What does prickly heat look like?

Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Prickly heat is one of the most common acute skin inflammations in summer, caused by blocked sweat pores. It often occurs on the scalp, forehead, neck, chest, armpits, and groin. The skin becomes red, followed by the appearance of small, red papules or vesicular rashes, densely clustered. Some of these papules can develop into pustules. After developing prickly heat, intense itching or pain can occur. Therefore, in summer, it is important to keep indoor ventilation and cooling, and children's clothing should be loose, soft, and highly absorbent.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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How to deal with heat rash in adults?

Adults may develop heat rash, usually due to excessively hot weather or high temperatures, which causes excessive sweating and the inability to expel this sweat effectively. Recommendations for this condition are: first, ensure good ventilation to cool down; second, bathe frequently to reduce skin temperature; third, use medications for treating heat rash or apply everyday items like honeysuckle water; fourth, maintain dryness and wear breathable, cool clothing.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
1min 15sec home-news-image

The difference between eczema and prickly heat

Eczema and heat rash have clear differences, distinguished by their causes, affected areas, and symptoms. The cause of heat rash is mainly due to blocked sweat pores, typically triggered by hot and humid environmental conditions; eczema, on the other hand, is usually caused by allergic factors such as food allergies, pollen, dust mites, animal fur, etc., and is also related to disorders of gastrointestinal function and indigestion. The seasonal occurrence of the two conditions also differs. Heat rash usually occurs in the summer, while eczema can occur in any season and at any age. The affected areas are also different. Heat rash typically appears on the chest, back, inside the elbows, neck, and forehead, whereas eczema can occur on any part of the body. The clinical manifestations of the two are also different; heat rash involves inflammation of the sweat glands, with the skin turning red and a dense distribution of papules. Eczema, on the other hand, primarily features symmetrically distributed erythema and papules, and may also include exudation.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Can children eat eggs when they have prickly heat?

When children develop prickly heat, it is best not to feed them eggs. Prickly heat in children primarily occurs because the sweat glands in the skin become blocked, leading to a type of skin disease. When children develop prickly heat, we need to cool and dry their skin, which will improve and relieve the condition. In terms of diet, we should also avoid spicy and irritating foods, greasy foods, and foods that are likely to cause allergies. Eggs, being rich in proteins, can easily trigger allergies. Therefore, when a child has prickly heat, it is best to avoid giving them eggs. If the child's prickly heat is severe, we can also apply topical medications to the affected area. The principle for using medications should be based on cooling, astringent, and anti-itch properties.

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Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
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Are heat rash and prickly heat the same?

Heat rash, also known as miliaria, is actually what is referred to in medicine as herpes simplex. It is different from prickly heat. Herpes simplex is caused by a viral infection, specifically the herpes simplex virus. It is characterized by clusters of small blisters and often occurs at the junctions of skin and mucous membranes. It is self-limiting but tends to recur, especially when the immune system is weakened. On the other hand, prickly heat occurs in the hot summer months when high temperatures and humidity make sweat evacuation difficult, leading to narrow and blocked sweat ducts, which results in prickly heat. It is usually intensely itchy. Thus, it is advisable to avoid rapid changes in skin temperature, such as moving from sweating heavily to suddenly entering an air-conditioned environment. This can cause sweat glands to close while sweat is still being produced heavily, leading to prickly heat. Treatment for herpes simplex involves antiviral therapy, whereas treatment for prickly heat primarily involves cooling, inducing sweat, and astringent measures.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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How to remove baby's prickly heat

Baby prickly heat is mainly caused by the hot and humid living environment, which damages the skin. Therefore, it is important to enhance skin care, especially by improving the environmental temperature. Keeping the room ventilated by exchanging air is the best treatment method. If the skin symptoms are severe, Calamine lotion can be used, which can effectively alleviate the symptoms of prickly heat. The main treatment for prickly heat is prevention. Therefore, especially in summer, the clothes worn by infants should be loose and made of pure cotton. Avoid tight clothes or synthetic fabrics, as these can aggravate the symptoms of prickly heat by causing friction between the skin and the clothing. Also, pay attention to the diet and try to eat less spicy and stimulating food, choosing instead light and liquid-based foods. (The use of medication should be carried out under the guidance of a physician.)