Sun protection for a desperate prickly heat sufferer.

[MrsRogerSterling]

After a weekend of lovely sunshine my arms are now covered in prickly heat rash. This happens every year and it really gets me down. I have in the past used Piz Buin Allergy but I don't really rate it anymore and I don't like the smell of it.

Can you tell me what you use? Has it helped? Any tips for preventing prickly heat?

Avene stuff is spenny but v v good

I usually stock up when three for two offer is on at Boots

The same thing happens to me OP. I have stopped using the Piz Buin as well. I find that taking an antihistamine daily stops the itching and reduces the inflammation and just using a normal sun cream. Good luck

I always suffer with prickly heat, even taking an anti histamine. Last summer I used ultrasun sensitive factor 30 in the med and didn't get any at all until very mildly (so mildly I didn't even notice) towards the end. It was brilliant.

Ultrasun. The best sunscreen bar none (IMHO).

Thanks. I have just read the reviews for Ultrasun on the John Lewis website, they all say it prevented prickly heat so I have ordered some, fingers crossed it works!

I suffer too, try to keep covered but avene and ultra sun is on my list too try.

Will be interested to hear how you get on with the Ultrasun.

I was told a long time ago to use Simple sun tan lotion when in the sun. I used to get severe prickly heat and Simple seems to work. Don't wear perfume or used perfumed shower gels or any products with alcohol when exposing skin to the sun.

ultrasun it didnt cure it for me but i did have a spot of prickly heat before i went away but it didnt make it any worse

i am still looking for the cure

I have suffered really badly with prickly heat in the past, once it appeared it stayed and ruined the full holiday. Piz buin allergy has been my go-to lotion so I'm interested to know why people are not liking it; is the formulation changed now?

Another vote for the Ultra Sun, is very good but expensive. Worth every penny for the lack of prickly heat.

Are you sure it's prickly heat? That usually occurs on parts of the body where the sweat doesn't easily evaporate, like the back or tummy. Perhaps it's polymorphic light eruption?

I now go to my doctor before I go on holiday and get a prescribed antihistamine and I don't get prickly heat now only thing that works for me!

I use factor 50 for babies and toddlers. When i had awful heat rash last year the only thing that cleared it up was cheapo aloe vera lotion from morrisons. You could try witch hazel too.
Where abouts is the rash? I had it really bad in the crook of my arms because i was on the computer in a sweaty office-long cotton sleeves could help if yours is similar?

Every year, until I get a tan, I suffer with PMLE. Bloody awful, itches like the worst nettle rash you could imagine, only in those areas exposed to sun without adequate sunscreen.

These days I just wear factor 50, but when younger used to start with a high factor then gradually go down, short periods of sun exposure then gradually longer etc. Systemic antihistamines didn't really help, topical did.

Having just read the link about PMLE, it could be that. It always appears on my arms, elbow upwards when they have been exposed to the sun.

I was also going to suggest it might be PMLE. At least if you know what it is, you can treat it appropriately.

I suffer from a heat rash every year. I don't know if it's prickly heat or PMLE. I get it mainly on the back of my hands, tops of my feet and face. It's miserable. I think I have been into every chemist in Europe over the years trying to get it sorted.
One year I had to go to a dr whilst in Greece. She said that it's a result of chemical sunscreens. She prescribed Avene factor 50 and it cleared up quite quickly. I now use only mineral sunscreens such as liz Earle, Jason or Badger. Ultrasun was no use at all.
A word of warning though, not all Avene sunscreens are mineral. You have to check carefully.

Being a typical Scottish girl with freckles and fair hair I suffer horrendously from prickly heat! I've tried every remedy there is and over the years I've managed to find an almost cure:

1. I hit the sunbed 2 weeks before I'm going on holiday, 3 mins, 3 times a week for 2 weeks. I appreciate this isn't for everyone and ideally it wouldn't be for me either, but such is life. And for anyone that really suffers from prickly heat you will know that you will try ANYTHING to prevent it.

1. I take an antihistamine for a week before I go every day and then during the remainder of my holiday.

1. The allergy sun tan lotion (Piz Buin) only made my prickly heat WORSE. And I mean way way worse! So I use Nivea sun tan lotion now and find it helps. Factor 30 to start then 15 towards the end.

1. And my secret ingredient = Snake Brand Prickly Heat Powder. www.amazon.com/gp/aw/reviews/B001JPH44K?ie=UTF8

Once I start to get the inevitable little bumps - I lather this stuff on. It's the consistency of talcum powder. I pour it all over my rash. Instantly it cools it and stops the itch whilst over night it works wonders at reducing the rash, after a few days it's gone

(My personal fave is the "cool pink" scented one).

This stuff has changed my attitude towards holidaying in the sun! Couldn't live without it! ??

P20 is really good. I've not had prickly heat since I started using it a few years back