Heat rash is an inflammatory disease of the sweat glands, in the jargon they are called miliaria. Other synonyms for heat rash in the language or even colloquially are: heat-pox, and dermatitis Hidrotica Hidroa to clear pimples and lichen tropicus or Red Dog for the already inflamed red pimples form of heat. Heat rash occurs when the ducts of sweat glands become clogged. This happens most frequently when prevailing warm ambient temperature and high humidity in the tropics.
Heat rash in children, babies and toddlers
Unusual often occur on the itchy heat rash in infants and babies. The reason for this is usually too hot and air-tight clothes. Many parents think it is good to pack with their children and this bold, not only in cool weather one. Especially the little kids can tell just bad that they are too warm. Although they occasionally whine or cry, but this is a non-specific signal. Thus, their overheating is frequently wrong. Therefore, the body easily by young children and babies accumulate heat and heat, so that clog the sweat glands and are still barely ventilated. In addition, in this warm, moist environment for the skin bacteria to colonize. Heat rash can be the result.
Heat rash in adults
Also can occur in adults heat rash. They are often pronounced the same in both sexes. Although the cause is usually a stay in tropical areas, but not just a holiday in hot climates may be the trigger for the heat rash. Loosen tight clothing, which prevents the sweat evaporates on the skin causes, even in our temperate latitudes heat to build up the body, which can cause heat rash.
What are heat rash?
There are two different types of prickly heat. Depending on the exact location of the blockage of the sweat glands Heat rash can look different. The typical miliaria cristal lina filled water clear and firm. The individual bubbles are rarely larger than a pinhead and usually grouped close together. These groups in turn heat pimples are usually spread over a larger area. You are on the trunk, particularly at the weld paths, such as the underarms, between the shoulders, back and neckline. This crystalline form of heat rash is usually no inflammation vonstatten why the bubbles show no redness. Wipe it firmly on the bubble, it burst on the clogged sweat gland is in contact to the body surface and clear liquid comes out - like a drop of sweat. The inflammatory form of heat rash, miliaria rubra, is conspicuous by the red color and often scrape generally by reddened skin. There, where they occur, the skin is swollen and itchy or painful. This form of heat rash can not be removed by pushing or scraping and treating.
Causes and Origin of heat rash
In contrast to the heat rash sun allergy are based not on an inflammatory reaction to UV rays, but to a blockage of the sweat glands caused by an accumulation of heat. Therefore, even in winter, heat rash is not impossible. The crystalline form of heat rash occurs spontaneously in the event of overheating. They usually passes after a few hours and not itchy. For as soon as the heat buildup is completed, the sweat glands are free again. It is different however, with the red hot spots. They usually occur only after several days of visits to tropical areas. Here is the blockage of the gland is located already serious and deeper into the skin. The sweat produced in the glands can therefore no longer appear on the body surface and spreads out instead of inside the skin. This congestion can lead to either inflammation or tearing the course of sweat glands by the overpressure, which finally merges into an inflammation. To seal the gland occurs primarily through the tropical, humid air, allowing the skin to swell. Together with the salt in the sweat and bacteria, which multiply magnificently between skin and clothing, is so provokes an inflammation of the sweat glands. Heat rash can arise.
What to do about heat rash?
Against heat rash, there are different forms of treatment that are applied depending on the type of heat rash. In the crystalline prickly heat usually no medical treatment is necessary, even in children or babies. What is important is a symptomatic therapy by eliminating the heat build-up and a general rethinking about the nature and amount of clothing. Onion-wide look and airy clothes are the best prevention. If the crystalline heat rash in rare cases do not go away by itself, a Zinkschüttelmixtur (Lotio zinci spirituous liquors) are applied. Even with the red hot spots, drug therapy is usually not necessary. Soothing powder or can affect the already mentioned Zinkmixtur, because they keep the skin dry. If bacterial infection and itching to be strong, you can also help a local antibiotics against heat rash, which is applied in the form of creams.
