What to use for heat rash on your body

How can you treat heat rash on your body?

A cool, ventilated room is part of treatment, even though it comes without a skincare label.5

1. 1Move somewhere cool and limit further time in the heat.
2. 2Take a cool or lukewarm shower or bath. Cool showers can wash away sweat; avoid long baths and perfumed soaps.
3. 3Keep the affected skin cool and dry, and wear loose cotton clothing rather than tight or synthetic fabrics.
4. 4Hold a cool damp towel against itchy areas. Pat or tap the skin instead of scratching, and keep your nails short and smooth.
5. 5If itching still needs relief, tell a pharmacist where the rash is and whether you have other symptoms so they can help choose a treatment.

Tight, heavy clothing can trap heat and moisture, so the dress code here is unusually practical.5

Which cream should you use?

Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid medicine that reduces itching and swelling. Skin creams, ointments and lotions containing hydrocortisone are used for heat rash. Ask a pharmacist which preparation is appropriate for your rash and how to use it, rather than choosing a steroid strength or application schedule yourself.35

For general itch relief, a pharmacist can suggest cooling menthol creams. Antihistamines help some causes of itching, but the right medicine depends on what is causing the rash. If you are unsure whether the bumps are heat rash, describe the symptoms before buying a cream or tablet.25

Should you put body lotion on it?

Avoid emollients, meaning moisturizers, on heat rash. Moisturizers are useful for some other itchy skin problems, but heat rash needs a different approach: keep the skin cool and dry. A rash from heat is not automatically the same problem as dry, cracked skin.12

How long should it take to improve?

See a doctor if the rash does not improve after a few days in a cool place, covers a large area or keeps returning. Babies and young children get heat rash more often than adults. Moving a child somewhere cool helps stop sweating, and the rash usually clears on its own within a few days. Call their pediatrician if it remains.567

Bumps can look alike, especially in children, so get an uncertain rash checked rather than assuming heat caused it. If itching happens during pregnancy, contact your doctor or midwife: pregnancy itching sometimes has a cause that needs medical assessment. If you suspect a medicine is causing the rash, discuss treatment options with your doctor or pharmacist.257

When does the rash need medical help?

Get medical advice for warmth around the rash, pus, yellow or green drainage, red streaks, fever or severe pain. Seek immediate care if heat exposure also causes dizziness, nausea, vomiting or headache; confusion or loss of consciousness can signal heatstroke. Call emergency services for trouble breathing, facial swelling or a sudden rash that spreads quickly.145