Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAppearance on Skin TypesHeat Rash on Dark SkinCommon SignsDiagnosisTimelineTreatmentSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Appearance on Skin Types
Heat Rash on Dark Skin
Common Signs
Diagnosis
Timeline
Treatment
Seeking Medical Care
Heat rash, also known asprickly heator sweat rash, is a common name for a skin condition called miliaria. This is a rash that develops when the sweat glands become blocked. The rash can vary in appearance based on a person’s skin tone.
This article will discuss what a heat rash looks like on dark skin tones, treatment options, and when to contact a healthcare provider.
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Why Does Rash Appearance Vary With Skin Tone?
A 2021 article inThe Pharmaceutical Journaldiscussed how medical textbooks and training have historically focused on the appearance of skin conditions in those with light skin. This has led to healthcare providers having difficulty providing accurate diagnoses and prompt treatment for those with dark skin.
An example is howerythemaon light skin looks red. However, darker skin can have a purple hue, ashen gray, or darker brown appearance.
14 Heat Rash Remedies: At-Home Treatment and OTC Options
What Does a Heat Rash Look Like on Dark Skin Tones?
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from ©DermNetwww.dermnetnz.org2023
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNetwww.dermnetnz.org2023
Heat rashcan appear as small, raised bumps that look likepimples. These bumps form in clusters and can easily break. The bumps can look white or darker than the surrounding skin in people with dark skin tones.
Common Signs of a Heat Rash
When your body temperature rises, you will release sweat through these glands. As the moisture rises to the skin’s surface, it will evaporate, causing the body to cool down. However, when the sweat glands are blocked because of clothes, skinfolds, or other means, sweat gets trapped beneath the skin. This causes inflammation, which leads to a heat rash.
Common signs of a heat rash are:
These small bumps can resemble pimples and are clearblisters. They are commonly found on the head, upper trunk, and neck.
What Causes Heat Rash?
How Is a Heat Rash Diagnosed?
Heat rash is diagnosed based on its appearance. A healthcare provider may ask questions about recent heat exposures or heatrashhistory. They will then examine the rash and if they are unable to confidently determine if it is a heat rash, they may perform askin biopsy(removing a sample of skin for analysis in a lab).
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What Else Could Be Mistaken for a Heat Rash on Dark Skin?
Skin conditions that cause small, pimple-like bumps may be mistaken for a heat rash on dark skin. These include:
How Long Does a Heat Rash Last?
Generally, a heat rash lasts one to two days after the body has cooled down. More severe forms of the rash can last for a week or longer.
How Is a Heat Rash Treated?
To prevent heat rash, avoid wearing synthetic fabrics that trap the heat. Clothing should be loose-fitting to allow airflow. Also, make sure to take frequent breaks during warm weather to avoid overheating.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If the heat rash has not improved after one week or is extremely painful it is time to contact a healthcare provider.
A secondary bacterial infection, frequently from theStaphylococcusbacterium, is a potential complication of heat rash. Any time there aresigns of an infection(inflammation, discoloration, swelling, warmth, pain, and drainage), a healthcare provider should be consulted.
Summary
Heat rash is a skin condition that causes an itchy, bumpy rash. People who have dark skin may present with darkened areas with small white or dark-colored bumps. Blocked sweat glands cause the rash. It generally resolves within one or two days.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Medical School.Heat rash: how to spot it and what to do.Ullah N and Vishrolia C.Recognising common skin conditions in people of colour.Pharmaceutical Journal. doi:10.1211/PJ.2021.1.113627Johns Hopkins Medicine.Skin pigment disorders.Sangha AM.Dermatological conditions in skin of color—: managing atopic dermatitis.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021;14(3 Suppl 1):S20-S22.DermNet.Miliaria.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard Medical School.Heat rash: how to spot it and what to do.Ullah N and Vishrolia C.Recognising common skin conditions in people of colour.Pharmaceutical Journal. doi:10.1211/PJ.2021.1.113627Johns Hopkins Medicine.Skin pigment disorders.Sangha AM.Dermatological conditions in skin of color—: managing atopic dermatitis.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021;14(3 Suppl 1):S20-S22.DermNet.Miliaria.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Harvard Medical School.Heat rash: how to spot it and what to do.Ullah N and Vishrolia C.Recognising common skin conditions in people of colour.Pharmaceutical Journal. doi:10.1211/PJ.2021.1.113627Johns Hopkins Medicine.Skin pigment disorders.Sangha AM.Dermatological conditions in skin of color—: managing atopic dermatitis.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021;14(3 Suppl 1):S20-S22.DermNet.Miliaria.
Harvard Medical School.Heat rash: how to spot it and what to do.
Ullah N and Vishrolia C.Recognising common skin conditions in people of colour.Pharmaceutical Journal. doi:10.1211/PJ.2021.1.113627
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Skin pigment disorders.
Sangha AM.Dermatological conditions in skin of color—: managing atopic dermatitis.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021;14(3 Suppl 1):S20-S22.
DermNet.Miliaria.
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