The difference between prickly heat and allergies

Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
Updated on September 21, 2024
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Prickly heat and allergies are two different diseases, each with many significant distinctions. First, prickly heat tends to occur when the temperature is high, the weather is hot, and the body's resistance is low, while allergies are likely to occur when the skin reacts to certain foods, weather conditions, or allergens, causing corresponding skin symptoms. The treatment for prickly heat primarily involves the use of cooling powders applied externally, while maintaining a cool environment and bathing frequently. Allergies, on the other hand, are mainly treated with oral antihistamines.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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What does "prickly heat" mean?

Prickly heat is the name of a disease, often characterized by the appearance of white spots, blisters, papules, or vesicular rashes on the skin, and it is usually accompanied by itchiness. The causes are generally related to the weather being too hot, high temperatures, and the inability of sweat to escape from the skin, accumulating on the epidermis and eventually leading to the occurrence of prickly heat. Overall, this disease is very common. Due to its skin symptoms and severe itching, it is advisable to treat it promptly. Moreover, paying attention to daily habits and ensuring good indoor ventilation can help prevent the occurrence of prickly heat.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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How to remove baby's prickly heat

Baby prickly heat is mainly caused by the hot and humid living environment, which damages the skin. Therefore, it is important to enhance skin care, especially by improving the environmental temperature. Keeping the room ventilated by exchanging air is the best treatment method. If the skin symptoms are severe, Calamine lotion can be used, which can effectively alleviate the symptoms of prickly heat. The main treatment for prickly heat is prevention. Therefore, especially in summer, the clothes worn by infants should be loose and made of pure cotton. Avoid tight clothes or synthetic fabrics, as these can aggravate the symptoms of prickly heat by causing friction between the skin and the clothing. Also, pay attention to the diet and try to eat less spicy and stimulating food, choosing instead light and liquid-based foods. (The use of medication should be carried out under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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What does prickly heat look like?

Prickly heat is one of the most common acute skin inflammations in summer, caused by blocked sweat pores. It often occurs on the scalp, forehead, neck, chest, armpits, and groin. The skin becomes red, followed by the appearance of small, red papules or vesicular rashes, densely clustered. Some of these papules can develop into pustules. After developing prickly heat, intense itching or pain can occur. Therefore, in summer, it is important to keep indoor ventilation and cooling, and children's clothing should be loose, soft, and highly absorbent.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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What is the difference between prickly heat and rash?

The difference between prickly heat (miliaria) and rash is quite significant. Firstly, prickly heat is a dermatological condition that often occurs in hot weather, heat, or when sweat cannot be excreted through the sweat glands. The main manifestations of prickly heat are visible papules and pustular papules. On the other hand, a rash is a manifestation and a symptom, often occurring in skin infections or diseases like skin allergies and eczema. Thus, prickly heat and rash are completely different concepts.

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Written by Li Ying
Neonatology
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The difference between prickly heat and rash

It's often hard for parents to distinguish between intertrigo and prickly heat, but our approach to handling them is generally the same: keep the area dry and apply a small amount of talcum powder to the area affected by prickly heat. Diaper dermatitis and prickly heat may appear similar. Diaper dermatitis primarily occurs on the baby's genital area due to the parents' failure to change diapers or nappies in time, leading to contamination of the skin by the baby's excrement, which can cause the appearance of erythema. Typically, the skin's surface will exhibit red patches or rashes. At this point, we shouldn't use talcum powder; instead, we should visit a dermatologist who will prescribe antimicrobial topical treatments. Another condition is atopic dermatitis, which also manifests with the development of a rash but is characterized by genetic predisposition and being primarily an allergic reactive disease. It usually appears on the face and the flexural sides of the limbs. If you notice that your baby develops rashes not just during summer but also in winter, or if the rashes appear sporadically, you should take your child to a dermatologist for an examination to see if it is atopic dermatitis. For managing atopic dermatitis, the routine care typically involves the long-term use of moisturizers instead of talcum powder and avoiding allergens.