Understanding and Managing Heat Rash: Expert Advice from Liwon Dermatologists
As the summer season arrives, our minds and bodies become susceptible to various concerns. From tropical nights to food poisoning, mosquitoes to heat rash, these issues can disrupt the joys of summer. Heat rash, in particular, is a common and discomforting skin disease that often occurs during the hottest months of July and August. To shed light on this condition and provide effective management strategies, we consulted dermatologist Lee Mi-hye of Leewon Dermatology.
Image source: Getty Image Bank
Q. What causes sweat rashes?
Heat rash, also known as sweat rash, occurs when sweat ducts and pores become blocked in a hot and humid environment. This obstruction prevents smooth drainage of sweat, leading to the formation of small blisters or papules. If left untreated, heat rash can worsen, resulting in a red rash accompanied by itching or pain. Scratching the affected area can lead to scarring, and in some cases, it can even cause fungal or bacterial infections, further aggravating skin irritation. Heat rash is categorized into three types based on the location of the closed sweat duct: right sweat band, red sweat band, and deep sweat band.
Q. Where does heat rash commonly occur?
Heat rash usually appears in skin folds, such as the neck, armpits, and groin, as these areas tend to experience higher temperatures and humidity. Increased sweating due to rising temperature and humidity levels creates an ideal environment for heat rash to develop. It can also occur on the face and chest.
Q. How does heat rash in babies differ from adults?
Children and babies have a higher density of sweat glands per body surface area compared to adults, resulting in increased sweat secretion and a higher incidence of heat rash. Diapers, if not well-ventilated, can lead to excessive sweating in the diaper area, leading to the formation of numerous sweat spots.
In adults, the likelihood of developing heat rash is relatively lower than in infants. Moreover, even if heat rash does occur, it tends to disappear quickly when the appropriate environmental conditions are provided. However, adults may experience heat rash due to poor hygiene after profuse sweating, sun exposure, humid weather, irritation from bandages, excessive use of soap, or bacterial infections.
Q. How can heat rash be distinguished from other skin diseases with similar symptoms, such as atopic dermatitis?
To distinguish heat rash from other diseases with similar symptoms, it is important to consider the specific distribution pattern. Heat rash typically appears in specific areas, mainly skin folds, unlike systemic eruptive diseases that occur diffusely throughout the body. Severe cases of heat rash can extend beyond the head or neck to the back, abdomen, and limbs. Itching, redness, and inflammation are characteristic indicators of heat rash.
Atopic dermatitis, on the other hand, commonly manifests in limb folds between the ages of 2 and 10. However, since atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition, it is essential to gather medical history from infancy. Itching is more pronounced in atopic dermatitis, and the distribution of lesions, such as around the eyelids and ears, differs from those of heat rash. Examination for scratch-induced marks and chronic genital lesions can aid in the differential diagnosis.
Another type of rash commonly seen in children during the summer does not cause a high fever and manifests with a sudden appearance of a rash all over the body, which then fades gradually. This rash, unlike heat rash, does not itch.
Q. Can powder alleviate heat rash symptoms?
In the past, baby powder was commonly used to treat heat rash. However, its usefulness has been questioned lately. Applying powder in a cool and well-ventilated environment can help reduce moisture around the affected area and keep it dry. Nonetheless, in humid conditions or when skin waste and pollutants accumulate, powder can clog pores and worsen the symptoms of heat rash.
If the symptoms of heat rash are severe, it is advisable to seek medical consultation from a dermatologist. They can provide appropriate prescriptions and offer guidance on managing heat rash triggers. In cases of intense itching, antihistamines may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms. Depending on the local inflammatory reaction, steroid or antibiotic ointments may also be recommended as necessary.
Remember, neglecting heat rash treatment can lead to discoloration and scarring. Therefore, early intervention and improving the surrounding environment are crucial in preventing complications.
Tips to Prevent Heat Rash:
- Frequently ventilate skin folds.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to high temperature and humidity.
- Opt for clothing made from sweat-absorbent materials like cotton and loose-fitting garments with good breathability.
- Wash the affected area immediately after sweating.
- Maintain indoor temperature and humidity levels at 24 degrees and 50% respectively.
Source: Director Lee Mi-hye, Leewon Dermatology
Support: Haidaq Counseling Doctor Lee Mi-hye, Leewon Dermatology Dermatologist
Copyright © Haidaq News, All rights reserved. Unauthorized redistribution prohibited.
This series shares the skin health concerns that change every month. For monthly skin diseases that everyone is curious about, we provide clear answers and tips with Liwon dermatologists.
