Search results
Dec 21, 2023 · Heat rash is a common skin irritation that happens when sweat gets trapped under the skin. It can cause itchy, prickly, or red bumps on various parts of the body. Learn how to prevent and treat heat rash with home remedies or medication.
People also ask
What causes Prickly Heat Rash?
What is prickly heat rash & miliaria?
What is heat rash?
Apr 11, 2024 · Heat rash, also known as prickly heat, is a skin rash that causes redness, warmth, and itching in areas where the body sweats. Learn how to identify, treat, and prevent heat rash with this comprehensive guide.
- Lana Barhum
- On this page
- Symptoms
- When to see a doctor
- From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
- Causes
- Risk factors
- Complications
- Prevention
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
•Overview
•Symptoms
•When to see a doctor
•Causes
•Risk factors
•Complications
Sweat glands
Eccrine sweat glands occur over most of the body and open directly onto the skin's surface. Apocrine glands open into the hair follicle, leading to the surface of the skin. Apocrine glands develop in areas with many hair follicles, such as on the scalp, armpits and groin. Eccrine sweat glands are involved in hyperhidrosis, though apocrine glands may play a role as well.
Types of heat rash
The types of heat rash are classified according to how deep the sweat is trapped in the skin. Signs and symptoms for each type vary.
Heat rash usually heals by cooling the skin and avoiding exposure to the heat that caused it. See your health care provider if you or your child has symptoms that last longer than a few days or the rash seems to be getting worse.
Request an appointment
Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.
To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.
Heat rash develops when a duct that leads from a sweat gland to the surface of the skin is blocked or inflamed. This then blocks the opening of the sweat duct on the surface of the skin (sweat pore). Instead of evaporating, sweat is trapped beneath the skin, causing irritation and bumps on the skin.
Factors that increase the risk of heat rash include:
•Being a newborn, as newborns have immature sweat ducts
•Living in a hot, humid climate
•Being physically active
Heat rash usually heals without scarring. People with brown or Black skin are at risk of spots of skin that get lighter or darker in response to inflammatory skin conditions (postinflammatory hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation). These changes usually go away within weeks or months.
A common complication is infection with bacteria, causing inflamed and itchy pustules.
To help protect yourself or your child from heat rash:
•In hot weather, dress in loose, lightweight clothing that wicks moisture away from the skin. Don't wrap newborns in too many layers.
•In hot weather, limit physical activity. Stay in the shade or in an air-conditioned building. Or use a fan to circulate the air.
•Keep your sleeping area cool and well ventilated.
•Avoid creams and ointments that can block pores.
•Avoid drugs that cause sweating, such as clonidine, beta blockers and opioids.
Heat rash, also known as prickly heat and miliaria, is a skin condition caused by trapped sweat. It can range from mild to severe, and affect adults and infants in hot, humid conditions.
Oct 4, 2021 · Prickly heat is a skin condition that occurs when sweat becomes trapped under the skin, causing red bumps and itching. Learn how to prevent, treat, and soothe prickly heat with home remedies and over-the-counter products.
Oct 4, 2017 · Prickly heat, or heat rash, is a rash that occurs when sweat gets trapped in the skin. It causes redness, itching, and a prickly sensation. Learn how to treat and prevent it with home remedies and lifestyle changes.
Mar 2, 2022 · A heat rash, prickly heat rash or sweat rash is a group of tiny pimples or blisters on your skin caused by sweat trapped in your glands. The rash can be painful or itchy. Treat the rash at home by keeping your skin cool and dry.
Jun 30, 2023 · Heat rash is also called miliaria, sweat rash, or prickly heat. Heat rash is most common among young children, particularly newborns between 1 and 3 weeks old. But someone of any age...
