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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Prickly Heat/heat rash -any ideas or suggestions?

35 replies

meggymoo · 02/06/2005 13:13

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meggymoo · 02/06/2005 13:41

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Iklboo · 02/06/2005 13:58

Hi Meggymoo. I don't really suffer myself, but have you tried anything with witch hazel in? It's very cooling & soothing. YOu can get creans with it in - or just a bottle of the lotion itself from the chemist pretty cheaply. I used it instead of calamine when I got chicken pox 5 years ago (I'm 35!).

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flobbleflobble · 02/06/2005 13:59

I have some spots - sore & ithcy isolated ones - not sure if they are bites/ heat rash/ allergy but damned annoying. Is yours a rash or seperate spots?

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potty1 · 02/06/2005 14:15

Meggymoo _ I get something called Polymorphic Light Eruption every year. Haven't got time to look it up but if you Google it might be what you have. It's basically photosensitivity. This year I've started to take anti-histamines before the weather gets warm to see if it helps - by this time last year I already had but so far so good.

You can also take Beta-Carotene but have to take it for a few months I think - if it does happen to me this year I've got to go to my GP for a course of oral steroids.

The only suncream I can use is the Boots Soltan one. It seems to suit me and has high UVA protection.

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meggymoo · 02/06/2005 19:21

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hunkermunker · 02/06/2005 19:23

When I've had really bad itching (from eczema, so not sure if it'd work for prickly heat), I've wrapped some oatmeal in an old sock and let the bath run through it, then soaked in that. Makes the water milky and is very soothing.

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lucy5 · 02/06/2005 19:26

I used to get thi when I lived in uk, now i'm in Spain I never suffer, it must be a different type of heat. The doc prescribed me something called Zirtek (sp) it was wonderful, I was supposedto take it for about a month but I used to take it if I felt the rash coming on and it did the trick every time.

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meggymoo · 02/06/2005 19:33

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potty1 · 02/06/2005 19:42

Bit on PLE here Loads of info on other skin problems too.

Not sure about why beta-carotene can help, something to do with free-radicals apparently - but if you take it in large doses it can turn you a bit orange!

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edodgy · 02/06/2005 19:58

Hi I was prescribed zirtek for the same thing and its brilliant i noticed in tesco the other day that they are selling it in the shop now as well not just in the pharmacy so u wont need a perscription.

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meggymoo · 02/06/2005 20:06

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Janh · 02/06/2005 20:16

I get it too, meggymoo. As a child I used to burn, there was a short window between about 14 & 18 where actually tanned, and then I started with heat rash, which I've had preety much all the time ever since.

However when we lived in the US for 4 years - long hot summers, like lucy in Spain - I either didn't get it or it went away after a while. I think the problem here is that it's never sunny for long enough for your skin to get used to it so you get sun, flare-up, weather changes, rash dies down, sun comes out again, flare-up again etc.

Trying Potty's pre-rash anti-histamines sounds like your best bet but I would still use a high factor sunblock if you can't resist short sleeves and shorts.

I would love smooth brown skin but am resigned to never having it!

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meggymoo · 02/06/2005 20:21

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Janh · 02/06/2005 20:27

DS2 (fair hair, blue eyes) has fabulous skin which tans in a matter of moments (after a sunny weekend he looks as if he's had 2 weeks in the Bahamas) but he still gets heat rash/PLE, on top of the tan sometimes which is weird. His seems to be a slow-developing kind rather than wham-bam like mine. The tops of his ears blister too. Skin is mysterious!

DS1 has v sensitive skin with a tendency to eczema so of course he gets it too, one summer I christened them Itchy and Scratchy because they were both sitting indoors looking miserable - v hard to get them to be sensible about sunscreen (16 and 12 now).