Miliaria rubra, or prickly heat, is a rash caused by blocked sweat glands preventing sweat from evaporating from the skin’s surface. It affects infants and adults in hot, humid environments and is treated by cooling the skin with medication or lifestyle changes. There are three types of miliaria, each affecting different layers of the skin. Lifestyle changes, such as wearing cotton clothing and taking cold showers, can help relieve symptoms.
Miliaria rubra, sometimes known as prickly heat, is a type of rash in which red blotches appear and the skin feels prickly or itchy. The condition is the most common form of a disorder known as miliaria, in which blocked sweat glands prevent sweat from evaporating from the skin’s surface, resulting in it infiltrating the skin. Miliaria rubra affects infants and adults who spend time in hot, humid environments. It is treated by cooling the skin, which can be achieved by applying various medications, wearing different clothing, reducing activity, or using measures such as fans or air conditioning. The branch of medicine in which skin conditions such as miliaria rubra are studied and treated is known as dermatology.
There are three varieties of milia, known as milia crystallina, rubra and profunda. Each type of milia affects the sweat ducts in a different layer of the skin. Miliaria crystalline is a relatively mild condition that affects the upper outer layer of skin and causes tiny blisters, which may not itch at all and tend to disappear within a few hours to a few days. Blocked sweat ducts in the middle layer of skin, below the outer layer, give rise to the rarer miliaria profunda, which causes larger, skin-colored lumps and is associated with a risk of heat exhaustion. Miliaria rubra is more common, more likely to itch, and affects the sweat ducts at the bottom of the outer layer of skin.
There are a number of causes of miliaria rubra. In newborns, the sweat glands are immature in the first few weeks of life and, in a hot environment or if the baby has a fever, they can rupture, causing sweat to leak into the skin. People who become overheated from exercising, covering up too much at night, or wearing clothing made from materials that don’t breathe can also develop the disorder. Certain medications are associated with the condition, such as bethanechol, a drug that causes increased sweating and is used in the treatment of bladder disorders.
Treating Miliaria rubra involves a number of lifestyle changes to cool the skin, such as taking cold showers and wearing cotton clothing. Lotions and ointments applied to the skin, such as calamine, can relieve miliaria rubra symptoms of tingling and itching and can help prevent infections or heat exhaustion from developing. Moving to a country with a tropical climate, some people may develop miliaria rubra, but then adjust for a number of months for the problem to clear up. In extreme cases, if the condition does not improve, it may be necessary to move.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
