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When The Heat Is On -
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What is Heat Rash or Skin Rash?
Heat rash looks like small pimples, a red cluster of pimples, or tiny bumps surrounded by a zone of red skin. It is visible on the neck and upper chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases.
Heat or skin rash is also called prickly heat or miliaria, and is a common condition in which the affected skin area itch intensely and often feel prickly, or sting, due to overheating.
Causes of Skin or Heat Rash
It occurs most often in hot, humid conditions, but it is possible to get infected at cool temperatures if you are overdressed.
Also goes for active people, newborns in incubators, and bedridden patients with fever.
Heat rash begins with excessive sweating, specially in a hot, humid environment. The perspiration harms the cells on the skin, thus forming a barrier and trapping the sweat beneath the skin. It then builds up, thereby causing the bumps.
When these bumps burst and the trapped sweat is released, you may feel the prickly, stinging, or sensation characteristic of a heat rash.
In its worst forms, heat rash can interfere with the body's heat-regulating mechanism and cause fever, heat exhaustion, and even death.
How To Treat Heat Rash
If you're going to treat a rash at home, cool your body in an air-conditioned room or with a fan, or take a cool shower or bath and let your skin air dry. If you can't cool down right away and you still sweat, don't apply antiperspirant, lotion, insect repellent, or powder to your skin, because these may trap more sweat and make things worse.
Once the skin is cool and dry again, treat heat rash with an application of an over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to relieve itching. No oil-based products please, which again, might block your sweat glands.
To treat heat rash is non-alarming and normally does not need medical assistance. But, call your doctor if it doesn't go away after a few days, or a serious infection develops in the affected area.
Other Heat Treatments Heat Stroke – The body’s temperature rises fast and unable to cool down. Skin is red, hot and not sweating. There is presence of rapid pulse, headache, nausea, confusion or unconsciousness. Call 911 but help cool the person down first by getting him into a shady area. Find a cool tub of water and immerse the victim. A cool shower may do, or anything to cool him off. If humidity is low, wrap the person with a cool, wet cloth and fan him. Do not give fluid intake. If he is twitching, help him control it so as not to injure himself. Turn him on his side if he is vomiting. Heat Exhaustion – Milder form of heat sickness after days of sun exposure. Signs are heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, weariness, headache, dizziness, fainting and vomiting. Skin may be cool and moist with a fast pulse rate. If untreated may lead to heat stroke. Call 911 and give first aid. Cooling measures that can be done are cool liquids, rest, cool shower or sponge bath, air-conditioned area, and loose clothing. Heat Cramps – People who do strenuous activity and sweat a lot that results in low salt level experience heat cramps or pains in the abdomen, arms or legs. If medical attention is not necessary, stop all activity and rest for hours. Further activity may lead to heat exhaustion or stroke. Drink clear juice or sports beverage. If pain persists in an hour, seek medical attention. Sunburn – Although sunburn may be minor in most cases, a more severe one may need medical attention. Skin becomes red, painful and abnormally warm. Call a doctor if an infant is affected or if there’s fever, fluid-filled blisters and severe pain. Apply cold compress or moisturizing lotion, or immerse the sunburned area in cool water. Don’t use ointment or butter and do not break the blisters. |
Seek and you shall find. Search the web for more info. But please come back ;-).
Y'know what?
Despite being an Arizonan, so far we have not had any of the above heat sicknesses or done any to even treat heat rash!
Stay cool, Kabayan...
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