Heat Rash (Prickly Heat)

Heat rash is also called prickly heat. It's very common and usually nothing to worry about. Most heat rashes get better on their own in a few days.

What Does Heat Rash Look Like?

Heat rash appears as small, raised spots on your skin. The spots are usually 2-4mm across - about the size of a pinhead. You might notice:

• Small bumps that feel rough to touch
• An itchy, prickly feeling
• Mild swelling around the spots
• Some spots may have fluid inside them

On white skin, heat rash looks red. On brown or black skin, it can be harder to see and may look grey or white instead.

The rash can appear anywhere on your body and may spread to other areas. The good news is that you cannot catch heat rash from someone else.

What Causes Heat Rash?

Heat rash happens when you sweat a lot. Your sweat glands get blocked, and the trapped sweat causes a rash to develop a few days later.

Babies get heat rash more often than adults because they cannot control their body temperature as well as older children and adults can.

How to Treat Heat Rash at Home

The most important thing is to keep your skin cool so you don't sweat more and make the rash worse.

To keep cool:

• Wear loose cotton clothes
• Use light bedding at night
• Take cool baths or showers
• Drink plenty of water to avoid getting dehydrated

To stop the itching:

• Put something cold on the rash, like a damp cloth or ice pack wrapped in a tea towel, for up to 20 minutes
• Gently tap or pat the rash instead of scratching it
• Avoid perfumed shower gels or creams as these can irritate your skin more

Getting Help from a Pharmacist

Your local pharmacist can give you advice about treating heat rash. They might suggest:

• Calamine lotion to soothe the skin
• Antihistamine tablets to reduce itching
• Hydrocortisone cream (but not for children under 10 - they'll need to speak to a GP first)

When to Speak to Your GP

You should speak to your GP if:

• Your heat rash doesn't get better after a few days
• You have a baby with a rash and you're worried about them

If you're not sure whether your child has heat rash, you can look up other common rashes that affect babies and children on the NHS website.

Important Things to Remember

Heat rash is uncomfortable but usually harmless. Most people find it gets better on its own within a few days of keeping cool and following the simple treatments above.

The key is to avoid getting too hot and sweaty while your skin heals. Once the weather cools down or you're able to stay in cooler environments, heat rash rarely comes back.

Remember, if you're ever worried about any rash - especially on a baby - it's always worth speaking to your GP for advice.

---

Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.