Skin diseases are among the most common. Prickly heat is a type of dermatitis that manifests itself as skin irritation from excessive sweating. The disease appears with an increase in temperature, non-compliance with hygiene rules that disrupt the activity of the glands. Usually prickly heat is a disease of newborns, because their skin is very thin, but it also occurs in adults. The symptoms and treatment of the disease are described in the article.
Reasons
According to the photo, the symptoms of prickly heat in adults are the same as in children. Areas of skin that lack ventilation are usually affected:
- natural body folds - armpits, groin, knees and elbows;
- the area under the mammary glands in women and obese men;
- behind the ears;
- between the thighs if the legs are full;
- a body that is constantly under clothing.
Sweating -this is a type of dermatitis that comes from:
- synthetic clothing, dense non-breathable materials;
- fever;
- high air temperature and high humidity;
- injuries and chafing of the skin;
- using creams, oils, oily cosmetics that clog pores;
- diabetes, metabolic diseases, excess weight.
Whatever the reasons for the development of the disease, it causes discomfort. Miliaria is a type of disease that can be treated in adults and children.
How is it developing?
When the body temperature is high, protective mechanisms are activated - the opening of pores, the appearance of sweat, which cools the body. When the sweat glands are clogged with fat, cosmetics, with humid and hot air, the sweating process is disrupted. Sweat evaporates slowly, causing skin irritation.
Sweat contains s alts and biologically active components that have an irritating effect on the skin. If it is not removed in a timely manner, then microbes will multiply on the skin. This is how the sweat glands become inflamed, prickly heat appears, a small rash, which is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms.
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There are 3 subspecies of prickly heat:
- papular;
- red;
- crystalline.
If you have a rash on your skin, you should visit a dermatologist. This symptom can also occur with other skin, infectious diseases, so only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis.
Symptoms
What does prickly heat look like in children? Symptoms in a child and an adult may differ depending on the type of illness:
- Papular. Most often it is observed in adults in the heat, with high humidity. In this case, rashes appear in the form of small bodily vesicles 1-2 mm in size. Papular miliaria appears on the lateral parts of the chest and abdomen, arms and legs. It also causes flaking and extreme dryness of the skin, leading to itching and discomfort.
- Red. It causes nodules and vesicles up to 2 mm in diameter. Their content may be cloudy. Bubbles do not merge into one whole, itch. Often this prickly heat occurs in areas of friction - between the buttocks, under the diaper, under the breasts, between the legs. It usually appears in adults.
- Crystal. This type of sweating occurs in children. It is presented in the form of white or translucent bubbles no more than 1 mm in size, the bubbles merge and large zones appear. Then they burst and dry out, creating crusts and peeling. Prickly heat appears in the forehead and face, on the neck, torso.
The disease does not look very nice, as seen in the photo. The symptoms and treatment of prickly heat in adults and children are similar, and regardless of the age of the patient, it causes severe itching and swelling. This condition can be similar to other diseases.
Rash is often confused with infectious and allergic diseases - measles, chickenpox, urticaria. Since children have delicate skin and weak immunity, prickly heat can causea secondary infection that causes weeping and diaper rash.
Difference from allergies
How to distinguish prickly heat from allergies? The difference between these states is as follows:
| Allergy | Sweating | |
| Manifestations | Rash occurs after exposure to an allergen. Symptoms appear after 2 hours. If another infection is added, the process will be complicated. Itching appears, which injures the skin and leads to the penetration of other microorganisms. When peeling, the skin cracks, so it should be moisturized and apply antiseptics | There is a burning sensation, a tingling sensation. Irritation occurs from contact with clothing. The rash can only be treated with soap and water. A few treatments are enough to show improvement. Prickly heat does not require treatment, you just need to maintain hygiene |
| Features | Rash occurs on the abdomen, face, buttocks. It is presented in the form of small bubbles. The rash may coalesce into large patches. Rashes are eliminated after the absence of contact with the allergen. It is advisable to undergo a course of treatment. Bubbles do not merge, but peeling appears | Usually a rash does not appear on the face. It occurs on the neck, in the groin, on the buttocks. When the disease appears small pink spots. The skin usually does not peel off, and when dried, the rash disappears. The main task is to exclude the etiology of the rash process |
These are all signs, how to distinguishprickly heat from allergies. Only a doctor can accurately determine the type of illness.
Diagnosis
Need a doctor's consultation about the symptoms and treatment of prickly heat in a child. The photo will help determine only the approximate type of ailment. The diagnosis is usually easy to establish, it is enough to examine and complain.
If the skin is moist, sweaty, reddish, with pimples, you need to contact a pediatrician or therapist. In difficult cases, you need to consult a dermatologist. Proper treatment gives excellent results. As you can see in the photos presented in the article, the symptoms of prickly heat in the elderly (including treatment) or young people are practically the same.
Hygiene
To eliminate prickly heat, it is important to follow the rules of personal hygiene. The sick person needs to bathe several times a day, using soap only during this 1 procedure. During washing, do not use scrubs, peels and washcloths, as this leads to injury to fresh rashes and infection.
After bathing, you need to put on clean underwear, remembering to change it regularly. You should also perform other caring procedures: washing your face, washing your hands, feet, head. To keep the skin from sweating, many people use talcum powder.
Treatment
A doctor's consultation is mandatory for the symptoms and treatment of prickly heat in an infant. A photo of the disease indicates that it is better to eliminate unpleasant manifestations as soon as possible.
