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 Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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What should I do if a baby gets prickly heat?

If babies develop prickly heat, it should be considered that their sweat glands are underdeveloped, making them susceptible to changes in temperature which can lead to increased sweating. Their sweat can block the sweat glands and increase the occurrence of prickly heat. In terms of treatment, first of all, it's important to pay attention to the temperature of the baby's living environment, ensuring a certain level of humidity and temperature to reduce the stimulus of sweating. Additionally, care should be taken that the clothing is not too tightly wrapped; preferably choose cotton and loose clothing to keep the skin breathable. Furthermore, if prickly heat occurs, you can apply baby-specific prickly heat powder for topical application. Also, pay attention to any symptoms of skin infection, and if present, timely medication should be administered to avoid exacerbation of symptoms leading to infection.

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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.)

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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What medicine is used for prickly heat?

Prickly heat is a common skin disease that often occurs in summer. For the treatment of prickly heat, we divide it into systemic treatment and topical treatment. Systemic treatment mainly involves taking antihistamines orally, such as loratadine tablets, when itching is severe. If there is a pus infection, it is recommended to use antibiotics for treatment. Another method is the topical treatment of prickly heat, which involves the use of cooling powders locally, such as prickly heat powder or cooling and itching-relieving washes, such as calamine lotion or menthol tincture. In cases of pustular prickly heat, calamine or berberine powder can be used topically.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can prickly heat be treated with calamine?

Lugan Stone Cleanser is mainly used for acute pruritic dermatosis, such as urticaria, eczema, prickly heat, etc. Thus, it can be used for prickly heat. The method of use is topical application; shake well before use, apply an appropriate amount of Lugan Stone Cleanser to the affected area, and it can be applied two to three times a day. However, if there is a burning sensation or swelling at the site of application, discontinue use immediately, clean the area thoroughly, and consult a local physician if necessary. Additionally, to prevent the recurrence of prickly heat, it is important to keep the environment cool and ventilated, avoid outdoor activities under strong sunlight, frequently bathe in warm water and dry the skin properly, and maintain a light diet rich in vegetables and fruits while avoiding spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods.

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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.