

Causes of Heat Rash

• Heat rash is caused by blocked-off sweat glands.
• Hot Weather. Hot, humid weather can cause the sweat glands to be overworked.
• Ointment. Babies can also get it in the wintertime from ointments put on the skin. Reason: Ointments can block off sweat glands.
• Location. Heat rash of the forehead can be caused by oil or ointment on the hair. Heat rash of the face of a breastfed baby can be caused by lanolin put on the nipples. Heat rash of the chest can be caused by menthol ointments put on for coughs.
• Exercise. Older children can get heat rash with hard exercise.

When to Call for Heat Rash

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Fever and looks infected (spreading redness or pus)
• Your child looks or acts very sick
• You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Looks infected (spreading redness, pus), but no fever
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• Rash is not gone after 3 days of treatment
• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Seattle Children’s Urgent Care Locations

If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

Care Advice for Heat Rash

1. What You Should Know About Heat Rash:
   • Heat rash is caused by blocked-off sweat glands.
   • It’s common in hot, humid weather.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Cooling the Skin:
   • Cool off the skin to treat and prevent heat rash.
   • For large rashes, give your child a cool bath without soap. Do this for 10 minutes. (Caution: Avoid any chill.) Let the skin air-dry. Do this 3 or more times a day.
   • For small rashes, put a cool, wet washcloth on the area. Do this for 5 to 10 minutes. Then let the skin air-dry.
   • Dress in as few layers of clothing as you can.
   • Lower the temperature in your home if you can.
3. Sleeping Cooler:
   • When your child is asleep, run a fan in the bedroom.
   • During sleep, have your child lie on a cotton towel to absorb sweat. (Note: Only for older children age over 1 year.)
4. Steroid Cream for Itching:
   • Use 1% hydrocortisone cream (such as Cortaid). No prescription is needed.
   • Put it on itchy spots 3 times per day.
   • Avoid hydrocortisone ointment.
   • Calamine lotion can also work.
5. Do Not Use Ointments:
   • Avoid all ointments or oils on the skin. Reason: They can block off sweat glands.
   • Be sure the rash isn’t caused by a menthol ointment being used for a cough.
6. What to Expect:
   • With treatment, heat rash will clear up in 2 to 3 days.
7. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Rash lasts more than 3 days on this treatment
   • Rash starts to look infected
   • You think your child needs to be seen
   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the ‘Call Your Doctor’ symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

Last Reviewed: 09/20/2021

Last Revised: 03/11/2021

Copyright 2000-2021. Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

90,000 Prickly heat in children and adults. How to treat prickly heat and what to do when it appears?

Prickly heat is a skin disease caused by increased sweating. Mickey heat is especially common in newborn babies and young children, although many adults have experienced it. How to get rid of prickly heat and what to do to prevent it from recurring?

Prickly heat is not a dangerous disease, but extremely unpleasant. At least once in a lifetime, most likely everyone has encountered this problem.Miliaria is a rash that occurs in response to overheating and increased sweating. Both children and adults suffer from this disease, although prickly heat is usually considered a childhood disease. Getting rid of prickly heat can be difficult. Without adequate treatment, irritation and itching can persist for a long time.

The cause of prickly heat in adults and children is a blockage of the sweat glands. The stronger the sweating, the higher the risk of getting this disease. Heat, high humidity, uncomfortable or too warm clothes made of synthetic fabrics, excess weight, in which folds form on the body – these are the risk factors that can provoke prickly heat.

What prickly heat looks like and how it manifests itself

The main symptom of prickly heat is a skin rash. There are three types of prickly heat, depending on the type of rash.

1. Crystalline prickly heat most often affects newborns. With this type of prickly heat, small white or pearlescent bubbles of 1-2 mm in size appear on the skin. The bubbles burst easily, leaving behind flaking and irritation. Crystalline prickly heat in children can occur on the neck, face and trunk, while in adults it often appears only on the trunk.With crystalline prickly heat, there is usually no itching and no discomfort. But this does not mean that such prickly heat does not require treatment. If the process is started, then an infection can penetrate into the microscopic wounds left by the bursting bubbles.
2. Deep prickly heat usually occurs in adults on the surface of the skin of the legs, arms and trunk. Flesh-colored bubbles 1-3 mm in size appear when overheated or in high humidity conditions.
3. Red prickly heat looks like small homogeneous bubbles or nodules.The skin around the rash turns red and begins to itch painfully. Red prickly heat can appear in places where the skin experiences constant irritation from friction – in the folds of the skin, axillary and groin areas, under the breast, or where uncomfortable clothing rubs.

If you have a rash on your skin, be sure to consult a dermatologist. The rash is characteristic not only of prickly heat, it occurs with many other skin and infectious diseases, and only a competent specialist can make an accurate diagnosis.Your doctor will likely prescribe a series of tests for you, which can be done either in the clinic or in the medical laboratory. It is very important not to let the disease take its course, and find out its causes in time, because if it is an infection, treatment should be started as early as possible. Also, in the laboratory, you can go through other diagnostic procedures that will help you find out why you have increased sweating, after which it is also worth contacting a doctor if you want to correct the state of the body.

Treatment of prickly heat

Miliaria can occur at any time of the year, but most often it manifests itself in a hot period when we sweat a lot.It can also appear on vacation in warm countries. It is necessary to treat prickly heat, and as soon as possible. You can get rid of a mild form in one to two weeks. In severe cases, the sweat glands become depleted over time, resulting in dry skin. Against the background of deep prickly heat, infection and microbial eczema are possible. And it is already much more difficult to fight it – the treatment can take years. This is another reason why it is worth doing tests without delay.

