I have had diabetes my entire life, and I am very thankful for the fact that modern medical discoveries have helped me live a happy, healthy life despite my disease. I have had to watch what I eat and take medications daily for most of my life, and while i used to feel like I was "missing out" when other children were able to eat sugary candy and I wasn't, I eventually learned that sugar-free candy tastes great. I am always keeping up on the latest diabetes research, and while researching, I have also learned about many other diseases and ailments and how they are treated and controlled. I know others are too busy to browse a bunch of medical websites, like I like to do, so I decided to start a blog that others can visit that contains information on a variety of medical topics all in one place!
Modern Medicine Saves Lives Every Day
Don't Let Heat Rash Get Under Your Skin: Treat And Prevent It
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Your body's cooling system works on the principle that as a liquid evaporates, it absorbs heat from its surroundings. Thus, as beads of sweat form on your skin, your body's heat causes them to evaporate, and then they carry the heat away. However, if your sweat glands get dirty and clogged, they can get irritated and a heat rash, also known as prickly heat, can form. If you see this happening, you need to take steps to treat the outbreak and prevent future rashes.
How to Treat a Heat Rash
Knowing that a heat rash forms when sweat glands get clogged, when a heat rash forms, you need to cleanse your pores. Take a shower to get clean. You should then air dry rather than use a towel. You might want to apply lotion at this point, but you should avoid anything greasy or oily because these can irritate the skin and clog your pores. Stay in an air-conditioned, dry room until the rash clears. You want to avoid itching because if you break the surface of the skin and allow bacteria to enter your skin.
How to Prevent Future Outbreaks
While some people are predisposed to get heat rashes, there are some steps that you can take to prevent outbreaks. For one thing, you should avoid wearing tight-fitting, heavy clothes during the summer. A tight waistband or tight underwear can hold sweat against your skin which contribute the formation of a rash. You should also avoid heavy activity that can cause profuse sweating. If you can't avoid such activity, make sure that you have a change of clothes on hand and that you wash yourself as soon as possible.
If you are overweight, folds of skin can trap sweat and lead to outbreaks of prickly heat. In which case, wearing loose, breathable clothing and showering frequently might not be enough. You will need to lose weight in order to prevent future heat rashes. It might start as an irritation, but heat rash can develop into a serious health risk.
As long as you stay on top of it, heat rash should not be a problem. On the other and, if you have taken the above steps, and you are still plagued by heat rash, you may want to talk to a dermatologist. Trained professionals will be able to determine what exactly is causing your skin rash, whether it is actually heat rash, and what you need to do to prevent it.
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