What does "prickly heat" mean?

Written by Zhu Zhu

Dermatology

Updated on September 25, 2024

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Prickly heat is the name of a disease, often characterized by the appearance of white spots, blisters, papules, or vesicular rashes on the skin, and it is usually accompanied by itchiness. The causes are generally related to the weather being too hot, high temperatures, and the inability of sweat to escape from the skin, accumulating on the epidermis and eventually leading to the occurrence of prickly heat. Overall, this disease is very common. Due to its skin symptoms and severe itching, it is advisable to treat it promptly. Moreover, paying attention to daily habits and ensuring good indoor ventilation can help prevent the occurrence of prickly heat.

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Written by Tong Peng

Pediatrics

50sec

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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 Zhu Zhu

Dermatology

34sec

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The difference between prickly heat and heat rash

Prickly heat and heat rash are different. Prickly heat is a dermatological condition, commonly known as prickly heat, caused by high temperatures and hot weather when the body's sweating mechanism fails, resulting in the development of prickly heat on the skin. On the other hand, heat rash is a symptom that can appear in many diseases. Of course, prickly heat can also manifest symptoms of heat rash. Therefore, the difference between prickly heat and heat rash is quite significant.

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Written by Tong Peng

Pediatrics

53sec

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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 Qu Jing

Dermatology

1min 15sec

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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 Zeng Hai Jiang

Pediatrics

49sec

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How to relieve itching from prickly heat in children

Heat rash in children is primarily caused by blockages in the sweat ducts, due to the poor development of neonatal sweat ducts, a humid and hot external environment, and prolonged bed rest. Based on the appearance of the heat rash, it can be categorized into white heat rash, red heat rash, pustular heat rash, and deep heat rash. Red heat rash can feel itchy and burning; pustular heat rash can cause burning, itching, and pain; white and deep heat rash do not typically present noticeable symptoms. When a child's heat rash feels itchy, topical medications can be applied for relief. Local cold compresses or ice packs can also be used to alleviate itchiness and pain. Naturally, providing a cooler environment for the child is beneficial, including frequent baths to help clear the sweat ducts.