Treatment of prickly heat in newborns

Babies very often suffer from prickly heat.In newborns, all body systems function differently from adults. Children are just beginning to adapt to the external environment, and this process is always associated with some problems. Often, parents, in an effort to protect the child from the cold, wrap him up too much. The baby becomes hot, the thermoregulation system cannot cope with the load and prickly heat occurs. Lack of air can also be the reason – for example, if the child is constantly swaddled tightly, dressed in diapers or too zealous when applying cream.Most often, prickly heat in newborns occurs in folds on the neck and legs, on the elbows, in the upper back and chest – in a word, in places where natural ventilation is difficult.

During the treatment of prickly heat, you should abandon the cream, replacing it with a powder that will absorb excess moisture and allow the skin to breathe. Chamomile decoction can be added to the bathing water, which soothes the skin and helps to restore it. And don’t forget about the need for daily air baths.Sometimes it is recommended to treat the skin with zinc oxide powder or salicylic-zinc ointment, but such treatment should be prescribed by a doctor.

Treatment of prickly heat in children

The skin of children is much softer than that of adults, therefore, irritation on it occurs more often. To avoid the appearance of prickly heat in children, it is enough to follow a few simple rules. Firstly, do not buy clothes made of synthetic fabrics for your child, they interfere with normal ventilation of the skin and contribute to irritation. Clothes made from natural materials, such as cotton, linen, wool, are best suited: they absorb moisture well and allow air to pass through.Watch the temperature in the nursery – it is desirable that it does not exceed + 20C. Hygiene also plays an important role – you need to bathe your child at least once a day, and on hot days – twice: in the morning and in the evening.

Treatment of prickly heat in adults

Adults also often face such a nuisance as prickly heat. Especially often it happens in those who suffer from chronic diseases of the cardiovascular, endocrine or nervous system. These disorders are often accompanied by sweating.

Treatment of prickly heat begins with the elimination of the factors that caused it.Of course, nothing can be done about hot weather, but if you belong to people with increased sweating, you can still make your life easier. Choose loose, natural materials that are free of movement, and use talcum powder where necessary where clothing or underwear can chafe your skin. On hot days, you should not use cosmetics that can clog pores and greasy creams. Better to stick with a water-based lotion. The skin affected by prickly heat must be wiped with an antiseptic – for this, alcohol solutions of salicylic or boric acid, a weak aqueous solution of potassium permanganate are used.To reduce itching and swelling, antihistamines are prescribed – tavegil or suprastin.

Prickly heat in children: causes and treatment

The appearance of prickly heat in children – a rash on the face and body – can confuse parents and make them anxious. Prickly heat also occurs in adults, but babies and toddlers are especially susceptible to it.

From this article you will learn about why prickly heat appears in children, how to treat it, and in what situation you need to contact a pediatrician.

What is prickly heat in newborns and young children

Miliaria is a rash that occurs as a result of a blockage of the sweat gland ducts and in most cases is associated with overheating of the body.Miliaria in children is a small red rash or small pimples filled with fluid. The provoking factor for the appearance of prickly heat can be high humidity and air temperature.

Causes of prickly heat in children

Causes of prickly heat and provoking factors:

• Immaturity of the ducts of the sweat glands. In newborns, the ducts of the sweat glands remain immature and cannot fully function. If the baby was born prematurely and is in an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit, has a fever or is simply dressed too warmly, then the risk of developing prickly heat increases.

• Hot weather. Prickly heat in children appears more often in hot and humid climates.

• Physical activity. Active sweating during physical activity can provoke prickly heat.

• Wrap. If your baby is dressed too warmly or sleeps under a blanket that is too warm, he may develop prickly heat.

How prickly heat looks like in a child

Prickly heat in children manifests itself in the form of small pimples.They most often occur on the areas of the skin that sweat the most, or in places where clothing creates friction: the folds of the neck, upper chest, arms, legs, and in the diaper area.

There are several types of prickly heat:

• Crystalline prickly heat. The mildest form, affecting the top layer of the skin. Rashes are clear blisters filled with liquid. They burst quite easily, they can merge with neighboring bubbles.

• Red prickly heat. In addition to bubbles, this prickly heat is accompanied by severe redness, itching and even pain.

• Pustular prickly heat (or infected). Develops at the site of the lesion with red prickly heat due to the addition of a bacterial infection. Such prickly heat looks like a lot of bubbles with purulent contents inside.

• Deep prickly heat. A less common type of prickly heat.Deep prickly heat is also called papular due to the formation of papules – nodules that form not on the surface of the skin, but in its deeper layers.

How to treat prickly heat in children

Miliaria in newborns and young children is not considered a serious illness and usually goes away on its own without special treatment. But here’s what you can do to make your baby more comfortable:

• Apply a cool compress to the affected area.

• Rinse your baby in a cool shower or bathe him, but do not dry with a towel, but let the skin air dry.

• Adjust the air conditioner or fan so that a gentle stream of air is directed at the baby’s skin.

Ointments are best avoided as they can further block sweat ducts. If prickly heat persists, consult your pediatrician.

What are the prevention methods

Here’s what you can do to prevent prickly heat in a newborn or older baby:

• In hot weather, dress your baby in soft, light cotton clothes.During the cold season, try not to put on more layers of clothing on your child than you are wearing yourself.

• Avoid tight clothing that can cause friction and irritation to your baby’s delicate skin.

• If it’s hot outside, hide in the shade with your child. If it is hot in the room, use a fan or air conditioner to cool the air.

• The room where the baby sleeps should be well ventilated and the air should be cool.

When to see a doctor

Prickly heat in children usually goes away on its own in a few days if overheating is excluded.But if the rash persists or signs of infection appear, see your doctor.

Signs of infection:

• pain and swelling in the area of ​​the rash

• pus in the blisters

• swollen lymph nodes

• high fever or chills

It is natural to worry if you notice prickly heat in your baby. But the good news is, the prickly heat will most likely go away on its own in a few days.It is impossible to completely eliminate the appearance of prickly heat in children, but you can follow the recommendations in order to prevent the baby from overheating – especially in the warm season.

