Prickly heat (miliaria) is common during hot and humid conditions. Small, itchy red bumps appear on the skin, which is often prickly, stinging and burning. This condition appears when the person sweats more than normal and the sweat glands get blocked leading to small bumps and redness around the glands, which leads to inflammation.
It generally occurs, when a person wears tight clothes where there is no air circulation. It is easily treatable by keeping the body cool. Medical help is required only when the rash becomes infected by microbes.
Prickly heat is not an infection. Staphylococcus epidermidis is a bacterium living on the skin and it is harmless. It secretes a sticky substance, which combines with excess sweat during hot conditions causing blockage of sweat glands.
This condition can occur in any age group. Prickly heat can be diagnosed through physical examination. Allowing the skin to breathe is the best treatment. It can be prevented by wearing loose clothes, keeping the skin hydrated and clean, and taking frequent showers. Besides these, you can also try a few effective remedies to get rid of this annoying problem.
6 Various Remedies For Prickly Heat
Gram Flour
Applying gram flour paste is a natural way to get respite from prickly heat. Gram flour has been used traditionally for skin care. It cleanses the skin and exfoliates it. Make a gram flour paste by mixing it with water.
Apply this paste on the affected area and allow it to dry. Wash the area with cold water after some time. This will help in removing the dead cells present on the skin and it will relieve you from inflammation. This is an excellent remedy for prickly heat.
Neem leaves
Neem has been used in the traditional Indian medicine for a long time. All parts of the neem tree have medicinal properties. It has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-diabetic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
It is generally used to get rid of the itchiness and irritation, which is present in skin infections. It is very useful in the prickly heat treatment as well. Take some neem leaves, grind it with water and make a fine paste. Apply this paste on the prickly heat region and let it dry. The medicinal properties of neem leaves prevent further infections.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal has compounds that protect the skin from various irritants and help soothe itchy, irritated and painful skin. Moreover, it smells good and comforts the skin. It also moistens and rejuvenates. Oatmeal powder is an excellent treatment for prickly heat. Put some oatmeal in the bathtub and mix it well.
Take a dip in the bath tub with oatmeal for more than half an hour. Take frequent bath until you get relief from itchy skin. Oatmeal bath is the most helpful home remedy, which gives faster relief from inflammation.
Sandalwood Powder
Sandalwood is used for ages for improving skin health. It is generally used as an antiseptic agent. It helps in treating inflammation and infection caused by microorganisms. Besides reducing infections, it also treats sepsis and body heat. For treating prickly heat, mix sandalwood and coriander powder in equal proportions and make a paste by adding rose water (about 2 tablespoons) and if required some water to the powder.
Apply this paste on the affected region and let it dry. Rinse the body with cold water after some time. This will give immediate relief from prickly heat. It will get rid of the itching and redness will disappear.
Fuller’s Earth Paste
Fuller’s earth paste is a very good home prickly heat treatment. Mix fuller’ earth with rose water or plain water and make a paste. Apply the paste over the prickly heat and allow it to dry for some time. After a while wash the area with water. This remedy will give you excellent relief from itching and inflammation.
Fuller’s earth is a traditionally used ingredient for skin treatment. It is used in various skin products for its extraordinary benefits. It is nothing but sedimentary clay and is used in ancient remedies for its excellent properties like healing wounds. Its antibacterial property damages the cell wall of bacteria causing its death.
Papaya And Cucumber Paste
Papaya is used for treating skin problems. It is rich in vitamins, which are good for skin health. Cucumber is a natural coolant. Take some papaya and cucumber pulp and mix them well into a paste and apply it on the area infected by prickly heat.
Allow it to dry for about 30 minutes and then clean it with cold water. The paste will cool the affected area, soothe the skin and relieves you from itching immediately.
Caution: Please use Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.
