Common Summer Ailments: Prickly Heat Rash

The summer sun can also affect our skin. Humidity and heat can create an inflammation known as heat rash, an uncomfortable condition caused by blocked sweat glands. The best way to avoid or reduce its occurrence is to keep as cool as possible, expose the affected area to air and wear light cotton clothing. Excessive sweating in the humid weather results in bacterial infections that are characterized by tiny red bumps or blisters on the skin. It is an itchy rash that generally occurs on that part of the skin where the sweat accumulates- like the forehead and the back. Though you may experience intense itching on the inflamed areas, it is important to resist the urge to scratch as it may lead to infection.

 How to prevent it?

Have cool showers and wear soft loose cotton clothes. It is advised to wear light pastel colored clothes as they absorb fewer sunrays in comparison to dark colored clothes. Avoid remaining outdoors when the temperatures are at their peak (11am to 4 pm).

How to treat it?

 Be in a cooler place and apply calamine lotion on the body after bath. Apply a paste made from sandalwood powder and rose water is also very soothing to the skin.

 Natural remedies to soothe heat rash include:

• Mixing one cup of baking soda and four drops of lavender oil and adding this mixture to a tepid bath.
• Applying chilled chamomile tea topically to the area.