_{How This Article Was Written
The information in this article is based on expert advice from trusted medical and government sources such as the American Pediatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. A complete list of links to sources used to write this article can be found at the end of the article.The information on this page does not replace professional medical advice. Always see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.}

Prickly heat in adults: treatment, symptoms and types

Miliaria is a skin irritation that occurs when a person produces a lot of sweat and at the same time it evaporates slowly. As a result, the sweat glands become clogged – and irritation begins. Most often, this disease occurs in children, but in adults it is also sometimes observed – so you need to know about it.

Symptoms

Speaking about the symptoms of prickly heat, it is necessary to immediately touch upon such a moment as the types of irritation, because each type has its own manifestations.

The simplest and safest form is crystalline prickly heat. It manifests itself in small (up to a millimeter) painless rashes – these are small bubbles that are located next to each other and can merge. Such rashes are localized on the neck, face, forehead, trunk, as well as in places where the legs and arms bend.Often this prickly heat occurs for a short time and quickly disappears with the observance of the usual hygiene.

More dangerous is this type of prickly heat, like red (inflammatory). Its signs are as follows:

• Rash in the form of larger blisters (up to two millimeters) with red inflamed corollas. In these bubbles, a cloudy-looking content is observed.
• Itching, which can be quite severe and disturb the patient with discomfort.
• Wet crusts.If they appear, this means that a bacterial infection has joined the usual illness in an adult – that is, a complication has arisen.

Usually, the red variety of the disease is localized in the armpits, on the abdomen and the skin between the buttocks, as well as on the folds of the elbow, forearms. In obese people, it often appears in the groin. Unlike the previous option, this one does not go away on its own and always requires targeted treatment.

If the course of prickly heat is complicated, the so-called papular form with acute inflammation may develop.There already appear not only itching, but also symptoms of intoxication. The skin is painful, the patient’s condition is complex. Such a disease can be cured only with specially selected medicines – in some cases, this requires more than one month.

Another option for prickly heat in adults is apocrine. It is associated with the work of special glands that are located on the areola of the nipple, in the anus, armpits, as well as in women in the area of ​​the labia majora. In these places, a small rash appears, as well as specific accumulations in the area of ​​the glands.These formations often burst right inside the skin and an infectious process joins them. In this case, the help of specialists is also required.

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Reasons

The causes of prickly heat in adults look like this:

• Hyperhidrosis. In people with excessive sweating, the disease can become chronic.
• Serious metabolic disorders. Since sweat is a part of metabolic reactions, some diseases can affect its production and evaporation.
• Certain endocrine pathologies – for example, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism.
• Certain diseases of the nervous system.
• Fever, high temperature for a long time. In this state, sweat is always actively secreted, so a rash may appear on the skin.
• Obesity or simply overweight. With extra pounds, people tend to sweat much more, which can also lead to skin irritation.
• Inactivity, constant skin contact with the bed. Such prickly heat in adults occurs in bedridden patients or in people who, due to certain diseases, walk little, but lie or sit a lot.

All these are reasons that can be attributed to pathological – that is, they are already in themselves associated with some negative state of the body or disease.But there are also so-called provoking factors – they can be called external causes. Here we include:

• Hot, dry climate with strong perspiration and high humidity with high temperatures.
• Active and constant sports, in which a person sweats a lot and the sweat itself is constantly on the skin.
• Work involving intense physical activity or being in hot rooms. For example, people sweat a lot if they work in factories near hot ovens.
• Poorly fitted shoes. If it tightly squeezes the foot and does not provide enough air, prickly heat may develop on the skin of the legs.
• The use of improper cosmetics: very dense and nourishing creams when the skin is hot. For example, a rash on the face can appear due to the fact that in the summer heat, a woman applies a very thick foundation.
• Non-observance of all hygiene rules, when sweat, mixed with dust and dirt, remains on the skin for a long time.
• Too frequent and prolonged tanning, which can damage the skin and make it more susceptible to any negative factors.

A problem can be caused either by one reason or by a combination of several – it all depends on the specific organism.

Diagnostics

As a rule, the diagnosis of prickly heat does not require complex manipulations – a dermatologist or therapist can determine the disease purely visually, by its external signs.But in some cases, it is necessary to examine the cells of the affected areas, as well as pass general tests. This is especially true in difficult cases, when, together with the primary problem, it is necessary to identify a secondary infection.

Treatment

If we are talking about a simple form, the treatment of prickly heat will consist in eliminating the negative factor (for example, overheating), observing hygiene and treating the affected skin with antiseptic agents.

In difficult cases, patients are prescribed antihistamines, antibiotics (not always), antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and drying agents.

Also, the treatment plan may include:

• Various methods of treating hyperhidrosis. For example, this is laser treatment, botulinum toxin injections, surgery on nerve fibers, removal of sweat glands. The more serious the operation, the less often it is used, since it is important that its risks overlap with the effect obtained.
• Physiotherapy. Patients can be prescribed reflex and acupuncture.
• Phytotherapy. In a number of situations, the doctor may suggest using decoctions based on various beneficial herbs.But this is far from always necessary, since there are many ready-made products with a more pronounced and quick effect.

Complex cases require mandatory consultation with a doctor; in such a situation, independent treatment of prickly heat in adults is impossible. If you have a similar problem, we recommend that you immediately contact Medicina JSC. In our clinic, you will receive qualified assistance from experienced dermatologists and will be able to get rid of the disease as quickly as possible.

Prevention

To understand what kind of prevention is needed in this case, you need to turn to the causes of prickly heat and exclude all negative factors. It is important to keep the body at an optimal temperature, wear good breathable clothing, constantly monitor the health of the body, and maintain an optimal weight. A prerequisite is correct and regular personal hygiene.

FAQ

Does prickly heat itch?

In the event that an additional infection joins it and we are talking about a complicated condition, itching and discomfort may occur.

Is it possible to get prickly heat?

No. This disease is not transmitted by household or other means.

How to get rid of prickly heat?

