Sweating is a rash in the form of small transparent vesicles or red nodules. The disease occurs due to blockage of sweat glands. In most cases, it is due to overheating of the human body. By the nature of their rashes, it is customary to distinguish between crystalline, red, as well as papular prickly heat. As a rule, the diagnosis does not cause any difficulties, and a dermatologist consultation is required only in complicated cases. Therapy of the disease will be to eliminate the factors that cause overheating, as well as increased sweating in the patient. Prevention measures include the optimal temperature in the room, seasonal clothing, personal hygiene, and proper care for your skin. In this article, we can take a closer look at what sweating is, what are the causes of its occurrence, and how therapy should be carried out.
General information
Sweat is called skin disease, which is caused by increased sweating. Quite often, this ailment is diagnosed in newborn children, although some adults suffer from the disease. Speaking about what is prickly heat, it should be noted that the disease is harmless, but very unpleasant. At least once in a lifetime, each of us has faced a similar problem.
What is prickly heat? This is such a disease that occurs due to overheating, as well as increased sweating. As mentioned earlier, sweating is considered a childhood ailment. In some cases, getting rid of it is quite difficult. Without adequate therapy, itching and irritation can torment a person for a long time.
Despite the fact that in most cases prickly heat occurs among children in the first year of life, it can also occur in adults. The disease in children is explained by the immaturity of their sweat glands, as well as the thermoregulation mechanism.
You should also pay attention to the fact that in both children and adults, who are most susceptible to rashes of sweating, areas of the skin are poorly ventilated. This includes the intergluteal, axillary, inguinal folds, as well as the folds on the neck, under the mammary glands, between the fingers and behind the ears. In addition, prickly heat appears on the knee and elbow bends, areas of the skin that are tightly attached to synthetic things. These include low-quality diapers, clothes made of non-breathing materials, as well as bandages.
Development mechanism
Increased body temperature provokes the inclusion of protective mechanisms from hypothermia. In this case, the pores begin to open, sweat appears, which should cool the body. If sweat gland becomes clogged with sebum, various cosmetics, then the sweating process will begin to suffer. Sweat begins to evaporate slowly, causing irritation of the skin.
Sweat contains biologically active substances, salts, which are capable of exerting an irritating effect on the skin. If excess sweat is removed in time, then harmful microbes located there will begin to multiply on the skin surface. In such situations, the process of inflammation of the sweat glands begins, resulting in the formation of prickly heat, which is accompanied by the appearance of a small rash, as well as other unpleasant symptoms.
Symptoms of the disease and its types
So, we continue to consider what prickly heat is. Only a few do not know what the rash looks like with this disease. Depending on the specific type of rash, it is customary to distinguish three main types of prickly heat. These include:
- Crystal prickly heat. In most cases, this type of disease affects newborns. With this type of ailment, white small or nacreous vesicles are formed on the skin, whose size in diameter is 1-2 mm. The bubbles open quite easily, leaving behind irritation and peeling. Crystalline sweating in a child can occur on the face, neck, trunk. As for adults, in most cases it manifests itself on the body. There is no itching in the case of crystalline prickly heat, as well as any unpleasant sensations. But this does not mean that this ailment does not need therapy. If you start the process, then the infection can get into the small wounds that remain from the bursting bubbles.
- Papular prickly fever in most cases occurs in adult patients. It manifests itself in the form of a rash on the surface of the skin of the arms, legs, and also the body. Bubbles are flesh-colored, and sizes in diameter range from 1 to 3 mm. Such a rash appears in case of overheating or in conditions of high humidity.
- Red sweating is presented in the form of small uniform vesicles or nodules. The skin near the rash begins to itch and blush. A red appearance of sweating can occur in places where the skin is constantly irritated by friction with clothing. These include skin folds, the inguinal and axillary region, the area under the chest, as well as places that are in close contact with uncomfortable clothing.
If you have a rash on your skin with the development of sweating, the photos of which are presented in this article, you should go to a dermatologist for a consultation. The fact is that such rashes are characteristic not only in case of prickly heat. A similar symptom can occur with other infectious and skin ailments, and only a competent doctor can establish an accurate diagnosis. Most likely, the specialist will prescribe some studies that can be carried out in any clinic, as well as in a medical laboratory. It is very important not to ignore the symptoms, but in time to determine the causes of the rash. If this symptom on the skin is a manifestation of infection, then therapy should be started as soon as possible.
If you don’t know how prickly heat looks, the photos from our article can show this. But the diagnosis is made by a doctor.
Diagnostic Methods
So now you know how prickly heat looks in the photo. However, attention should be paid to the fact that a rash is only one of the symptoms of this disease. As a rule, the diagnosis is not of any complexity. It is installed after an external examination, as well as a patient complaint.
The skin becomes moist, there are patches of redness and covered with pimples. The diagnosis is made by the therapist, pediatrician. In the most difficult cases, a consultation with a dermatologist is required.
