What is heat rash?
Picture of the layers of the skin including the sweat glands
The skin's job is to protect the inside of the body from the outside world. It acts as a preventive barrier against intruders that cause infection, chemicals, or ultraviolet light from invading or damaging the body. It also plays an important role in the body's temperature control. One way that the body cools itself is by sweating and allowing that sweat or perspiration to evaporate. Sweat is manufactured in sweat glands that line the entire body (except for a few small spots like fingernails, toenails, and the ear canal).
Sweat glands are located in the dermis or deep layer of the skin and are regulated by the temperature control centers in the brain. Sweat from the gland gets to the surface of the skin by a duct.
A heat rash occurs when sweat ducts become clogged and the sweat cannot get to the surface of the skin. Instead, it becomes trapped beneath the skin's surface causing a mild inflammation or rash.
Heat rash is also called prickly heat or miliaria.
What are the causes of heat rash?
It is uncertain why some people get heat rashes and others don't.
The sweat gland ducts can become blocked if excessive sweating occurs, and that sweat is not allowed to evaporate from a specific area. Some examples of how blockage may occur include the following:
- Creases in the skin like the neck, armpit, or groin have skin touching adjacent skin, which makes it difficult for air to circulate, and prevents sweat evaporation.
- Tight clothing that prevents sweat evaporation.
- Bundling up in heavy clothing or sheets. This may occur when a person tries to keep warm in wintertime or when chilled because of an illness with a fever.
- Heavy creams or lotions can clog sweat ducts.
Babies have immature sweat glands that aren't able to efficiently remove the sweat they produce. They can develop heat rash if they are exposed to warm weather, are overdressed, excessively bundled, or have a fever.
Heat rash may occur as a side effect of some medications (for example clonidine [Catapres]).
Who is at risk for heat rash?
Newborns, infants, the elderly, and obese individuals with large areas with skin-on-skin contact areas (for example, a large overlapping area of abdominal fat) are at risk for developing heat rash. They all are especially at risk if they are immobile for long periods and parts of the skin aren't exposed to circulating air, which results in the inability of the sweat ducts to "breathe" (evaporative cooling).
Heat rashes are more common in places with hot, humid, climates because people sweat more.
Intense exercise associated with lots of sweating may cause a heat rash, especially if the clothing worn does not allow adequate air circulation.
What are the signs and symptoms of heat rash?
Pictures of heat rash in children and adults
The common symptoms of heat rash are red bumps on the skin and an itchy or prickly feeling to the skin. These are due to inflammation of the superficial layers of the skin (the epidermis) and the prickly sensation is similar to the feeling of mild sunburn.
The symptoms of heat rash are the same in infants and adults; however, since an infant cannot complain about the rash sensation, he or she may be fussy.
Early signs of heat-related illnesses include:
What does heat rash look like?
The appearance of the heat rash depends upon where the excess sweat is deposited on the skin.
- Tiny blisters that look like small beads of sweat are seen if the sweat is blocked at the most superficial layers of the skin where the sweat duct opens on the skin surface. Called miliaria crystallina, it has no symptoms other than these "sweat bubbles."
- Classic heat rash or miliaria rubra occurs if the sweat causes inflammation in the deeper layers of the epidermis. Like any other inflammation, the area becomes red (and therefore the name rubra = red) and the blisters become slightly larger. Because the sweat ducts are blocked and don't deliver sweat to the skin's surface, the area involved is dry and can be irritated, itchy, and sore. This rash is also called prickly heat.
- Less commonly, after repeated episodes of prickly heat, the heat rash may inflame the deeper layer of the skin called the dermis, and cause miliaria profunda. This rash is made up of larger, harder bumps that are more skin-colored. The rash begins almost immediately after exercise, and again no sweat can be found on the affected areas. Rarely, this type of heat rash may be potentially dangerous if enough skin is involved, since the lack of sweating can lead to heat-related illnesses like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke.
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How is heat rash diagnosed?
The diagnosis of heat rash is made by physical examination. Knowing that the rash appears during sweating or heat, appreciating the location on the body (in skin creases or where clothes fit tightly), and seeing what the rash looks like is enough to make the diagnosis.
As with many rashes, the healthcare professional may look at the involved skin and because of previous experience, immediately make the diagnosis.
What is the treatment for heat rash?
Chronic and recurrent heat rash may need to be treated by a health care professional or dermatologist (skin specialist).