A simple form can pass by itself, and in other cases, the help of specialists is required, who will select special pills, ointments and procedures necessary for a particular patient.

Prickly heat in a child: what it looks like and how to treat it, symptoms

Contents:

1. What is prickly heat and why does it occur?
2. What does prickly heat look like in children?
3. How to get rid of prickly heat in a child?
4. How to prevent prickly heat in a child?

Baby’s delicate skin is very moody.Some irritations constantly arise on it, but in order to start treatment, you need to understand what the reason is. We will teach you how to identify prickly heat in a child, tell you about its symptoms and explain how to cope with it. And we hope that now you and your baby will have one less problem.

What is prickly heat and why does it occur?

This is exactly the case when the name of the disease speaks for itself. Prickly heat occurs if a person sweats frequently. At the same time, the excretory ducts of the sweat glands are clogged and a rash occurs.Most often, the disease manifests itself in closed areas of the body – on the back, on the neck, on the legs, buttocks, armpits, as well as in the skin folds. If parents put a hat on the baby out of season, prickly heat can pop out on the head and even on the face, especially in those places where hair falls on the skin.

Miliaria occurs not only in children, in adults too, but much less frequently. The reasons are quite obvious. First, the baby’s skin is softer and thinner. Secondly, the thermoregulation of a child under one year old is very far from ideal – he is easily overcooled and even more easily overheated. Finally, an adult is able to understand that he is hot and take off excess clothes, and a newborn is completely dependent on the will of his parents. That is why the probability of prickly heat in a month-old baby is much higher.

What does prickly heat look like in children?

Symptoms look pretty harmless at first – just a little redness.It is very important not to start prickly heat in a child: at the initial stages of development, it is easy to get rid of it, but later treatment may be required. The disease goes through the following stages:

• If parents do not think about how to remove prickly heat from a child, or fight it incorrectly, the disease can leave the surface of the epidermis into the deeper layers of the skin. The inflammatory process begins and redness appears around the bubbles.

• In advanced cases, bacteria penetrate into the bubbles, because of which their contents become cloudy, and this looks very unpleasant not only in life, but even in the photo.The rash increases and the skin starts to get wet. The disease develops especially quickly if the newborn is weakened.

• Slight redness of the skin, sometimes accompanied by itching. The kid can reach for irritated places, touch and scratch them.

• If the child continues to overheat, a rash appears in the areas of redness in the form of tiny bubbles filled with clear liquid. They look almost like protruding beads of sweat, but only in the shell.

• If parents do not think about how to remove prickly heat from a child, or fight it incorrectly, the disease can leave the surface of the epidermis into the deeper layers of the skin. The inflammatory process begins and redness appears around the bubbles.

• In advanced cases, bacteria penetrate into the bubbles, because of which their contents become cloudy, and this looks very unpleasant not only in life, but even in the photo. The rash increases and the skin starts to get wet.The disease develops especially quickly if the newborn is weakened.

• Slight redness of the skin, sometimes accompanied by itching. The kid can reach for irritated places, touch and scratch them.

• If the child continues to overheat, a rash appears in the areas of redness in the form of tiny bubbles filled with clear liquid. They look almost like protruding beads of sweat, but only in the shell.

Don’t let prickly heat develop and become a problem requiring treatment.When the first symptoms appear on the back, on the head, on the face or elsewhere in the baby’s body, eliminate the cause of the overheating. If this does not help, see your doctor!

How to get rid of prickly heat in a child?

If a child’s prickly heat has appeared recently and has not had time to go into a neglected state, no treatment is required. It is enough just to exclude the reasons that caused it, and soon it will disappear by itself – within a few hours or even faster.

In cases where prickly heat has turned from redness into a rash, and then a bacterial infection has gone, treatment with special creams and ointments can be prescribed. If the symptoms show that the disease has reached a serious stage, see your doctor and he will tell you how to treat it. Take photos of problem areas regularly to track progress.

How to prevent prickly heat in a child?

Prevention of prickly heat is very simple – you just need to make sure that the child is comfortable and does not sweat. Here is a list of rules to remember:

• Create the right climate in your baby’s room.Maintain the temperature at 18–20 ° C and do not worry that the newborn will freeze – this is just right for him.

• If there is direct sunlight on the crib, move it to a different location.

• Ventilate the room regularly, do not let the air stagnate in it.

• Do not buy clothes for your baby made of synthetic fabrics that do not breathe. Choose natural.

• Bathe your baby daily.

• Do not wrap your child up – both at home and on walks.

• Change diapers at least every 3-4 hours. After removing the used diaper and drying your baby’s skin, let it breathe for a few minutes.

Learn to identify the symptoms of overheating. If the child has become lethargic, and his face turns red, it means that he is very hot.During a walk, especially in the cold season, these signs are easy to miss: the baby’s face, as the only open part of the body, rather reflects the weather outside than the general state of the body. Gently slide your hand under your baby’s clothes and check what’s going on on the back of the neck. If the baby’s skin is dry and warm, everything is in order, and if it is wet, the baby is overheated, and this may result in prickly heat.

How to distinguish prickly heat from allergies in a child?

Allergy is a pathological reaction of the immune system, and it usually does not get exchanged for such trifles as local redness on the face or back.Allergy symptoms are complex, often accompanied by nasal congestion and runny nose, shortness of breath, redness of the eyes. If at the same time a rash is found on the baby’s body, the raging immunity usually “draws” mirror images. For example, skin problems occur on both elbow folds at once, rashes appear on the abdomen or groin that are symmetrical about the center line of the body.

Allergies usually come out in the form of eczema (characterized by the formation of tiny bubbles that burst very quickly and leave weeping well wounds) or hives (almost unmistakably recognized by raised flat blisters).Such symptoms are completely different from prickly heat. When in doubt, search the internet for photos of these skin conditions. And even better – take a photo of the problem area of ​​the skin yourself and send it to the doctor.

Due to inexperience, other skin diseases can be mistaken for prickly heat in a child, but they also have their own distinctive features.

