Heat Rash

[steveuk]

A few years back i got terribly burnt all over my skin after staying in the sun for too long. I then went to australia and that just made matters worse. I now have very irratible skin that becomes rashy in the heat or if im out in the sun. My skin becomes very tight and, especially on my arms, I get heat spots (not sure what the correct definition is). I get hundreds of them on my arms and it takes a while for it to go away (an hour max normaly). I currently take anti histamines on advice of the doctor and they do have a positive affect (most of the time) although my skin still looks uneven in colour and my face is very colourless. Is there anyone out there that suffers with the same problem and/or knows of any treatment that could help or rid me of this condition?!?! Thanks.

[Englishbird]

hi steve, i've had this most of my life and it's a pain. Although there seems to be no real rhyme or reason to when it flares up. Whilst you've got it the best thing i've found is a cream called Eurax for the itching, if it's really bad a luke warm bath with bicarbonate of soda.

I don't know if you can get rid of it. I've found it's got much better over the years, but i never sit in strong sunlight, and build it up very slowly on holiday. I'd have a fake tan done before you go and then stay out of the sun. If you can do this over a few holidays, your skin should grow a little more tolerant. good luck.

[loelliott]

Hi so much sympathy, have same problem, as Englishbird says it does get better over time, and you learn the little tricks to help. I am 20 years plus suffferer and have tried it all..... Anyway main thing for me is not to clog up skin with creams etc, which block the pores and make the problem worse.

Best sun cream is Nivea for sun sensitive skin, comes in a variety of factors, but mainly higher ones. I have tried all the others from hideously expensive to cheap and cheerful, and Nivea is the best one. Also stay out of the real strong sun ie 1 pm to 3 pm, got lots of short bursts of early summer sun to help tone the skin, and the biggest thing is once that itching starts - cover it - immediately! the more sun light gets to it, the itchier it gets, then the spots start, then it takes forever to go down, and it wont go down till you are covered up for some time! Take it from one who knows! Good Luck!

[Solarjunkie]

I suffered from sunlight blisters for years (and have the scars to prove it). But a course of treatment by a homeopath sorted it out, to my delight. Good luck.