There are things that worry our mind and body when summer comes. They are tropical nights, food poisoning, mosquitoes and heat rash. In particular, heat rash, a representative skin disease in the summer that can be very itchy or irritated, is a representative disturbance in a nice summer. Prickly heat rash, which is concentrated in July and August, which is the hottest month of the year, occurs more often in babies than in adults. Dermatologist Lee Mi-hye (Leewon Dermatology) was asked what prickly heat rash is and how to manage it.
Spiked heat usually occurs in foldsㅣSource: Getty Image Bank
Q. Why do sweat rashes occur?
Heat rash is a small rash or papule that occurs when the sweat ducts and pores of the skin are blocked and the sweat cannot drain smoothly when exposed to a sweaty environment for a long time, such as high temperature and high humidity. It can look like a small blister the size of a millet, and if not treated properly, it can get worse and cause a red rash along with itching or pain. If it is scratched because it is itchy, scarring can occur, and in some cases, fungal or bacterial infections can occur, leading to skin irritation. Depending on the location of the closed sweat duct, it is divided into △right sweat band △red sweat band △deep sweat band.
Q. Where do heat rashes often occur?
Pimples usually appear in folds of skin, such as around the neck, armpits, and groin. This is because sweat bands tend to occur in areas with high temperature and high humidity. As the temperature and humidity increase, sweating increases, so heat rash can appear if the area is in a sweaty environment. It can also occur on the face and chest.
Q. What is the difference between sweat rash in babies and adults?
Children and babies have a higher density of sweat glands per body surface than adults and secrete more sweat, so the incidence of heat rash is higher than adults. Especially in the case of babies, because they wear diapers for a long time, if the ventilation is not good, the diaper area sweats and many sweat spots are formed.
Adult heat rash occurs with a lower probability than infants, and even if it occurs, it disappears quickly when the appropriate environment is created. However, in adults, heat rash can occur due to not paying attention to hygiene after sweating profusely, exposure to sunlight, humid weather, irritation from bandages, excessive use of soap, or bacterial infection.
C. The symptoms of prickly heat rash or atopic dermatitis are similar. How can it be distinguished from other diseases?
Prickly pear usually shows a predominant distribution in specific areas, such as skin folds, to distinguish it from systemic eruptive diseases that occur in a similar diffuse distribution throughout the body. If it is severe, it occurs not only around the head or neck, but also on the back, abdomen, and limbs. If the skin is itchy, red, and contains inflammation, you may suspect heat rash.
Although atopic dermatitis can cause lesions in the folds of the limbs between the ages of 2 and 10, it is important to take a medical history from infancy because it is essentially a disease that shows a chronic course. Itching is more pronounced, and the distribution of typical lesions, such as around the eyelids and ears, also shows differences in the shape of the lesions. In addition, a differential diagnosis can be made by examining whether scratches due to itching and genital lesions due to a chronic course accompany them.
In the case of rash among rashes that are common in children in the summer, it is typical that a high fever does not appear for any particular reason and then the rash appears all over the body as the fever recedes. A red rash of irregular size starts to appear on the abdomen or back and spreads throughout the body. It does not itch and the redness of the rash gradually fades over time.
Q. I use a powder to relieve the symptoms of heat rash. Can using powder help relieve symptoms?
In the past, baby powder was used a lot for prickly heat, but nowadays I don’t use it often, so many people are curious about it. If you use the powder in a cool, well-ventilated environment, it will help reduce moisture around the prickly pear and keep it dry. However, in a humid environment or when skin waste and pollutants are piled up, if the powder gets stuck, it can block the pores, which can make the sweat rash worse.
If the symptoms of heat rash are severe, it is recommended to visit a dermatologist and receive an appropriate prescription. For the basic treatment of heat rash, the dermatology department explains and educates about the environment that triggers heat rash, and if the itching is severe, antihistamines are prescribed to relieve the symptoms. Depending on the local inflammatory reaction, steroid ointment or antibiotic ointment can be used if necessary.
If a heat rash is left untreated for a long time, it can cause discoloration and scarring. To prevent this, early environmental improvement and treatment is more important than anything else.
※ TIP Honey. Summer heat rash prevention tips※
1. Ventilate skin folds frequently
2. Be careful not to be exposed to high temperature and high humidity for a long time.
3. Wear clothes that absorb sweat well (cotton or loose clothing that breathes well)
4. Wash immediately after sweating
5. Keep indoor temperature and humidity at 24 degrees and 50%, respectively.
Director Lee Mi-hyeㅣSource: Leewon Dermatology
Support = Haidaq Counseling Doctor Lee Mi-hye (Leewon Dermatology Dermatologist)
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