• Heat heat and contact dermatitis

  Contact dermatitis is a direct response of the skin to an irritant and, in direct accordance with its name, is always limited only to the points of contact.For example, if the problem is in the composition of new socks, redness will appear on the legs, directly under them, and if in a new shampoo, on the head.

  Dermatitis occurs quite easily and naturally in dry places – where there is nothing to do with prickly heat. And he is in no hurry to leave – until the symptoms of this disease disappear, days, sometimes weeks, pass.

• Prickly heat and diaper rash

  Diaper rash also loves warm and humid places, but for a different reason. They are caused by the development of a bacterial infection in irritated or chafed areas of the skin on the neck, groin, armpits, and elsewhere.Diaper rash is more painful for newborns and children under one year old, because they have many secluded folds on the body.

  At the first stage of development, diaper rash shows the same symptoms as prickly heat – redness on the skin. Later, cracks appear in these places, then ulcers. The fact that it is almost impossible to distinguish between the two diseases in the early stages should not upset you. Start treatment on two fronts at once – diaper rash cream plus control and prevention of overheating from prickly heat.One will help, and the other will definitely not hurt.

Is prickly heat only a disease of newborns? Can it appear in a baby at 1, 2, 3 years old?

As he grows up, the baby expresses his feelings more and more clearly – first with actions, and then with words. Already at 1 year old, a child is able to pull off a too warm hat, at 2 years old he can, albeit primitively, explain that he is hot, and at 3 years old – tell about the reasons for discomfort in all details.

Learn to understand the child’s signals, listen to him and do not ignore.If the baby warned you about overheating, but you did nothing and then discovered prickly heat, then it is clear who is to blame and what to do next time.

Authors: Huggies experts, dermatologist Polina Vasilyeva

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90,000 products for care and treatment “Pharmvestnik

What it is and why it occurs

Due to the imperfection of the thermoregulation system, babies quickly overheat in the heat and begin to sweat profusely.This leads to the fact that the sweat glands suffer from increased stress, and the skin becomes irritated and rash due to prolonged contact with slowly evaporating sweat. By itself, prickly heat is not dangerous and in most cases does not bother the baby, but it is undesirable to leave its appearance unattended, because constant irritation and high moisture content of the skin create optimal conditions for the development of bacterial conditions, which arise very easily in children in the first years of life and can spread quickly.

The main thing that is required when caring for a child in case of prickly heat is to provide a more favorable temperature regime (do not overheat, do not wear too warm) and careful hygiene, with bathing or rubbing off the skin at least 3 times a day. In order to speed up the disappearance of the rash with prickly heat, you can use external medicines that have drying, antiseptic or astringent effects. But without a doctor’s prescription, this can be recommended only if the child does not have any contraindications, first of all – a tendency to allergic reactions and atopic dermatitis!

Powders and dusting agents

The most famous remedy for the prevention of diaper rash and prickly heat in babies is, of course, ordinary baby powders – based on talc, corn or rice starch.They allow you to remove excess moisture from baby skin and reduce mechanical irritation at the points of contact with the diaper or folds of clothing. Today, baby powders are produced not only in the form of a traditional powder, but also in a “liquid” form, which is more evenly applied to the skin, dries instantly and forms the thinnest protective layer.

For the prevention of prickly heat and skin care in the event of a rash, it is better to give preference to products based on mineral talc – without the addition of oils and other fatty components, or to choose a powder, which additionally contains zinc (has a drying and slight anti-inflammatory effect).Powders with dry extracts of medicinal plants – chamomile, calendula, lavender – have also proven themselves quite well.

Bath and wiping products

A good disinfecting and soothing effect is obtained by the regular use of baths and rubdowns with extracts of medicinal plants and a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate).

Extracts of medicinal plants – string, chamomile, calendula, yarrow – have anti-inflammatory and sedative effects, but so on.Since their effect does not develop immediately, it is advisable to start using it at the first signs of prickly heat. And of course, all medicinal plants that are taken for the preparation of decoctions added to the bath should be purchased only at the pharmacy.

Anti-inflammatory and wound healing

In most cases, the hygiene and care methods described above are sufficient for the symptoms of prickly heat to disappear. If the rash is very severe, one of the topical dexpanthenol preparations (Panthenol, Bepanten, D-Panthenol, Pantoderm, etc.) can be recommended.in the form of an aerosol, cream or emulsion. Such funds have a well-proven anti-inflammatory effect and accelerate the processes of skin regeneration in case of microdamage and irritation.

As an antiseptic – for the prevention of inflammation and the addition of bacterial infections, you can use the solution of Miramistin.

As a drying, astringent and antiseptic agent, external preparations containing zinc oxide are traditionally recommended – Diaderm, Desitin, Tsindol, Zinc ointment, etc.e. Zinc oxide eliminates inflammation and irritation, has an absorbent effect and protects the skin from the influence of aggressive factors.

But the most important thing is that the parents of a small child must not forget – if, if all the recommendations are followed, the manifestations of prickly heat do not diminish within 4–5 days, or some new symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. in children, many skin problems are very similar.

Our Expert

Elena Igorevna Kovernaya, Cand.honey. Sci., children’s doctor, dermatologist of the highest qualification category of the MEDSI Children’s Clinic in Blagoveshchensky lane.

The reason for the appearance of prickly heat lies in the immaturity of the baby’s sweat glands. Therefore, the main recommendations are the rules of care: dress the baby for the weather, take air baths, bathing with the addition of disinfecting herbs such as sage or chamomile, thoroughly drying the baby’s large folds: cervical, axillary and inguinal. And also the use of powders with the inclusion of mineral components.It is very important to eliminate starch, as it rolls in the folds and causes inflammation. There are two types of prickly heat: crystalline and red. Crystalline –

is the easiest option, and mothers can cope with it on their own with the help of the elementary care described earlier, and red prickly heat is when a secondary infection joins, in which the help of a doctor and specific treatment are already needed.

