Most cases of heat rash will resolve on their own. To soothe your irritation and get rid of heat rash quickly, here’s how you can treat it at home:....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Steroid creams
Steroid creams can be used to help treat heat rash. These creams can be applied topically to reduce inflammation and skin irritation as well as relieve itching.
For most effective use, steroid creams should be applied in a thin layer over your heat rash. Rub the cream in until it is fully absorbed to avoid blocking sweat glands and further irritating your rash.
Steroid creams like hydrocortisone can be purchased over-the-counter at varying degrees of strength.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are commonly used to block symptoms of allergic reactions like itching and inflammation. As such, they can be helpful in treating a heat rash and remaining comfortable during the healing process.
Antihistamines are especially helpful in cases where symptoms like inflammation and irritation may be causing discomfort. Most antihistamines are available over-the-counter, but stronger doses can be prescribed for severe symptoms.
Ointments
Ointments like steroid cream, calamine lotion, or even petroleum jelly can be used to treat discomfort related to heat rash symptoms. These lotions are especially effective in relieving itchiness and reducing scratching, which can further irritate or infect you with a heat rash.
Calamine lotion, in particular, is recommended by the CDC for treating conditions that cause itching. Many ointments can be purchased over-the-counter at any pharmacy or drugstore.
Cool shower and bath
An essential step in treating heat rash is ensuring your skin stays cool. A cool shower or bath is effective in cooling the skin down and reducing inflammation.
Studies also demonstrate that cooling your skin down can temporarily —but effectively —relieve itching. Wash your skin gently with cool water to unclog your pores, a factor that can also contribute to the severity of your heat rash.
Using this step in conjunction with ointments or creams can help reduce the risk of drying out your skin, which can worsen symptoms like itching.
Cool air
Much like a cool shower, cool air can be an effective way to stay comfortable and treat symptoms of a heat rash.
Staying in an air-conditioned location or sitting in front of a fan can help keep your body temperature down, helping to reduce overall discomfort and stay safe while experiencing a heat rash.
Loose-fitting, moisture-wicking clothing
When healing from a heat rash, your skin needs as much fresh air and space as possible. When your sweat glands become blocked, and sweat cannot evaporate from your skin, heat rash is more likely to occur — or worsen.
Wearing light, loose-fitting clothing can help avoid irritating your skin with tight or uncomfortable fabric. Look for moisture-wicking, breathable clothing, as that help will ensure that your hives and irritation don’t worsen.
This can be a problem for people in professions like firefighting and those in the military, too, especially if they travel frequently to warm places.
In a 2018 study on occupational heat rash, researchers found that wearing flame-resistant clothing in hot working environments led to heat rash; they recommend that workers in these environments change clothes often and make concerted efforts to stay cool and dry.
Oatmeal
Studies show that oats have anti-inflammatory properties that are effective in treating itching and irritation. As such, oatmeal is a useful remedy for treating a heat rash.
Make a paste using one part oatmeal and one part water and apply it to the site of irritation. Alternatively, adding one or two cups of oatmeal to a lukewarm bath can also relieve discomfort and reduce inflammation.
Cold cloths and ice packs
Keeping your skin and body cool is essential in not just treating your skin’s irritation. It also greatly helps with remaining comfortable while enduring this irritation.
Applying cold, slightly damp cloths and/or ice packs to the site of irritation can reduce inflammation and help keep your body temperature down.
Ensure that you’re changing out your cloths and packs when using this method, as it is important to keep your rash clean while it is healing.
Aloe vera
Though aloe vera has a reputation for treating symptoms of sunburn, it is equally effective in reducing inflammation and irritation caused by heat rash.
Though aloe vera can be purchased at the supermarket or drugstore, keeping an aloe vera plant around the house is an environmentally-friendly and convenient way to always have aloe vera around the house.
How to prevent heat rash
If you want to prevent heat rash, a few options include:
Decreasing sweating by wearing loose-fitting clothing
Keeping cool with temperature control
Using talcum or baby powder to reduce moisture and sweating
Take a cool shower or bath to cool off the skin
How long does it take for heat rashes to go away?
For adults, heat rash usually resolves within a few hours, or in more severe cases, up to a few days or weeks.
There are a few possible timelines for recovery, depending on the severity of your rash:
1. If your heat rash appears as water bubbles on the skin, you’re likely to see a resolution within a few hours, but it may take as long as a few days.
2. If your heat rash presents as redness (and looks like a bug bite or pimples), it may take a couple of days to a few weeks to resolve because the inflammation is deeper.
3. If you’re experiencing deep, painful nodules (which is rare), you should check in with your doctor. You may need to take anti-inflammatory medication, like Tylenol, to address the pain; these cases can take longer to resolve, often up to several weeks.
While you wait for your rash to subside, you may experience heat intolerance or discomfort when you’re exposed to warm temperatures. You should also drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration during this time, according to the UK’s National Health Service.…READ THE FULL CONTENTS>>
