What should you know about heat rash pus?

Uncomplicated heat rash commonly causes prickling, itch, redness, or small clear bumps. Yellow or white drainage, a tender lump, crusting, warmth, or increasing swelling can indicate that broken or irritated skin has become infected, or that the original problem was not heat rash. Pus does not identify the exact cause by itself.

A clinician can examine the pattern, tenderness, and surrounding skin to decide whether you need a different treatment. Related information on [Heat Rash](/conditions/heat-rash/) and [Skin Rash](/symptoms/skin-rash/) may help you describe what you see.

Wash your hands before and after touching the area. Clean gently with water and mild cleanser, pat dry, and cover with a clean non-stick dressing if it is draining or rubbing against clothing. Keep the area cool and dry. Do not pop, lance, scrape, or share towels, and avoid applying leftover antibiotics or steroid products unless a clinician has advised them.

Arrange medical advice promptly, particularly when drainage is increasing or the skin is painful. A pharmacist can advise on simple wound protection while you arrange assessment, but a product for [Emollient Therapy](/treatments/medical-dermatology/emollient-therapy/) is not a substitute for evaluating pus.

Seek prompt medical care for fever, chills, rapidly spreading redness, red streaks, severe pain, marked swelling, or feeling unwell. Get urgent help for facial swelling, breathing difficulty, confusion, or a rapidly worsening skin reaction. People with diabetes, reduced immunity, or a very young child should seek advice sooner.

Ask what may be causing the drainage, whether the area needs a swab or prescription treatment, how to dress it, and which changes mean you should return urgently.