How to distinguish prickly heat from allergies in a child?

Peculiarities of rash with prickly heat

Miliaria in children occurs when the skin is irritated as a result of excessive sweating.The reason lies in the imperfection of thermoregulation and the structural features of children’s sweat glands, which have narrow excretory ducts.

The rash most often appears during the hot season, as well as during the cold season in overly wrapped children. Skin rashes, provoked by increased sweating, occur when the temperature rises during illness or thermal procedures.

Causes of prickly heat can be:

• Incorrectly selected baby clothes, in which he sweats a lot;
• increased room temperature, especially if heaters are used that dry the air;
• non-compliance with hygiene standards, as a result of which the baby may have a blockage of the sweat glands.

You can distinguish prickly heat from allergies in newborns by a rash that looks like bubbles (papules) of bright red or flesh color. Bubbles occur anywhere, but the typical localization is usually in closed areas of the back, gluteal folds of the neck, in the axillary, between the gluteal folds, as well as on the face and abdomen. They usually appear immediately after the child overheats.

Dry the rash with baby powder. If the rash is caused by sweat, then the next day the bubbles will disappear.We are talking about prickly heat, already a priori associated with sweat, or rather with difficulty in sweating. You should not use powder, ointments and creams, but on the contrary use baths, but with a low temperature, you can also take into account the following: Normalize the temperature and humidity conditions in the room, change linen more often, use HB fabric, try not to overheat the child.

Features of the manifestation of allergic rashes in children

Unlike prickly heat, allergies in children do not have a clear localization and can appear anywhere on the body.Most often, it affects the face, arms, legs, tummy and back of the baby. The rash looks like small blisters filled with fluid and prone to flaking. The rash coalesces into large, itchy lesions.

You can distinguish prickly heat from allergies in a newborn by the absence of large drainage foci that look like inflamed spots. The elements of the rash caused by prickly heat are small and do not merge with each other. Also, with allergies, additional symptoms may appear: runny nose, dry cough, nasal congestion, headache, refusal to eat.

Allergic rashes may appear for the following reasons:

• Changing the baby’s diet – introducing complementary foods or switching from breastfeeding to formula. Most often, this situation occurs when using baby products that are not adapted to age to feed a baby;
• Changes in the mother’s diet – while the baby is feeding on milk, everything that the woman ate enters the baby’s body. Even the most harmless product causes a rash on the skin;
• Changing the type of baby soap, diapers, talcum powder, napkins.Modern children have a reaction even to hypoallergenic care products;
• Taking medicines by mother and child. Often this situation occurs with self-medication. Especially dangerous is the use of antibiotics that cause dysbiosis, which provokes allergization of the body.

If you develop an allergic rash, be sure to see a doctor. After all, first you need to find out what exactly the baby’s reaction was to. Taking antihistamines is possible only as directed by a specialist.

90,000 Prickly heat on the face of a baby: symptoms, treatment, prevention

Prickly heat in newborns is a small rash on the baby’s skin, the cause of which is increased sweating. There are several types of prickly heat, below we will analyze each of them in detail. If you let this problem go by itself, in the end it will lead to dire consequences, such as diaper rash or diaper dermatitis. In this article, we will consider the question of how to treat prickly heat in newborns, which interests many new mothers.

Most often, babies and young children suffer from prickly heat

In infants, the skin is special, which is why prickly heat occurs most often in babies up to one year old. Among the features of the skin of children can be distinguished:

1. The dermis is very thin and delicate – even a slight (for an adult) effect on the skin, such as: rubbing, patting, scratching can lead to irritation, redness or inflammation.
2. The superficial location of the blood vessel system is this feature, the main reason why the baby’s skin overheats quickly.
3. Formation and increased work of the sweat glands – the development of the glands begins from the third week of the child’s life, at this time the active maturation of the sweat ducts occurs, during the entire formation period, violations in the processes of sweating occur.
4. Children’s skin contains a lot of moisture .

Thus, not fully formed thermoregulation leads to the appearance of prickly heat in babies, and as a result, hyperthermia.

Varieties of prickly heat

There are four types of prickly heat in infants:

Red. Around pimples and blisters, you can see foci of redness, which are localized separately from the rash. This type of prickly heat is characterized by the appearance on the neck, in the armpits and in the groin. When touched, the baby experiences painful sensations, the rash itches strongly.The irritation persists for about 2 weeks.

Crystalline. The rash appears as small blisters that are white or silver in color. The sweat is localized on the face of the newborn, neck, chest and back. Such rashes form large foci. When the blisters burst, scabs and peeling appear on the skin. This form does not bring discomfort or pain to the baby and disappears after a few days.

Papular. It occurs as a result of increased sweating in the baby, and appears after a couple of hours.Such a rash does not differ in color from the surrounding skin, it looks like bubbles. It is localized on the body of the child and on the limbs. Quite quickly passes without leaving a trace.

Infected. Such rashes appear in the case of neglected treatment of prickly heat. This type is accompanied by the penetration of bacteria into the vesicles themselves, resulting in inflammation and infection of the skin. External symptoms of this type are the appearance of red spots on the skin and blisters that are filled with yellow or gray fluid.When such a formation breaks through, a characteristic unpleasant odor appears. If the crumbs’ temperature rises, this indicates that the infection processes are spreading throughout the body.

