Prickly Heat Rash

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Prickly heat (also called heat rash, sweat rash, or miliaria) is a rash of red
or pink dots that appears over an infant's head, neck, and shoulders. The
dots look like tiny pimples. The rash from prickly heat usually covers a
small area and is considered a localized rash. Occasionally the rash will
cover a larger area (generalized rash).
Prickly heat is often caused when well-meaning parents dress their baby
too warmly, but it can happen to any baby in very hot weather. A baby
should be dressed as lightly as an adult who is resting. Your baby's hands
and feet may feel cool to the touch. This is not uncommon and is usually
not a problem.
Current as of: October 12, 2013
Author: Healthwise Staf
Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H.
Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine

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HealthLinkBC Home Health Topics A-Z Heat-Related Illnesses

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Topic Contents

Topic Overview
Check Your Symptoms
Home Treatment
Prevention
Preparing For Your Appointment
Related Information
Credits

Media Gallery

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2.

3.

Nervous System

Pedal Edema

Placement of Ice Bags for Heatstroke

4.

Prickly Heat Rash

Heat-Related Illnesses
British Columbia Specific Information
Too much heat can be harmful to your health. It
can lead to weakness, disorientation, exhaustion,
and in severe cases, it can lead to heat stroke. To
learn more about heat-related illnesses,
see HealthLinkBC File #35 Heat-related Illness.

Topic Overview
A healthy body temperature is maintained by
the nervous system. As the body temperature
increases, the body tries to maintain its normal
temperature by transferring heat. Sweating and
blood flow to the skin (thermoregulation) help us
keep our bodies cool. A heat-related illness occurs
when our bodies can no longer transfer enough
heat to keep us cool.
A high body temperature (hyperthermia) can
develop rapidly in extremely hot environments,
such as when a child is left in a car in the summer
heat. Hot temperatures can also build up in small
spaces where the ventilation is poor, such as attics
or boiler rooms. People working in these
environments may quickly develop hyperthermia.
High temperature caused by a fever is diferent
from a high body temperature caused by a heatrelated illness. A fever is the body's normal
reaction to infection and other conditions, both

minor and serious. Heat-related illnesses produce a

high body temperature because the body cannot
transfer heat efectively or because external heat
gain is excessive.
Heat-related illnesses include:

Heat rash (prickly heat), which occurs when

the sweat ducts to the skin become blocked or
swell, causing discomfort and itching.
Heat cramps, which occur in muscles after
exercise because sweating causes the body to
lose water, salt, and minerals (electrolytes).
Heat edema (swelling) in the legs and hands,
which can occur when you sit or stand for a long
time in a hot environment.
Heat tetany (hyperventilation and heat stress),
which is usually caused by short periods of
stress in a hot environment.
Heat syncope (fainting), which occurs from low
blood pressure when heat causes the blood
vessels to expand (dilate) and body fluids move
into the legs because of gravity.
Heat exhaustion (heat prostration), which
generally develops when a person is working or
exercising in hot weather and does not drink
enough liquids to replace those lost liquids.
Heatstroke (sunstroke), which occurs when the
body fails to regulate its own temperature and
body temperature continues to rise, often

to 40.6 C (105 F)or higher. Heatstroke is a

medical emergency. Even with immediate
treatment, it can be life-threatening or
cause serious long-term problems.
Often, environmental and physical conditions can
make it hard to stay cool. Heat-related illness is
often caused or made worse by dehydration and
fatigue. Exercising during hot weather, working
outdoors, and overdressing for the environment
increase your risk. Drinking alcohol also increases
your risk of dehydration.
Many medicines increase your risk of a heatrelated illness. Some medicines decrease the
amount of blood pumped by the heart (cardiac
output) and limit blood flow to the skin, so your
body is less able to cool itself by sweating. Other
medicines can alter your sense of thirst or increase
your body's production of heat. If you take
medicines regularly, ask your doctor for advice
about hot-weather activity and your risk of getting
a heat-related illness.
Other things that may increase your risk of a heatrelated illness include:

Age. Babies do not lose heat quickly and they

do not sweat efectively. Older adults do not
sweat easily and usually have other health
conditions that afect their ability to lose heat.

Obesity. People who are overweight have

decreased blood flow to the skin, hold heat in

because of the insulating layer of fat tissue, and

have a greater body mass to cool.
Heat waves. People who live in cities are
especially vulnerable to illness during a heat
wave because heat is trapped by tall buildings
and air pollutants, especially if there is a high
level of humidity.
Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart
failure, and cancer. These conditions change the
way the body gets rid of heat.
Travel to wilderness areas or foreign countries
with high outdoor temperatures and humidity.
When you go to a diferent climate, your body
must get used to the diferences (acclimate) to
keep your body temperature in a normal range.
Most heat-related illnesses can be prevented by
keeping the body cool and by avoiding dehydration
in hot environments. Home treatment is usually all
that is needed to treat mild heat-related illnesses.
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke need immediate
medical treatment.
Check your symptoms to decide if and when you
should see a doctor.

Check Your Symptoms

Current as of: October 12, 2013

Author: Healthwise Staf

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency
Medicine