Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It Looks LikeCausesHome RemediesOTC TherapiesPrescriptionsAvoiding Heat Rash
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Looks Like
Causes
Home Remedies
OTC Therapies
Prescriptions
Avoiding Heat Rash
Heat rash is typically found in skin folds, such as armpits, groin, elbows, and under the breasts. Treatment recommendations typically include taking a cool shower or bath, patting skin dry, and applying topical itch relievers.
This article discusses what heat rash looks like and what causes it. It also includes heat rash pictures and tips on how you can treat and prevent it.
Heat rash is also commonly referred to as diaper rash, summer rash, or wildfire rash.
Heat Rash vs. Sun Poisoning: What’s the Difference?
What Does Heat Rash Look Like?
Usually, heat rash is composed of small, prickly, itchy bumps with a halo around them. This type of heat rash is called miliariaruba, or prickly heat.
Other than the discomfort, heat rash really isn’t much of a health concern. However, if left untreated, the condition can cause pus-containing blisters (miliariaprofunda) and lead to infection.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNet www.dermnetnz.org 2023.
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 © DermNet www.dermnetnz.org 2023.
On darker skin, the rash may look like this.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from ©DermNetwww.dermnetnz.org2023
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNetwww.dermnetnz.org2023
A heat rash most often appears:
Although a heat rash usually goes away on its own in a few days, some simplehome remediesand over-the-counter products can help treat the rash or, even better, prevent it in the first place.
What a Heat Rash Looks Like on Darker Skin (and What to Do Next)
Heat Urticaria
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Te Whatu Ora Waikatowww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Te Whatu Ora Waikatowww.dermnetnz.org2023.
1:37Click Play to Learn All About Heat Rash
1:37
Click Play to Learn All About Heat Rash
What Causes Heat Rash?
Heat rash occurs when sweat glands become blocked and/or inflamed. Anything that causes sweating can lead to heat rash. Commoncauses of heat rashinclude:
Who Can Get a Heat Rash?
Heat rash is common in people who live in hot, humid climates and those who sweat a lot.
Babies are more likely to get heat rash because they have immature sweat glands. It is also more common for people living with obesity, people who are over age 65, people on certain medications, or people on bed rest.
What Can Be Mistaken for a Heat Rash?A number of health conditions can resemble heat rash, including:EczemaViral infections (herpes simplex virusor varicella)Fungal infections (candidiasisorPityrosporum folliculitis)Viral exanthemsAcneFolliculitisAdverse skin reaction to a medicationInsect bites
What Can Be Mistaken for a Heat Rash?
A number of health conditions can resemble heat rash, including:EczemaViral infections (herpes simplex virusor varicella)Fungal infections (candidiasisorPityrosporum folliculitis)Viral exanthemsAcneFolliculitisAdverse skin reaction to a medicationInsect bites
A number of health conditions can resemble heat rash, including:
Heat Rash Treatment at Home
Treating heat rash may be as simple as taking a cool bath, wearing loose clothing, or taking some other steps to help your skin recover.
Take Cool Baths and Showers
A cool bath or shower can do double-duty:
When you get out, if possible, you should let your skin air-dry rather than rub it down with a towel.
What’s Causing Your Skin Rash? 7 Possible Causes
Wear Loose Clothing
When you have a heat rash, be sure to wear clothing that allows irritated skin to heal. Choosing light fabrics and loose-fitting garments that don’t chafe is important.
For sports, look for fitness clothing that wicks moisture so you can keep sweat from collecting and exacerbating the rash. Cotton is an alternative to moisture-wicking fabric, which breathes well and allows damp skin to dry.
Get Out of the Heat
You don’t want to let yourself overheat when you already have a heat rash. Avoiding heat and staying in an air-conditioned environment as much as possible can help. If you don’t have access to A/C, consider fans, especially to keep your bedroom cool overnight.
If you cannot cool down your home, consider going somewhere cooler. That could include the mall, a movie theater, a restaurant, or a friend’s house.
Avoid Thick Personal Care Products
Heavy powders, creams, and lotions can further clog your pores, which can make your heat rash worse.Choose lighter-weight products for the summer months, or skip them altogether while your skin heals from heat rash.
Apply Cool Compresses
Cold compresses can cool and soothe your skin when you have a heat rash. You can use a wet washcloth or wrap an ice pack in a towel. Just be sure you allow the area to dry thoroughly afterward.
Ice and gel ice packs should never be applied directly to your skin. Use an appropriate cloth barrier to protect your skin.
Safely Using Ice for Injuries
Take an Anti-Itch Bath
This is easy to do at home using oatmeal, baking soda, orEpsom salt. Any one of those will relieve the itchiness of your heat rash.
Don’t use bubble baths or bath bombs, even if their ingredients sound soothing. They may also contain ingredients that dry or irritate your sensitive skin.
Is Aloe Vera Good for Heat Rash?Yes, pure aloe vera gel can help to soothe heat rash. It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help cool and heal prickly heat rash.However, use aloe vera sparingly to avoid further clogging pores.
Is Aloe Vera Good for Heat Rash?
Yes, pure aloe vera gel can help to soothe heat rash. It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help cool and heal prickly heat rash.However, use aloe vera sparingly to avoid further clogging pores.
Over-the-Counter Heat Rash Treatments
Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee
Usually, home remedies are the best way to treat heat rash. If the rash is itchy and inflamed, talk to your healthcare provider. You might ask whether they suggest using an over-the-counter (OTC)corticosteroid cream.
