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There are plenty of indignities that come with summer: chafing, perpetually damp bangs, and the realization that your carefully curated skin-care routine is no match for a week of 95-degree weather. Then there’s heat rash, the tiny, itchy bumps that seem to materialize out of nowhere after one sweaty subway ride or a particularly humid afternoon. It’s uncomfortable, irritating, and — when it pops up on your face — easy to mistake for a breakout.
,The good news is that heat rash is usually harmless and relatively easy to treat once you know what’s causing it. We asked three board-certified dermatologists to explain why it happens, how to calm it down quickly, and what not to do if your skin suddenly starts feeling prickly.
,What exactly is heat rash?
,Heat rash — also known as miliaria or prickly heat — develops when sweat gets trapped beneath the skin because the sweat ducts have become blocked. “Instead of evaporating normally, the trapped sweat causes inflammation, leading to small bumps that can be red, clear, or skin-colored,” says Boca Raton, Florida-based dermatologist Jenna Queller, M.D. “Many people describe it as feeling prickly, itchy, or like tiny pinpricks on the skin.”
The most common form in adults is miliaria rubra, which produces the familiar red, itchy bumps. Miliaria crystallina, which appears as tiny clear or white blisters near the skin’s surface, is the type that often occurs in babies. It usually turns up in places where heat and friction are combined — like the underarms — but you might also get it on your face, neck, chest, back, or anywhere that clothing rubs against the skin.
,Does temperature alone cause it?
,Heat rash happens whenever sweat can’t evaporate efficiently, so common triggers include intense exercise, prolonged time in environments like hot yoga classes or saunas, tight synthetic clothing (looking at you, athleisure), and even heavy skin-care products.
,“I see it constantly during the summer in patients who are wearing the same moisturizer or sunscreen they used all winter and suddenly can’t tolerate it,” says Dallas, Texas-based dermatologist Gabriela Soza, M.D. Rich balms and thick ointments contribute by reducing airflow and preventing sweat from escaping. In other words, your winter routine may be sabotaging your skin once temperatures climb.
,What’s the fastest way to get rid of heat rash?
,This may seem obvious, though it’s sometimes easier said than done: Cool everything down.
,“The most important treatment is removing the trigger,” says Dr. Queller. “Cool showers, cold compresses, and AC are your best friends. Keep affected areas dry, and switch into loose cotton or moisture-wicking clothing to allow blocked sweat ducts to recover.
,If itching is driving you crazy, Dr. Soza recommends a short course of over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone cream for body rashes along with calamine lotion, which she says is “old-fashioned but genuinely works and is soothing and drying.” Lotions containing pramoxine can also help calm itching.
,Most cases begin improving within a couple of days once you’re no longer overheating, although more significant flares may take up to a week — or occasionally two — to fully resolve.
,What should you avoid doing if you have heat rash?
,You may be tempted to apply moisturizer or even body oil to soothe the skin, but proceed with caution. “Petroleum jelly, heavy moisturizers, and rich body butters will further block the ducts and make things worse,” says Dr. Soza. You should also abstain from exfoliation, picking, and scratching, says Brianna Olamiju, M.D., who practices at Spring Street Dermatology in NYC. Scratching not only prolongs inflammation but can also introduce bacteria and increase the risk of infection. Also, sorry, you might want to take a break from the gym for a few days.
,What if it’s on your face?
,A heat-rash eruption on the face requires a gentler approach than on the body because the skin can be more sensitive, and you want to make sure you aren’t inadvertently using something that might make the problem worse. “Facial heat rash is regularly mistaken for other conditions, like rosacea, acne, or dermatitis,” says Dr. Soza. “That leads to the wrong treatment and more irritation.”
,The first course of action should be simplifying your routine until your skin recovers. Skip heavy makeup, facial oils, exfoliating acids, retinoids, and vitamin C for a few days, and opt instead for cool compresses and a lightweight, fragrance-free gel moisturizer such as CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel. Both Dr. Soza and Dr. Olamiju caution against routinely using hydrocortisone cream on the face unless specifically directed by a dermatologist, since prolonged steroid use can cause its own problems, including skin thinning and acnelike eruptions. No thanks.
,CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel
Vendor: Amazon
Price: $20
Buy,Can you prevent heat rash from happening in the first place?
,It helps to wear loose, breathable clothing in the summer, and avoid overheating as much as you can — something that isn’t exactly easy when the subway is like a furnace. Dr. Olamiju says that best practice is to change out of sweaty clothes and hop in the shower as soon as you can after exercise or heat exposure so that stale perspiration doesn’t hang around on the skin.
For people who frequently develop heat rash in skin folds, Dr. Soza says a light talc-free powder can help reduce moisture and friction. Using a hypochlorous anti-microbial spray (such as Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray) “can also help soothe inflammation, neutralize bacteria, and prevent itching,” says Dr. Olamiju. “It’s also gentle enough for sensitive skin.”
,Tower 28 SOS Rescue Spray
Vendor: Amazon
Price: $28
Buy,The main thing to remember is that heat rash is your skin’s way of telling you it’s overwhelmed, hot, and bothered (aren’t we all?). Give it a chance to cool off, and resist the temptation to pile on products. Sometimes the best skin care is just finding the nearest air conditioner.
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