Treatment features
You can familiarize yourself with the photo of the symptom of sweating above. But it is also very important to know how to treat this disease. The basics of therapy are in both children and adults in the access of air to the skin, as well as in hygiene.
In no case do you need to wrap up your baby, wear too warm clothes, in which sweating will only intensify. The use of tight or synthetic clothing in hot weather should also be avoided. Experts recommend abandoning the excessive use of soap.
Treatment of sweating, photos of which are presented above and below, will be much simpler if you start therapeutic measures immediately after the onset of the first symptoms of the disease. In the most severe cases, sweat glands begin to deplete, which can provoke dry skin. Against the background of the papular type of prickly heat, the infection can penetrate into the depths of the skin. As a result of this, microbial eczema is formed. Fighting this disease will be much more difficult. Sometimes therapy is delayed for several years. That is why, at the first signs of an ailment, you should definitely consult a doctor who can know exactly how to distinguish sweating from other ailments.
Treatment in newborns
As mentioned earlier, babies often suffer from this disease. That is why every mom should get acquainted with the features of treatment and symptoms of sweating, a photo of this pathology. The fact is that in newborn children, absolutely all systems in the body work differently, not like in an adult. Newborns are just beginning to adapt to the environment, and such a process may be associated with some problems. Often parents, in order to protect their child from the effects of the cold, begin to wrap him in a warm blanket. In such cases, the newborn becomes too hot, and the thermoregulation system does not cope well with the load, resulting in the development of sweating. In addition, the reason may be a lack of air, for example, if the newborn is constantly swaddled, wearing diapers too often, using too much cream.
In most cases, in newborns, sweating manifests itself in the form of a rash in the folds on the legs, neck, elbow bends, as well as in the upper chest and back. But prickly heat on the head of a newborn baby is quite rare.
When treating the disease, it is necessary to abandon the use of the cream, it is best to replace it with a powder that absorbs excess moisture and allows the skin to breathe. While swimming in the water, it is recommended to add chamomile decoction, which is able to calm the cover, and also help restore it. Do not forget about taking daily air baths. In some cases, experts advise treating the skin with zinc oxide powder or salicylic-zinc ointment. However, such therapy should be prescribed by a doctor.
Treatment in older children
The skin in children is tender, not the same as in adults. That is why irritations are formed more often. If you want to avoid a rash in your child, you need to follow a few simple rules. First of all, you should not buy synthetic things for your child, as they prevent the skin from breathing normally, and also contribute to the appearance of irritation. Therefore, if you saw a baby sweating in the groin, then most likely you are using clothes made from the wrong material. It is best to buy cotton underwear. Such things absorb moisture well and also allow air to pass through. Also, experts advise wearing clothes made of linen and wool. The air temperature in the room should be no more than 20 degrees. Hygiene will play a special role in the treatment. The baby needs to be bathed at least once a day, and on hot days this procedure should be carried out every morning and every evening.
Adult Treatment
We continue to consider the symptoms and treatment of sweating in adults. Such patients may also encounter this unpleasant disease. Most often, symptoms appear in those people who suffer from chronic ailments of the endocrine, cardiovascular or nervous system. Such disorders are often also accompanied by excessive sweating.
Treatment of sweating in men and women will begin with the elimination of external factors that provoked the development of the disease. Of course, you can not do anything in hot weather, but if you are one of those people who have excessive sweating, you can still make your life easier. To do this, you should choose the most spacious clothes for wearing, which does not constrain movements. In addition, things must be made of natural materials. If necessary, experts advise using cosmetic talcum powder in places that are in close contact with clothing. In hot weather, it is recommended to abandon cosmetics that clog pores. Also, experts do not recommend the use of fatty creams. In this case, it is best to limit yourself to lotions that are made on a water basis. The skin, which is affected by prickly heat, must be regularly cleaned with an antiseptic. For this, you can use alcohol solutions of boric and salicylic acid, as well as an aqueous weak solution of potassium permanganate. To reduce itching and swelling, antihistamines, such as Suprastin or Tavegil, are used.
Prevention
Prevention of this disease will consist in observing the rules of personal hygiene of the skin, as well as maintaining a normal air temperature in the room. You should also adhere to regular water procedures, eliminate situations that can lead to severe sweating. In the summer, you should avoid long exposure to the hot sun. People who have moved to the hottest places on the planet should gradually adapt to the local climate.
Particular attention should also be paid to clothing. Underwear that comes in direct contact with the skin should be as breathable as possible, while not too tight. You must also be aware that clothing should be appropriate for the weather, as well as the physical activity of the person. For example, when playing sports or physical work, a person’s clothing should be the least warm.
As for the prevention of disease in children in the first year of their life, too tight swaddling as well as warm wrapping should be avoided. Of particular importance will be the proper care of the skin of the baby. Pediatricians recommend regular water procedures and air baths, aerate the nursery well, and use high-quality diapers, cotton clothes and underwear.
Forecast
The prognosis for such a disease, as a rule, is favorable. If you start treatment in time, eliminate the cause, then prickly heat can be cured in just two days.