Some people find applying pure aloe vera gel can help ease the sting of prickly heat. Antihistamines are also sometimes used to treat heat rash.
Avoid using OTC products such as body powder, creams, and lotions, since they can further block your pores. This is the opposite of what you need to clear up the rash.
As long as you don’t irritate the skin even more, a heat rash will typically go away on its own in just three or four days and shouldn’t leave any lasting damage. If it lasts much longer than that or isn’t improving, talk to your healthcare provider.
When to Call a Healthcare ProviderCall a healthcare provider if you notice:The rash is over most of your bodyFever or chills along with the rashPain, discoloration or redness, warmth, or swelling around the rashA rash that spreads rapidlyPus draining from the rashBlisters or scabsA rash involving the eyes, lips, mouth, or genital skinThey will want to evaluate you for an infection and other possible causes of the rash.
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
Call a healthcare provider if you notice:The rash is over most of your bodyFever or chills along with the rashPain, discoloration or redness, warmth, or swelling around the rashA rash that spreads rapidlyPus draining from the rashBlisters or scabsA rash involving the eyes, lips, mouth, or genital skinThey will want to evaluate you for an infection and other possible causes of the rash.
Call a healthcare provider if you notice:
They will want to evaluate you for an infection and other possible causes of the rash.
Prescription Medications
For a severe heat rash, your healthcare provider may prescribe medications to help relieve the pain and discomfort.
The most severe form of heat rash (miliariapustulosa) has the potential to develop into a secondary infection. In that case, prescribed oral ortopical antibioticswill be needed to get the infection in check.
How to Avoid Heat Rash
The best way to deal with a heat rash is to avoid getting one. This may take some planning and forethought. However, it’ll be well worth it when you—and your child—aren’t dealing with an itchy rash.
Diagnosing and Preventing Prickly Heat in Kids
Use Cotton Diapers
Exercise at the Coolest Times
Whether you’re working out inside or enjoying the sun, try to reserve your heaviest exertion for the coolest times of the day. If you’re near water, take advantage of that to cool off periodically.
If you must exercise when it’s hot, find some shade or use cold compresses to keep your temperature from getting too high.
Prevent Heat Exhaustion During Exercise
Rinse Off With Cool Water
Before going out in the heat, after coming in, and, if possible, a few times in between, rinse yourself with cool water. It will cool down your skin while washing away the sweat that may clog your pores.
Take Breaks From the Heat
Summary
A heat rash happens when sweat gets trapped in glands under the skin. It often happens with babies, but it can also happen if you’re in a hot climate or are sweating a lot.
Call your healthcare provider if you have signs of infection, including chills, fever, pain, swelling, or pus draining from the rash.
10 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.Guerra KC, Toncar A, Krishnamurthy K. Miliaria. [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537176/Miller JL.Miliaria.UpToDate.American Academy of Family Physicians.What is heat rash?MedlinePlus.Babies and heat rash.Manvitha K, Bidya B.Aloe vera: A wonder plant its history, cultivation and medicinal uses.J Pharmacogn Phytochem.2014;2(5):85–8.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Heat rash.American Academy of Family Physicians.Heat rash.American Academy of Dermatology.Rash 101 in adults: when to seek medical treatment.UCLA Health.Red and itchy? When to worry about a rash in adults.American Academy of Dermatology.When to use (or not use) antibiotics on your skin.
10 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.Guerra KC, Toncar A, Krishnamurthy K. Miliaria. [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537176/Miller JL.Miliaria.UpToDate.American Academy of Family Physicians.What is heat rash?MedlinePlus.Babies and heat rash.Manvitha K, Bidya B.Aloe vera: A wonder plant its history, cultivation and medicinal uses.J Pharmacogn Phytochem.2014;2(5):85–8.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Heat rash.American Academy of Family Physicians.Heat rash.American Academy of Dermatology.Rash 101 in adults: when to seek medical treatment.UCLA Health.Red and itchy? When to worry about a rash in adults.American Academy of Dermatology.When to use (or not use) antibiotics on your skin.
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.
Guerra KC, Toncar A, Krishnamurthy K. Miliaria. [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537176/Miller JL.Miliaria.UpToDate.American Academy of Family Physicians.What is heat rash?MedlinePlus.Babies and heat rash.Manvitha K, Bidya B.Aloe vera: A wonder plant its history, cultivation and medicinal uses.J Pharmacogn Phytochem.2014;2(5):85–8.Seattle Children’s Hospital.Heat rash.American Academy of Family Physicians.Heat rash.American Academy of Dermatology.Rash 101 in adults: when to seek medical treatment.UCLA Health.Red and itchy? When to worry about a rash in adults.American Academy of Dermatology.When to use (or not use) antibiotics on your skin.
Guerra KC, Toncar A, Krishnamurthy K. Miliaria. [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537176/
Miller JL.Miliaria.UpToDate.
American Academy of Family Physicians.What is heat rash?
MedlinePlus.Babies and heat rash.
Manvitha K, Bidya B.Aloe vera: A wonder plant its history, cultivation and medicinal uses.J Pharmacogn Phytochem.2014;2(5):85–8.
Seattle Children’s Hospital.Heat rash.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Heat rash.
American Academy of Dermatology.Rash 101 in adults: when to seek medical treatment.
UCLA Health.Red and itchy? When to worry about a rash in adults.
American Academy of Dermatology.When to use (or not use) antibiotics on your skin.
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