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| Prickly heat, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention, Complications |
Prickly heat or miliaria is a small red rash that stands out, feels itchy, and causes a stinging or stinging sensation on the skin. This disorder, also known as heat rash, can occur not only in babies, but also in adults.
Prickly heat is more common in babies, because the body temperature regulation in babies is not perfect and the baby's sweat glands are not fully developed. As a result, the skin has not been able to sweat properly. Prickly heat in babies most often appears on the body, neck, and chest.
Causes of prickly heat
Prickly heat is caused by a rash and inflammation due to blockage of the sweat glands. However, it is not known exactly why sweat glands become clogged.
There are several factors that can increase the risk of prickly heat, namely:
- Tropical climate
- Hot and humid climate and weather are the main triggers for prickly heat.
- Overheated
- Heat can trigger clogged sweat glands that cause prickly heat. Some conditions that can cause overheating are wearing clothes that are too thick or sleeping with thick blankets when the temperature is hot.
- Certain physical activities
- Certain activities or sports that cause the body to sweat a lot can trigger prickly heat.
- Sweat glands are not developed
- Sweat glands in babies are not fully developed, so sweat is more easily trapped in the skin. Therefore, prickly heat is more common in babies.
- Obesity
- Someone who is overweight (obese) is more at risk for prickly heat, especially in areas of skin folds, such as the stomach, neck, and groin.
- Bed rest is too long
- Patients who are on bed rest for a long time, especially those with fever, are more at risk for prickly heat.
Symptoms and Types of Prickly Heat
Prickly heat is a non-contagious condition. This condition generally occurs when a person is in hot weather or a humid environment. Prickly heat is often characterized by symptoms such as:
- Small red bumps, especially where sweat accumulates
- Itching or stinging and sharp feeling in the rash
These symptoms can appear in all parts of the body and can occur at any age range, but are most common in infants and children.
Based on the depth of skin damage that occurs, prickly heat is divided into several types, namely:
Miliaria crystallina
Miliaria crystallina is the mildest type of prickly heat. Miliaria crystallina affects only the top layer of the skin. This condition is characterized by the appearance of red nodules filled with a clear liquid that breaks easily. This type of prickly heat generally does not cause itching and pain.
Miliaria rubra
Miliaria rubra occurs in the deeper layers of the skin. This condition is more common in adults than children. The symptoms of miliaria rubra are red nodules accompanied by itching and stinging.
Miliaria pustulose
Miliaria pustulose is a continuation of miliaria rubra. Prickly heat occurs when miliaria rubra becomes inflamed.
The sign of miliaria pustola is a red, pus-filled nodule that turns white or yellow in color. The presence of pustules indicates the onset of a skin infection.
Miliaria deep
Miliaria deep is the least common type of prickly heat. This type of miliaria occurs in the deeper layers (dermis). Retained sweat will trigger the appearance of red nodules that are bigger and harder.
Although less common, this type of miliaria is chronic and recurs frequently.
When to go to the doctor
Prickly heat will generally go away on its own if you can keep the ambient temperature and skin cool. However, do check with a doctor if prickly heat is getting more and more annoying and is accompanied by symptoms of a secondary infection of the skin. Some of the symptoms of secondary infection are:
- Red nodules swell, and it hurts
- Nodules oozing pus
- Fever and chills
Diagnosis of prickly heat
To diagnose prickly heat, the doctor will ask questions about the complaints experienced, medical history, and conditions in the patient's environment.
Next, the doctor will perform a physical examination by looking at the rash directly. No tests or investigations are needed to confirm the diagnosis of prickly heat.
Prickly Heat Treatment
Prickly heat is generally harmless and does not require special medical attention. This condition can be treated at home with simple steps, such as:
- Compressing the affected area with a damp cloth or ice cube wrapped in a cloth for no more than 20 minutes every hour
- Clean the affected area with running water and mild soap
- Sprinkle talcum powder on the affected area to reduce skin discomfort
- Keeping the skin cool, for example by bathing and showering
- Avoid hot weather and humid places, such as staying longer in a cool room, or using a fan
- Drink lots of fluids to avoid dehydration
- Wear loose clothing so it doesn't hinder sweating
If the prickly heat experienced is quite severe and bothersome, the doctor can provide treatment in the form of:
- Administration of antihistamine class of drugs, to relieve itching and redness on the surface of the skin
- Giving calamine lotion, to relieve itching, burning, or irritation
- Giving antibiotics, to treat if there is a secondary infection in prickly heat
- Administration of anhydrous lanolin, to prevent blockage of sweat glands and stop new rashes from forming
- Administration of corticosteroid ointment, to relieve itching and inflammation in severe rashes
Complications of prickly heat
Prickly heat usually goes away on its own and rarely causes complications. However, prickly heat that is scratched continuously can cause complications in the form of a secondary infection due to bacteria, namely folliculitis.
In addition, prickly heat can also cause sufferers to experience the following conditions:
- It's hard to sleep
- Difficult to do activities
- Fussy, if it happens to the baby
Prickly Heat Prevention
The best way to prevent prickly heat is to avoid risk factors that can trigger blockages in the sweat glands. There are several efforts that can be done to prevent the blockage, namely:
- Keeps body skin cool and cool
- Use a soap that is made from mild and does not contain perfume
- Don't wear tight or too thick clothes when the weather is hot
- Avoiding outdoor activities in the hot sun
- Always wipe sweat during and after exercise or activity
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