Prickly heat is an inflammatory condition of skin in which the skin develops spotty rashes or eruptions that give one a feeling of burning or pricking. It is a non-contagious common skin problem in the hot and humid summer months. People sweat profusely in a hot weather. Sweat combines with sebum, dust, bacteria and dry skin to make a thick, sticky substance that clogs the sweat glands, resulting in prickly heat. It is also called heat rash or sweat rash. The medical term for prickly heat is Miliaria.
It can occur to all irrespective of age and gender. It crops up in areas where sweat cannot dry up easily. Thus it is common in neck, chest, waist, back, underarms etc. The rashes are red in color. If scratched violently, pustule formation or blistering may occur. A heat affected skin looks like the skin of a jackfruit. The rashes are highly itchy and cause much restlessness and irritability. Prickly heat rashes disappear after 5-7 days, and fresh ones may appear. The factors triggering prickly heat may be listed as follows:
1. Sun exposure or exposure to UV rays
2. Excess sweating during strenuous exercises
3. Over-clothing
4. Dearth of hygiene or not wiping away the sweat
5. Wearing non-porous or synthetic garments that trap sweat.
6. Acidity
7. Food poisoning
8. Medicinal side-effects
9. Stressful life
10. Excessive intake of junk food
11. Untimely food consumption
12. Smoking
13. Alcoholism
Home Remedies
1. Taking bath with chilled water is the simplest way to deal with this problem.
2. Soak sterilized, soft gauze in a mixture of one part alcohol and three parts of boiled water. This allows fast healing and rules out the possibility of infection.
3. Mix little oatmeal powder in to your bath water and soak in the bathtub for an hour. Oatmeal bath is an effective home remedy for prickly heat.
4. Application of non-perfumed talcum powder 4-5 times daily takes off the moisture and keeps the skin dry, thereby preventing this condition.
5. Dust the body with baking soda or sandalwood powder. This heals up rashes.
6. Rub ice cubes on heat rashes. This punctures the bumps and gives fast relief.
7. Apply gram flour paste on the rashes, covering them up thoroughly. Let it dry and then wash off with cold water. This yields good result in case of heat rashes.
8. Blend 2 tablespoons of coriander powder and 2 tablespoons of sandalwood powder; then add 2-3 tablespoons of rose water to make a thick paste. Apply the paste on the heat rashes and let it dry. Then wash off with cold water. This is an effective home remedy for prickly heat.
9. Make a paste of green henna with water and rashes. This reduces rashes.
10. Add 2-3 tablespoons of rose water to 4-5 tablespoons of Fuller's earth to make a paste. Apply the paste on prickly heat. Wash with cold water once the coat has dried up. This relieves in this condition.
11. Make a paste of 20-25 margosa leaves with water. Apply the paste on prickly heat. Let it dry and then wash off with cold water. This enables miraculous healing.
12. Mix sandalwood powder, powdered alum and water to make a paste. Apply the paste on rashes. This soothes the itching and stinging sensation.
Read about effective Home Remedies for Prickly Heat. Also know about Home Remedies for Peptic Ulcer.