The basis of treatment in adults and children is the access of air to the skin and hygiene. The child should not be dressed very warmly. Do not wear clothes that increase perspiration.
It is better not to wear synthetic or tight clothes in the heat. Also, do not use too much soap. This leads to the appearance of undesirable manifestations on the skin, as can be seen from the photos presented in the article. The symptoms and treatment of prickly heat in newborns and adults are about the same:
- When rashes require drying procedures. Bathing in herbs is useful - string, chamomile, oak bark. The skin is treated with cotton swabs with herbs.
- If severe sweating is in natural folds, powders are effective - baneocin, talc, potato starch.
- When prickly heat is infected, the skin should be treated with a slightly pink solution of manganese. Dermaveit, an emulsion with zinc oxide, are effective - they eliminate itching and redness.
- Affected areas are treated with an antiseptic solution.
- To reduce itching in adults, betamethasone ointment is used 2 times a day for 3 days, preparations with menthol, camphor.
- Antimicrobial agents are used for bacterial infection.
Use any drugs only after consulting a doctor. Self-medication can only worsen the condition of the skin.
Therapy gives positive results, as seen in the photo. The symptoms and treatment of miliaria in adolescents and adults are similar, so determining the cause is required. During therapy, do not use creams, oils,oily lotions as they only make matters worse.
If sweating is severe, consult your doctor. It could be hyperhidrosis. Prohibited physical activity in hot rooms, in warm clothes. Needs slow acclimatization to hot climate.
Healing creams
As the main medicine, the doctor usually prescribes a cream that has a drying effect. Zinc ointment, Calamine cream or Desitin cream are often used.
Before treatment, the skin is cleaned, preferably with laundry soap. Then wash your hands thoroughly to prevent infection. Before applying the cream on your finger, it is advisable to put on a clean medical fingertip.
Powders
They help when prickly heat appears on the natural folds of the skin. The function of these funds is to absorb excess sweat. Recommended to use:
- starch - corn and potato;
- talc;
- baby powder;
- "Baneocin".
Ointment
When a rash occurs that gets wet and itches, use solutions and ointments with a drying effect. They also eliminate itching, have an antiseptic effect.
The best remedies are boric or salicylic acid. With them, disinfection and drying of the bubbles occurs. Heat rash ointment has a non-greasy base that allows the skin to breathe.
Antiseptics
To dry the skin and eliminate pathogens, antiseptics are used. Solutions with these components causeon the skin in areas of manifestation of prickly heat. The best remedies include:
- salicylic acid;
- boric acid;
- an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate.
Oral antibiotics
For adults with prickly heat, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics. They act on the etiological causative agent of the secondarily attached infection. The best antibiotics are:
- Ciprofloxacin.
- "Azithromycin".
- Amoxicillin.
Antibiotics are strong drugs, so only a doctor can prescribe them. Usually they are prescribed only when it is really needed.
Phytotherapy
The basis of such treatment are herbs that have an antiseptic, disinfectant, drying effect. Doctors advise taking baths with the addition of plant infusions. You will need to take 2-4 tbsp. l. raw materials (chamomile, succession or celandine) and pour boiling water (1 liter). The product is infused until cool.
Restores the skin of oak bark. It eliminates not only sweating, but also prickly heat. Tannins disinfect, dry, tighten the skin.
Folk remedies
There are effective methods to deal with prickly heat:
- It is useful to wash the skin with laundry soap. It is fragrance-free and works great for drying bubbles and cleansing the skin.
- The diet should include plums, lentils, pomegranate juice and sorrel. These products regulate perspiration and reduce irritation.
- Help from prickly heatdisposable wipes. With the help of delicate paper handkerchiefs, weeping areas are blotted, eliminating the serous contents. Wet wipes with menthol are suitable.
- Twice a day, the bubbles are smeared with a solution of soda (1 tsp per glass of boiled water), which has an antiseptic and drying effect.
When any prickly heat appears, you must follow the rules of personal hygiene. In most cases, this is enough to make the rash disappear in a few days.
What is the danger?
Sometimes when prickly heat occurs, there are no aggravating factors, except for rashes. This condition will not have complications and will take a little time to heal.
If, in addition to the rash, there is swelling, itching, soreness, and the fluid in the blisters is cloudy or yellowish, then there is a possibility of disease progression. Or, in addition to prickly heat, there may be a bacterial infection.
Prevention
The prognosis for illness is positive, as evidenced by the photo. Symptoms and treatment of miliaria in infants are the same as in adolescents. During therapy, the main thing is to eliminate the cause, and then the unpleasant manifestations will disappear in 1-2 days.
Prevention of prickly heat is as follows:
- In the heat, you need to walk in loose, light clothing made from natural materials. Instead of jeans, it is better to choose light trousers. Nylon and silk should be avoided as these materials do not allow moisture to evaporate.
- Shower should be taken at least 2 times a day. After that, the skin should be thoroughly wiped. It is necessary to dress after the skin is completely dry.
- Excessive physical activity, which leads to increased sweating, is prohibited in the heat.
- It is advisable to immediately remove sweaty clothes. Contact with such things often results in a rash. In the heat, you need to have a dry change of clothes with you.
- Often prickly heat comes from deodorant. Many of them lead to blockage of the sweat glands. With sensitive skin, prickly heat appears.
- It is forbidden to be zealous with a tan. In the sun, the pores of the skin narrow, which increases the risk of their blockage and the appearance of prickly heat.
Thus, prickly heat is a disease that is treated. But it is better not to do this on your own, but to consult a doctor. And after treatment, preventive measures should be followed.
