avoiding prickly heat

Ellen Says: Prickly heat can be prevented by avoiding activities that induce sweating, using air conditioning to cool the environment, wearing light clothing and in general, avoiding hot and humid weather. Frequent cool showers or cool baths with mild soap can help to prevent heat rash.

Medical assistance should be sought for the first episode of a rash with the appearance of prickly heat. The differential includes several conditions which an experienced practitioner should be able to recognise and may require treatment distinct from the usual measures taken for it. In most cases the rash will resolve without intervention.

However, severe cases can last for a number of weeks and cause significant disability. General measures should be recommended for all patients, including moving to an air-conditioned environment if possible, avoiding sweat-provoking activities and occlusive clothing, and taking frequent cool showers.

It has been suggested that the use of topical antibacterials (including the use of antibacterial soaps) may shorten the duration of symptoms in prickly heat even in the absence of obvious superinfection.

Other topical agents which may reduce the severity of symptoms include anti-itch preparations such as calamine or menthol and/or camphor based preparations, and topical steroid creams, however caution should be used with oil-based preparations (ointments and oily creams as opposed to water based or aqueous lotions) which may increase blockage to the sweat glands and prolong duration of illness.

Other agents have been investigated including supplemental vitamin A and C and vitamin A based medications, but it is worth noting that there is little scientific evidence supporting any of the above treatments in terms of actually reducing the duration of symptoms or frequency of complications