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Prickly heat is the common name for the medical term "miliaria rubia." It is also known as heat rash. The rash creates an area of red skin with many tiny raised bumps. This area may also blister.

The face, neck, shoulders, and chest are the most common places for prickly heat to occur, although it may show up anywhere. While it can affect anyone, children are more likely to get prickly heat than adults.

Prickly heat is usually easy to identify due to its straightforward symptoms. Tiny red bumps and itching on an area of skin that has been exposed to heat and sweat for a long time are common signs of prickly heat.

Sometimes the red bumps can develop into a series of tiny blisters. The bumps or blisters may swell, become irritated or itchy, and redden as the rash progresses.

Prickly heat may spread on the body, but it is not infectious. Under normal conditions, there is no way to pass the rash on to other people.

Prickly heat is caused by trapped sweat. When the body is hot, it activates the sweat glands to create sweat on the skin. The sweat then cools the skin as it evaporates.

When the body is kept in this warm state, the constant sweat production can overload the sweat glands. This can cause the sweat ducts to become clogged, trapping sweat in the deep layers of the skin. This trapped sweat irritates the skin, which responds by producing a rash.

The most common trigger for prickly heat is exposure to heat for a long time. This may be especially true in very humid areas where the sweat has a harder time evaporating off the skin.

Prickly heat is common in people from cooler climates who travel to warmer climates. But it may also happen to a person in their usual climate when they experience more heat and sweat than normal.

Certain medications can also trigger prickly heat. Any drugs that raise the body temperature or alter the function of the sweat glands can increase the risk of prickly heat.

Some medications for Parkinson's disease block the sweat, and tranquilizers and diuretics can change the fluid balance in the body, which can trigger symptoms of prickly heat as well.

A study in JAMA Dermatology noted that prickly heat developed where the bacteria Staphylococcus were found. These bacteria are normal, but the biofilm they produce can block sweat ducts and contribute to skin conditions. This would suggest that people with Staphylococcus on their skin may be more prone to prickly heat than others.

Prickly heat will usually go away on its own, but it may have bothersome symptoms. Many people can benefit from using home remedies. Calamine lotion or topical steroid creams can help treat the symptoms of redness, irritation, and swelling.

Treating prickly heat also involves cooling off quickly to avoid additional sweat. Sitting in front of a fan or in an air-conditioned room can help. Cold showers or baths can reduce body temperature and help prickly heat clear up faster.

Camphor and menthol may also have a cooling effect on the skin and help reduce the itchiness. In some cases, antihistamine medications can help reduce itching.

People who are prone to prickly heat may find relief from regularly washing the body with mild soap after sweating. This can reduce the amount of sweat and the number of bacteria on the skin.

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