Any home remedies for prickly heat rash?
Answer:
Prickly heat is a common condition in which areas of the skin itch intensely and often feel prickly, or sting, due to overheating. Also called heat rash prickly heat looks like tiny bumps surrounded by an area of red skin. It usually occurs on clothed parts of the body, such as the back, abdomen, neck, upper chest, groin or armpits and goes away on its own within a few days. In severe forms, however, prickly heat can interfere with the body's heat-regulating mechanism and cause fever, heat exhaustion and even death.
Prickly heat occurs most often in hot, humid conditions, but you may develop it in cool weather if you are overdressed. The condition usually appears a few days to a few months after exposure to a hot, humid environment. It's most common in infants. Newborns are particularly vulnerable to prickly heat because their sweat ducts are not mature, which makes it easier for the beads of moisture to be trapped.
Symptoms:
* Small, itchy red bumps on the skin
* Prickly, stinging or burning sensation in the affected area
# Try to avoid scratching, for this may introduce germs into the deeper layers of the skin.
# Wear cool, light clothing and abstain from alcoholic drinks.
# Oatmeal baths twice a day may also relieve the itch.
# Drink plenty of water during hot weather.
# Keep the skin clean and avoid the use of harsh soaps.
# Gently wash skin with soft gauze and lukewarm water and pat on a mixture of one part alcohol to three parts boiled water after cooled.
# Make a compress by dipping a washcloth in a mixture of one teaspoon of baking soda per cup of cool water. Apply to the rash for five to ten minutes. Do this four or five times a day.
# Avoid overdressing. Allow Skin to breathe. Avoid heavy moisturizers.
# Dress your baby sensibly, preferably in layers that can be peeled away as conditions change and you'lllikely avoid the problem altogether.
# Remove some clothing, take her into an air-conditioned room or sit her in a tub of tepid water.
# Wear loose, lightweight clothing. Dust the affected area with cornstarch.
# Avoid sweating by staying in a cool environment.
# Apply paste of gram flour and then a cold-water bath after sometime. It will give relief.
# Prepare a mixture by adding 1 teaspoon of sandalwood powder, 1-teaspoon coriander seeds (dhania) powder, 1 teaspoon nagarmusta (Cyperus scariosus) powder and rose/cold water to make paste. Mix them well and apply on the body. Leave it on for an hour and then take cold-water bath.
# The paste made of powdered bark of pipal tree and finely powdered brick is applied on the affected parts all over the body.
# The powder of sandalwood dusted all over the body is effective in giving relief in prickly heat.
# The paste made of the seeds of jambul and applied over the body is effective in treating prickly heat.
# Persons suffering from prickly heat should avoid heavy garments and try to expose the affected area to air.
# Dissolve Fuller's earth (Multani mitti) in water to make a thin paste. It should be smeared over the affected parts. When the paste dries, wash with cold water.
# Apply green henna ground in water on the affected skin.
# Grind leaves of neem in water and apply on the affected skin.
# Take a small piece of sandalwood and rub it into a paste on a stone with rose water. Mix a pinch of powdered alum to the paste and apply to the affected skin twice or thrice a week depending upon the condition of prickly heat.
# Leave babies nappy off as often as possible.
Gently wash skin with soft gauze and lukewarm water and pat on a mixture of one part alcohol to three parts boiled water after cooled. Dust with Talcum powder Or, use baking soda in a little water than dust with talcum.
Soak away the itch. To counter the itching that accompanies prickly heat, add some baking soda or a colloidal oatmeal product such as Aveeno Bath Treatment to a tub of tepid water or make your own oatmeal bath. A good soak will soothe the skin and take away the itching.
Try a cool compress. While a thin coating of mild, water-based moisturizing lotion may help stop the itching, cool compresses sometimes work better. Make a compress by dipping a washcloth in a mixture of one teaspoon of baking soda per cup of cool water. Apply to the rash for five to ten minutes. Do this four or five times a day.
If your child is older and is extremely uncomfortable, give him/her an antihistamine such as children's Benadryl. ( Be sure to read package directions to make certain the product is recommended for your child's age. For the correct dosage, follow package directions or consult your physician.) Kids are much more sensitive to itchiness at night, and more likely to scratch the rash, which can lead to infection
Prevention:
Avoid overdressing.
Allow Skin to breathe
Avoid heavy moisturizers. Tender newborn skin tends to be dry and in need of moisturizing. But heavy, oil-based creams can be a problem. 'Moisturize with a light, water-based lotion instead.
Number one: Cool off. Your body heat is up and the sweat pores are getting blocked, so when you cool down, your body can stop the sweat response. use ice packs on the back of your neck and on the bottom of your feet.
Number two: take a baking soda & epsom salt bath. these can calm and open your pores to draw out trapped oils from the sweat. You can add lavender, bergamot, and orange peel to your bath to help your skin and pores.
Number three: pay close attention to your body temp. when you feel yourself getting too hot, stop, relax, and use the ice packs.
I like aloe & vitamin E creams that are free of chemicals and additives. I also like an egg white and lavender face mask that I make myself. It's very astringent and tightening for the pores. I have also used PABA capsules for people that would get sun poisoning from their body temp getting to high and causing terrible fever and rashing. Maybe a supplemental PABA could work for you too.
Hope this helps. :)
Have you tried a Yahoo search for "prickly heat" + "home remedies"?
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