What helps prevent/treat prickly heat?

[Gherkingreen]

Posting here as I reckon the lovely S&B bunch will have some good advice.
I develop prickly heat on my chest and arms when in hot environment, only started a few years ago in 40s.
I don't sunbathe as such and always use a high protection sun screen, but will be in the sun/heat more than usual.
Does anyone use a specific sunscreen, after sun or allergy med that prevents prickly heat from developing? Thanks in advance

Take an anti histamine tablet every day
cover up
the only sun screen which doesn’t aggravate mine is ultra sun sensitive

Another vote for UltraSun and anti histamines

Agree with above, I take an antihistamine tablet daily, and for 2 weeks or so before I go away. Also use sunscreen for sensitive skin.

I haven’t been on a beach holiday for years, but last time I got an amazing spray from Victoria Health that helped prevent prickly heat. I’ve just done. Quick search and can’t find it, but there are now loads of others things available. Ultra cool do one.

Thanks both! Would something like Benadryl work? Or is Piraton better? I always cover up as DM had melanoma so ultra aware of staying safe in the sun.
Will look at Ultra Sun.

I just use a generic one a day tablet, non drowsy formula, from Home Bargain or similar.

Telfast was is the only one that works for me. Brilliant now thats its available OTC

I get this too. I use Elemis tan accelerator for a few weeks before going. Ultra sun while away. And if I start to itch, snake powder.

Aloe Vera gel kept in the fridge is really soothing on it at night too.

I find sunscreen makes it worse. It makes me sweatier, and that's the problem.

Cover, use talc, antihistamine cream, cooling gel etc.

I find a wet chiffon scarf around my neck really helpful for staying cool.

This, plus tan accelerator helped me

@emmeline7725 snake what?!

This stuff! It works brilliantly when the itching starts. Although the tan accelerator and Ultra sun really do keep it at bay.

I’ve had the irritation of this since I was 12. I’ll find a picture - it gets really bad!

The old school Benadryl works for me - the active ingredient is acrivastane.

ultrasun is good, but there is a Cypriot brand called Rona Ross which is excellent - you can now buy on Amazon. They do a wash, sun gel, and lotion. Snake powder is also pretty good. Instant relief from magicool prickly heat aerosol spray.

the small pores on your skin are blocked and the sweat gets trapped and that causes the rash, so absolutely NO oil based products - after sun, shower creams. Soap is better than shower gel. There is also an element of just being very UV sensitive - see my last point below on this bit!

There are also some fabulous supplements
called heliocare - designed to reduce the problem - read the reviews on Amazon they are really effective.

Lastly - slow exposure helps. I am NOT recommending this but genuinely it does help. A very very short course of sunbeds - 3 or 4 short sessions - before you go away literally stops mine happening. It’s not even enough to get a tan but it’s the exposure to UV, which CLEARY I understand comes with it’s own risks so entirely up to you.

Here!

I find waterproof sunscreen aggravates it for me. It doesn't allow sweat to evaporate. I find using cheaper non waterproof oils help stave it off for me

I take antihistamine (cheap home bargains ones like another poster) two weeks before going somewhere hot, then every day when I’m there.

Bonus side effect is that mosquito/midge bites don’t come up/itch!

Sensitive sun screen, I always used to get it but never get it now.

I take bog standard non drowsy antihistamine everyday, 15mg beta carotene for 2 weeks before traveling and once a day when away, ultrasun or piz buin allergy max 30spf then aloe Vera gel.

The only sun cream that helped me with Prickly Heat (and I suffered for many years and tried just about everything on the market) is La Roche-Posay factor 30. I put plenty of this on before going to breakfast - it sinks into the skin nicely very quickly and so you can get dressed without any delay. Also a tip one of the Drs on a resort told me was to have a quick shower after lunch - a proper shower using shower wash rather than just a quick dunk under the swimming pool shower, and then re-apply the sun cream. I thought it would be a flippin nuisance to do this but actually it not only works, but refreshes you for the rest of the afternoon - takes about 10 mins out of your day. Of course, I only go in the sun up to around 12:00 / 12:30 and then after 1600 but I still manage to get a great tan. I also second the use of Elemis Tan Accelerator for 2 weeks before and use it as an after sun. Unfortunately, its not the cheapest on the market but I always buy mine once the summer season is over and usually manage to get some good reductions / bargains. I have also heard that washing / showering with Dettol soap is very good for Prickly Heat as it kills the bacteria on the skin which, apparently, is the cause of Prickly Heat (although I am not a Dr so don't take my word for that :) ). I do take a bar with me on holiday but cannot say if this helps or not. Enjoy your holiday.

That Snake brand prickly heat powder is brilliant, you can buy it on Amazon. I put it under my boobs before I go out and a quick dusting under my arms and thighs. Stocked up in Thailand as it was recommended to me by the hotel receptionist so quite alot cheaper than Amazon but that is worth the money.

mykittensmittens ooooh that does look a bad case. Mine used to have people moving away from me thinking I had measles or something. Antihistamines daily definitely. After having it every summer since being little it just completely stopped in my 40s.

I’m going to investigate ultrasun, the only thing I find prevents mine is Lancaster suncream.

Antihistamine. I was advised to start taking it before holiday to prevent it starting. Make sure you get the non drowsy one.

In Greece they put natural yoghurt on prickly heat to soothe it (Google it).

It's not cheap, but I found bioderma atoderm cream was amazing when I was suffering. It stopped the itching and my skin calmed right down and didn't react so dramatically to heat and sweat.

Wanted to report back and say thanks for all the tips - just back from 10 days in very hot Portugal, used nly Ultrasun sensitive f50 and didn't get prickly heat! I also used snake powder, but more to prevent any chafing/discomfort when walking - worked like a dream.
I didn't take antihistamines as I enjoy a glass or two of wine/beer on holiday and the two most def don't mix for me (& most ppl)
Happy days, thanks S&B tribe 😀