As the UK experiences its third heatwave of the year, with amber heat health alerts in place across large parts of England, many of us are noticing an unwelcome side effect of the soaring temperatures: heat rash, also known as prickly heat.
Searches for “how to prevent heat rash” have jumped by +300% in the past 30 days, while “how to get rid of prickly heat fast” is up by +200%*, as Brits look for ways to cool and calm irritated skin.
To help, Cult Beauty spoke with dermatologist Dr Sweta Rai, who explains what causes heat rash and how to treat it fast.
What is heat rash?
Heat rash appears as small, red, pin-head sized spots on exposed areas of skin. Unlike allergy flare-ups, it isn’t driven by histamine, which means antihistamines won’t help. Instead, it’s caused by blocked sweat ducts trapping perspiration beneath the skin.
How to cool it down
Dr Rai’s tips for calming a flare-up fast:
- Store skincare in the fridge for an instant cooling effect
- Use cool compresses to bring down irritation quickly
- Switch to lightweight, breathable products
- Take cooler showers rather than long, hot ones
- Wear loose, breathable fabrics to avoid trapping heat and sweat
“Keeping your temperature and your skin as cool as possible is key,” says Dr Rai.
How to prevent it happening again
Dr Rai’s advice for avoiding flare-ups in the first place:
- Keep an eye on the weather and adjust your routine on hotter days
- Stay in cooler, shaded environments during peak heat
- Choose breathable clothing over anything tight or synthetic
- Avoid overheating and excess sweat build-up where possible
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Photo by Gianna P1: https://www.pexels.com/photo/women-legs-on-blue-sky-background-11087260/
