Treating Prickly Heat
May 21, 2009
The scorching heat in the summers makes us sweat excessively and this leads to a condition commonly known as prickly heat. The medical term for prickly heat is Miliaria. Prickly heat is a condition in which the sweat glands are blocked due to dead skin or bacteria and this prevents proper evaporation of sweat from the skin causing irritation.
Prickly heat is commonly characterized by itchy and reddish skin with appearance of rashes and blisters. Though this condition can apply to people of all ages, but it is more commonly found in children as their sweat glands are not completely developed at such a young age.
Prickly heat usually affects people during the summer period and affects those body parts which are not easily exposed to air, such as armpits, back or feet. A person suffering from prickly heat gets very irritated due to this condition as he develops a tendency of scratching the affected area and this causes more irritation.
Hence it is best to get rid of prickly heat as early as possible and since it is not a major ailment; its remedies are very simple that can be tried at home.
Firstly remember that prickly heat occurs due to the presence of excessive heat in our body so the remedies that we will discuss aim at reducing the heat from our body and provide relief from heat rashes. Drink lot of water, i.e. 10-12 glasses per day so as to keep the body temperature at a lower level.
Apply ice cubes to the area that has heat rashes. Apply sandalwood powder or make a paste of sandalwood and rose-water and apply it to the affected area. When taking a bath, make sure you are cleaning the body completely; this will ensure that the sweat glands function properly and prevent prickly heat.
Some more simple tips would be to wear loose clothes during summers, avoid alcohol and other beverages. If you wish to consume some liquids, go for fruit juices; sugarcane juice is best to cure prickly heat. Avoiding exposing yourself to direct sunlight as much as possible. Following these tips during summers can definitely keep you away from prickly heat.
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