Miliaria is a red rash that can occur on different parts of the baby’s skin

Symptoms and signs of prickly heat on the face in babies

A baby can develop three forms of prickly heat:

1. Crystalline – the lightest and most harmless.It manifests itself in the form of small bubbles located close to each other. They contain a clear liquid inside. Rashes do not bring physical discomfort, their occurrence does not cause severe itching and soreness, so the child’s behavior does not change. This type does not need treatment, it quickly passes (in two days), but only if the parents can identify and eliminate the main provoking factor.
2. Red is a moderate form of sweaty sweat. When it develops, bubble eruptions appear on the skin of the face.A red rim forms around each element of the rash. The skin reaction causes severe itching and soreness, so the child becomes moody. He constantly pulls his hands to his face and tries to scratch the affected areas. In order for the baby to not be able to damage the integrity of the bubbles, it is necessary to put on special mittens on the wrist. Red prickly heat lasts for about two weeks.
3. White and yellow – severe forms of prickly sweat. They develop when the liquid inside the bubbles becomes cloudy and changes color.This process indicates the attachment of the bacterial component. Skin infection is dangerous because of its complications.

The difference between prickly heat and allergies

Outwardly prickly heat is not much different from many other diseases associated with the skin. In order not to confuse these rashes with any other manifestation, such as allergies, it is necessary to know the distinctive features of prickly heat.You can understand that the baby has an allergy by the following signs:

• the child has itchy skin, itching does not stop even at night, the baby himself is restless;
• the rash does not go away after being treated;
• The number of rashes decreases after taking an allergy remedy;
• for allergies, the rash looks like small scales;
• first of all, rashes appear on the cheeks, then on the limbs.

To better understand, look at how prickly sweat looks like in infants, a photo of the disease is provided below.In no case should you be engaged in establishing a diagnosis yourself. When the first signs of illness appear, immediately consult a doctor for qualified help. Remember, your delay can cost your baby’s health.

Causes of the appearance

Miliaria in infants occurs in those places where air penetrates least. Too warm wrapping, clothes made of synthetic fabrics, constant presence in a diaper – all these factors can lead to the appearance of rashes.The sweat glands produce a secret that does not evaporate if there is insufficient air access. Excessive accumulation of secretion leads to redness and the appearance of a rash on the delicate skin. Let’s consider the most common causes of a rash in babies:

• humid and hot air in the room where the baby is;
• insufficient hygiene;
• Coating a child’s skin with an oily cream that clogs the sweat ducts, not allowing air to
• ;
• wearing substandard diapers;
• Clothing made of non-natural fabrics;
• increased body temperature;
• rare being in the air without clothes;
• Warm and close wrapping in a diaper.

Babies suffering from obesity, diabetes mellitus, and premature babies are at risk.

If medical measures are taken in time, the rash does not pose a serious threat to the child

Causes of prickly heat in infants

Due to imperfection of the sweat glands, the skin of newborns reacts very sharply to any adverse factors. These include:

• Overheating . As a rule, overheating occurs when the baby is wrapped too much or too many things are put on it.As a result, the temperature of the baby’s skin rises and the sweat glands begin to work much more actively.
• Disease , leading to an increase in body temperature. Naturally, during such diseases, sweating also increases.
• Heat . If the room is too hot, even regular air baths cannot save you from prickly heat.
• Non-compliance with hygiene rules . Irregular diaper changes, infrequent bathing, irregular washing, etc.d.

Where the rash appears

Redness with foci of rashes can be localized in any specific place or spread throughout the baby’s body. Very often, the rash is located in the groin area and on the baby’s bottom. In addition to prickly heat, the baby may be disturbed by such manifestations as: moodiness, poor sleep, lack of appetite.

In appearance, prickly heat is similar to diseases such as measles, chickenpox and diathesis and allergies, and therefore it is quite easy to confuse them.To clarify the diagnosis, it is recommended to visit a pediatrician. You can identify prickly heat on your own by the location of the foci of redness and rash. Let’s take a look at the most common places of occurrence of rashes and find out the reasons for the appearance:

1. Neck area. Little or no bathing, room temperature is too hot.
2. Upper back. Wearing clothes made of unnatural fabrics, overheating.
3. Buttocks and groin .Frequent use of a cream that does not allow air to pass through, constant wearing of a diaper.
4. Face. Prickly heat in infants on the face is most often a manifestation of allergies or diathesis, but sometimes it is the result of the transition of rashes from the neck area.
5. Head. Regular wearing of a bonnet, especially a tight or thick one.

Such rashes pass, with proper treatment, in just a few days. This does not apply to those cases when the baby has an infectious type of prickly heat; this form is much more difficult to cope with.

Diagnostics and examination by a specialist

A doctor of any profile will determine prickly heat in a newborn.

Therefore, is sufficient to make a diagnosis by examining the patient . A pediatrician is watching the child. Complex cases require the consultation of a dermatologist.

In disputable situations with an unclear diagnosis, a pediatrician or a specialized doctor prescribes a series of examinations (scraping, tank culture) to exclude diseases with similar manifestations (smallpox, dermatitis, lichen).

There are categories of newborns that are more susceptible to development of prickly heat.

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When to see a doctor

Pay close attention to the little body. If you notice that the rash has begun to fester, peeling or cracks appear on the skin, the baby is anxious, the rash is itchy or he has a fever, do not delay the visit to the doctor. You should also visit the pediatrician with the following manifestations:

• the baby has edema;
• Bubbles on the skin have an unpleasant odor;
• cracks appeared on the surface of the foci;
• when touching redness, the baby experiences discomfort or pain;
• Skin itches or burns;
• body temperature has increased.

Each of these symptoms should alert parents, because they can talk about the appearance of inflammation or infection. Timely referral to a specialist will help maintain the health of the child. The doctor will conduct a visual examination of the crumbs, interview the parents, and, based on these data, will be able to establish the correct diagnosis. In some cases, you may need to get tested and visit a dermatologist.

Often prickly heat causes itching, due to which the child can scratch the affected areas, which will increase the risk of infection

Treatment of rashes

The baby’s recovery will go much faster if the main cause of prickly heat is eliminated.So, the air temperature in the room where the baby is located should be 18-22 degrees Celsius. Avoid contact of synthetic fabrics with baby’s skin, choose natural materials. Try to lay the baby out without a diaper as often as possible so that the skin can “breathe”.

