Sweating is a skin disease that manifests itself in the form of small vesicles filled with a clear or slightly unclear liquid, resulting from impaired sweat glands. It is generally accepted that the disease is characteristic only of young children or infants, as well as obese people. But this is not so. The main cause of sweating in newborns is the immaturity of their sweat glands and the friction of skin folds, for example, on the neck, bends of the elbows, on the back, buttocks, and groin.
Adult sweating can be caused by a variety of reasons. The main reason for its appearance is hyperhidrosis - increased activity of sweat glands, which occurs as a protective reaction of the body to overheating or physical overstrain. An increase in sweating can also be affected by the age factor, cardiovascular diseases, disorders in the functioning of the nervous and endocrine systems. The effectiveness of the fight against this problem will depend on the exact clarification of the causes of its occurrence.
Depending on the type of rash, there are several types of prickly heat:
- crystalline;
- red;
- papular (deep).
Crystalline sweating in adults appears with febrile illnesses with profuse sweating. Densely located small vesicles (1 to 2 mm) with a clear liquid form on the skin. Bubbles are usually painless and pass after a few hours.
Red sweating occurs as a result of skin irritation under the influence of profuse sweat, which protrudes with excessive wrapping, heavy physical work or a fever. Characteristic symptoms of red sweating: bright red rashes that occur, usually on the sides, in the armpits, on the bend of the elbows (on the inside), in the groin. In a neglected form, prickly heat disease can form wound rashes. In this case, a serious treatment of the disease is required.
A papular form of prickly heat may occur in people who could not adapt in a hot tropical climate (when moving to another country, for example). The body of such people responds to heat and high humidity with papular rashes. Along with papules, blisters also appear. Such prickly heat in adults is usually chronic in nature and can last for months or even years. Papular prickly heat requires urgent comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation therapy.
Sweating or allergies? This question arises in many patients, and not in vain: the symptoms of any form of pruritus are very similar to the symptoms of allergies and other skin diseases. An exact diagnosis can only be established by a dermatologist, who in unclear situations will prescribe additional examinations designed to exclude other diseases with similar symptoms.
Sweating in adults causes a feeling of psychological and physical discomfort. In addition to a pronounced cosmetic defect (redness and rash), it can cause skin itching and be accompanied by an unpleasant odor.
To reduce perspiration, daily refreshing baths with the addition of manganese ( potassium permanganate solution) to a pale pink color, the use of infusion of chamomile flowers, and a decoction of a three-leaf succession are useful. After water procedures, it is advisable to powder sweat-prone areas of the skin with a powder consisting of zinc oxide and talc. You can wipe the sweating area with a formalin solution or 2% salicylic acid solution.
To reduce itching and skin irritation, ointments with betamethasone, camphor and menthol are prescribed, as well as antihistamines such as suprastin, tavegil, diphenhydramine.
It should be preferred to wear loose and comfortable linen or cotton clothes instead of synthetic and tight.
Injections of botulinum toxin A (Botox drug) will help to solve the problem of increased sweating of the feet, palms, axillary zone and even the back. The drug, blocking the work of most sweat glands, stops sweating. A lasting effect can last from 6 to 8 months, after which repeated injections will be required.