Treatment for heat rash includes home remedies such as over-the-counter creams and sprays. Medical treatment for heat rash may involve antibiotics if the sweat glands become infected.
How do you treat a heat rash at home?
Heat rash often resolves on its own when the skin cools. If the prickly sensation persists, calamine lotion may be helpful. Some clinicians also recommend over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams or sprays.
What is the prognosis for heat rash?
Heat rash or prickly heat tends to be self-limiting and gets better once the skin cools and is allowed to breathe. Prevention by not allowing heat to accumulate in body areas, followed by cooling the skin are the most common ways to obtain the best prognosis for heat rash.
What are complications of a heat rash?
Heat rash resolves on its own once the skin cools, but on occasion, the sweat glands can become infected. The signs of infection include:
- pain,
- increased swelling, and
- redness that does not resolve.
Pustules may form at the site of the rash. This infection occurs because bacteria have invaded the blocked sweat gland. Antibiotic treatment may be required.
How can heat rash be prevented?
Prevention is the most important treatment for heat rash. By allowing the skin to be exposed to circulating air, the potential for sweat ducts to become blocked and the glands to become inflamed decreases.
Other strategies to prevent heat rash include:
- Avoid exercising in hot, humid weather
- Wear loose clothing made of breathable fabrics like cotton
- Use air conditioning
- Keep the skin clean with frequent baths or showers to prevent sweat glands from becoming clogged
- Reduce the amount of overlapping skin-on-skin (fat or weight loss)
How effective are electric fans in preventing heat rash?
Keeping the skin cool on hot days is an important preventive measure.
- Air circulation (with fans or by other methods) usually will help with skin cooling.
- It is important not to bundle newborns and infants too tightly so that air can get to the skin, but it also is important to keep them warm enough.
- It is important to move individuals who are immobile (for example, some elderly, those with paralysis, or are weak) so all parts of the body can be exposed to fresh air.
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How can people protect their health when temperatures are extremely high?
The body can adapt very well to hot weather, but it takes time to acclimate. The actual temperature is just one factor when a person decides to work, play, or exercise in the heat. The heat index adds humidity to the equation since sweat cannot evaporate if the water content in the air (humidity) is high. If the air holds as much water as it can there is no place for sweat to go, and evaporation cannot cool the body.
To minimize the risk of heat-related illnesses follow these tips:
- Try to avoid working or exercising in extreme heat
- Avoid dehydration and other complications by taking frequent breaks to get out of the heat
- Drink plenty of water or other fluids to replenish fluid lost through sweat
It is important to get out of the heat, cool off, and rehydrate immediately to avoid severe heat-related problems such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
To calculate the heat index in your area, go to the U.S. Army's Heat Index Calculator online.
What is the best clothing for hot weather or a heat wave?
Evaporation works to cool the skin only if the sweat that the body produces is allowed to evaporate. Lightweight, loose clothing allows air circulation to the body's surface and helps promote cooling.
While cotton is the classic fabric that can be used, some synthetic fabrics have been developed to wick sweat from the skin, which allows the skin to be more efficient at skin or body cooling.
How much water should I drink in hot weather?
It is hard to gauge how much water is lost through sweat, and the thirst mechanism may not be sensitive enough to remind a person to drink enough. In general, the kidneys are a good guide to whether there is enough water in the body. If the body is dehydrated, the kidneys will try to hold on to as much water as possible.
- Decreased urine production, urine concentrated in color, and a strong urine odor are signs that the kidneys are trying to conserve the body's water supply.
- Urine is clear when there is enough fluid in the body.
In a hot environment, a person should drink enough water to make the urine clear, and make sure the body is producing sweat.
- Sweat and urine loss also involves electrolyte loss.
- Although drinking water is good, other fluids such as sports drinks should also be consumed to replace lost electrolytes to avoid other problems like hypokalemia (low potassium).
- People that are taking medications for conditions such as diabetes, kidney problems, and congestive heart failure (CHF) need to be especially careful about their fluid intake and discuss how to avoid hot-weather-related problems with their doctor(s).
Should I take salt tablets during hot weather?
Taking salt tablets is not a good idea. While the body loses many electrolytes when it sweats, there are mechanisms in place to compensate for the loss.
- Usually, keeping the body hydrated with plain water is adequate but does not resupply electrolytes.
- Sports drinks (for example, PowerAde and Gatorade) may be reasonable alternatives if prolonged exercise or work is required in hot conditions.