Home Remedies For Prickly Heat
Prickly heat also called as heat rash or sweat rash is a very common problem in summers. In this problem our skin gets red and itchy. It affects people particularly in the rainy season. Due to humid atmosphere there is abundant sweating and this sweat intermingle with bacteria, dust and sebum. The result is a thick (as compared to pore size) material that clogs up the sweat glands and causes itchiness and prickly heat. It can affect people of every age group and sex. Mostly, kids become its worst victims because they play outside in summers and scratch heat rashes very hardly.
Prickly heat remains on skin for a period of 7-10 days and then disappears. New heat rashes replace old ones if we don’t care about or treat this condition. It is a non-communicable skin problem that forms spotty rashes and eruptions, which cause irritation. Excessive sun exposure, food poisoning, side effects of certain medicines, stressful life, unhygienic living conditions, alcoholism, smoking and excessive consumption of junk food can also cause prickly heat.
Generally, it starts around neck then spreads to chest, armpits, knees, breast area, groin, crocks of elbow, back and stomach. Small red spots of the size of mustard grains appear on the skin. These red spots cause pimples and inflammation. Prickly heat powders give relief but this relief is not for a long time. Due to violent scratching and stretching, heat rashes turn into painful blisters.
By adopting healthy and hygienic lifestyle one can avoid prickly heat very easily. Bathe regularly, preferably with chilled water. You can also add an anti-septic solution in your bathing water. You can rub ice cubes on the affected area for reducing inflammation. Addition of some quantity of oat meal powder in bathing water is also helpful in this regard. Wear sterilized clothes and use sterilized cotton bed sheets for avoiding prickly heat.
Sandalwood is very effective in treating prickly heat rashes. You can coat sandalwood powder on your body after a bath for cooling effect. Sandalwood herb is an anti-inflammatory agent. You can also make paste of sandalwood by adding rose water and coriander powder. Apply this paste on the affected area at night for 10-15 minutes. Then, wash this mixture with fresh cold water.
Neem is also a very effective herb for curing heat rashes. Boil fresh tender leaves of neem in water and then add this boiled water to your cool bathing water. Prefer sitting in this water for 10-15 minutes to get relief from itchiness. Neem is a cooling agent and is helpful in removing heat rashes from their very root. Medicinal properties of neem are also helpful in treating many other skin problems. You can also make neem paste by rubbing its tender leaves. Apply this paste directly on the affected area. Neem juice is also available in the market. You can drink this juice for relief. Neem ointments are also available, which can be used as per instructions.