summer RASHES

Summer rashes

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150504/jsp/knowhow/story_17975.jsp

---

Your Health - Dr. Gita Mathai

---

• 

Summer means unrelenting sunshine, rising temperatures, power cuts and sweating. The sweat pours down our face and our bodies. It carries dead cells and bacteria with it. These can enter pores in the skin and block them. As more sweat forms, it is unable to escape onto the surface of the skin. It gets trapped and forms bumps (prickly heat) under the skin.

Prickly heat or miliria (as it is scientifically known) can be mild and confined to the surface of the skin. These bumps and blisters are filled with clear fluid. If the sweat glands deeper down are blocked, the little bumps may be red in colour. They can itch and the whole skin may have a pricking feeling.

Prickly heat usually subsides if left alone. Friction from clothing and rubbing and scratching for relief may cause the rash to become secondarily infected. The rashes then look like pustules. There may be fever. The local lymph nodes may be enlarged.

It is possible to control and treat prickly heat at home. Water and soap can be used to wash off dead cells and sweat - and to cool the body. Take a mild, non irritating soap and apply it on a wet face towel or a loofah. Use it to lather the body, do not use the soap directly. Bathe twice a day.

Wear clothes made of cotton or a mixture of 60 per cent cotton and 40 per cent polyester. Wear clothes made of the newer cotton wicking material during exercising. Avoid wearing synthetic clothes as far as possible.

Talcum powder is very popular as a "cure" for prickly heat but contrary to the advertisements on TV, (where miraculous relief occurs in seconds), it actually aggravates prickly heat.

Talc is made up of finely powdered zinc stearate, silicates and perfume additives. The fine particles block the skin pores. Heat causes sweating. The blocked pores cannot release the sweat. It builds up in the sweat glands. This aggravates the prickly heat.

Talc causes other medical problems as well. Inhaling the air-borne particles of talc can cause inflammation and swelling of the airways. Eventually it can cause a type of aspiration pneumonia. Long-term treatment may be needed. Aspiration can be fatal in babies and young children.

And there is no such thing as "baby powder".

IF YOU HAVE PRICKLY HEAT:

•  Stay indoors between 10am and 6pm. Ifyou must go out, wear a cap or carry an umbrella. Stay away from the direct heat of the sun as far as possible.
• Wear loose and airy cotton clothes.
• Do not scratch. Prickly heat causes an overwhelming desire to scratch. The more you scratch the more it will itch.
• Take a mild antihistamine after con sulting your physician.
• Do not apply oil-based creams or ointments. They will only block the pores and aggravate the condition.
• Bathe two or three times a day in tepid water. Add a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate and a teaspoon of salt to a bucket of water before bathing.
• Use soap containing trichlorhexi- dine (Dial, Neko) or a mild, non-irritating soap.
• Do not apply soap directly to the skin. Use a moist piece of towelling, a herbal scrubber or a loofah.
• Lightly moisturise the itchy skin with baby oil or a water-based aloe vera lotion.
• If prickly heat becomes red or yellow and pustular, changes appearance, or if the temperature rises, consult a doctor immediately.

Dr Gita Mathai is a paediatrician with a family practice at Vellore. Questions on health issues may be emailed to her at yourhealthgm @yahoo.co.in