What should you know about raised heat rash?

Heat rash, also called prickly heat or miliaria, often appears in areas covered by clothing or where skin touches skin, such as the neck, chest, back, groin, or skin folds. The bumps may be red, flesh-coloured, or tiny fluid-filled spots. Sweating, humid weather, tight clothing, and prolonged heat can aggravate it.

It can resemble other skin bumps, a broader skin rash, or skin redness. Pus, increasing warmth, or spreading tenderness suggests that another problem may be present and deserves an examination.

Move to a cooler environment, take a lukewarm shower, pat the skin dry, and wear loose breathable clothing. Keep affected folds dry and avoid heavy oils, fragranced products, and vigorous rubbing. A bland moisturiser or emollient therapy may help if the surface becomes dry. A clinician may recommend a short course of topical corticosteroids when inflammation is significant; do not use them on the face or in folds without advice.

Seek medical advice if the rash does not start settling after cooling and gentle care, keeps returning, or interferes with sleep. Arrange prompt assessment for fever, pus, rapidly spreading redness, severe pain, facial swelling, breathing difficulty, or a child who seems unusually unwell.

Ask whether the bumps fit heat rash or another eruption, how to protect affected folds in hot weather, and whether an anti-inflammatory cream is suitable for the exact site and duration.