Newly-made mothers are usually afraid that the baby will get sick or freeze if he is not covered with two blankets or a warm jacket is not put on, but you need to understand that the baby should be dressed the same way as you dress yourself.At an air temperature of plus twenty-two degrees, the baby physically cannot freeze.

In the hot season, completely abandon the use of fatty creams and oils, in this case it will be more effective to use a powder for processing. To treat folds, especially groin folds, you can use regular potato starch instead of dusting. This natural product does not contain chemical additives and aromatic components, and the result from its use is no worse than from a commercially available powder.

Basic treatment measures

Will consider the most effective and fastest ways to get rid of prickly heat in babies. Mix the dried chamomile flowers and succession in equal proportions. Pour two tablespoons of the resulting collection, a liter of boiling water and leave for an hour. Add the resulting broth to the baby’s bath every time you bathe. Prepare the broth just before water treatments to keep it fresh. After bathing, wipe the affected areas of the baby’s body with a decoction, chamomile has a calming effect, will help relieve itching and burning.

You can also add a little potassium permanganate to the water when bathing. When adding potassium permanganate, the water in the bath should have a light pink tint. Such a procedure will help the rashes dry out more quickly, and they will go away much faster.

Please note that you should thoroughly dissolve the crystals of potassium permanganate in water, otherwise a burn will remain on the baby’s delicate skin.

Prickly heat in a child can occur due to overly caring parents who overly wrap the child and dress him not for the weather
After bathing, it is necessary to dry the child’s skin with blotting movements, it is important not to rub it in any way.Pay special attention to creases. After your baby’s skin is dry, apply powder or starch with a cotton swab or custom sponge. Applying powder to wet skin is fraught with the fact that it rolls off and will additionally injure the skin.

Do not dress or wrap the baby immediately after bathing. Clean skin needs an air bath.

For treatment, you can use special creams and ointments that reduce the number of rashes and relieve discomfort.Such preparations are applied in a very thin layer. After application, do not dress the child, you need to allow the composition to be absorbed into the skin. Treatment of prickly heat in newborns in the groin and on the buttocks involves a temporary refusal of diapers.

Before you start using creams for medicinal purposes, you need to consult a pediatrician.

Ointments for the treatment of prickly heat

1. Bepanten. Provides a regenerating effect and moisturizes damaged skin.This drug does not have anti-inflammatory properties, therefore, its effectiveness in the fight against rashes remains in doubt.
2. Sudokrem. Dries bubbles and has an antibacterial effect. Well heals rashes and redness with prickly heat. The oily base of the cream does not allow application to large areas of the skin.
3. “ Zinc Ointment” . Perhaps the most effective remedy for prickly heat. Just a few days of use is enough for the disease to pass without traces.

If, a few days after the start of treatment, the parents notice that there is no improvement, you should contact a dermatologist. The doctor will determine if additional diseases have been added to the prickly heat. In the event of an infection, the specialist will prescribe antihistamines and antibiotics.

Preventive measures

Even in hot weather, you can create comfortable conditions for the crumbs and prevent sweating in newborns. The photos presented in the article clearly demonstrate how dangerous this disease is.Know that preventing its occurrence is much easier than treating it. To do this, dress the baby in accordance with the weather, do not overheat it, bathe daily and observe the temperature regime in the room.

Miliaria can appear on several areas of the skin at once, which in most cases indicates non-observance of the temperature regime in the room, which is comfortable for the child.

Elementary prevention will help prevent the appearance of rashes:

1. Put on your baby loose clothes made of natural, breathable fabrics.
2. You should bathe your baby every day; in hot weather, you can douse your baby several times during the day.
3. Change diapers more often so that the baby’s skin does not become overcast.
4. Remember that your baby also needs to take air baths regularly.
5. Avoid bonnets during the hot season.
6. Do not wrap your child too tightly.
7. To wash clothes for a newborn, you need only baby hypoallergenic washing powder.
8. Use a powder, starch or water-based cream instead of greasy creams.

Adhere to the above rules, carefully examine the skin of the crumbs, if the slightest signs of prickly heat appear, do not delay the treatment. Remember that a healthy baby is a happy baby.

Prevention

In order to deal with the consequences of prickly heat as rarely as possible, it is important to know and take measures to prevent it. Prevention consists in the following measures:

We advise you to read: Prickly heat in a month-old baby

1. It is forbidden to wrap up the baby.You should not put a hundred clothes on your beloved child. Hypothermia is not as bad for him as overheating. Do not be guided by the “cold nose” or “cold hands”, the child needs to somehow give off warmth. If the crumb freezes, he will either warm himself, actively moving, or he will notify you with persistent crying. But red, warm, almost wet skin will not only cause prickly heat, but also weaken the immune system.
2. Air baths. Excellent hardening and prevention of prickly heat in one bottle. Leave the baby naked in a well-ventilated room for 5-10 minutes, gradually increasing the time to 30 minutes.
3. Quality clothing. No synthetics. Only natural fabrics: cotton, linen, chintz, bike. They will allow air to pass to the skin, some will be able to absorb sweat.
4. Hypoallergenic powders. For washing, use only proven baby powders without fragrances and phosphates, with a minimum amount of aggressive surfactants.
5. Daily skin examination. This should be done in order to suppress the first manifestations of prickly heat in the form of redness. If such places have been found, use special means.
6. Quality diapers according to size. Often, children are allergic to fragrances, so if the diaper initially “fit”, it is recommended not to change the manufacturer. Make sure that the elastic bands do not squeeze the baby’s legs, switch to the next size in time.
7. Timely diaper change and washing. If there is a newborn in the house, it takes 8 to 12 disposable diapers per day. You should not skimp on this item, waiting for the maximum feeling of overcrowding.This is especially true in the summer. When it is not possible to wash the crumbs immediately after a bowel movement, use wet sanitary napkins.
8. Daily bathing. Water treatments are also an excellent prevention of prickly heat. Let them be in your house every day.

If you follow all these recommendations, your baby will never get prickly heat.