Prickly heat

[evertonsue]

What exactly is 'prickly heat'? Everytime my friend goes on  holiday she suffers really bad to the point of crying. I said the Sun plays a big part yet she insist on sitting out in it all day long! 

[oxeyedaisy]

i get this and its painfull..tell her not to sit out in the midday sun ..take a bath or shower three times a day..wear cotton clothes and use soap and bubble bath for sensitive skin i.e baby products or dove or similar ..she could also make sure the washing powder she uses isnt harsh..aqueous cream from the chemist can be used instead of soap or for putting on the skin as a cream..and good old calamine lotion..if she gets sore..i have recently had an attack of it due to the warmer weather and the doctor had to put me on antibiotics and anti histamines..i was nearly crying with it also as mine blistered last week and i was in a dreadfull mess..and it itches also..she should sit in the shade or under an umberella..if she is on the beach tell her to take some wet wipes with her to cool herself down and to drink lots of water..thats all you can do is drink loads and try and keep your self as cool as possible..

[netibiza]

I live in Spain and yes I suffer every summer.  I take anti-histamines and use Lanacane powder which coats the skin.  It's caused by moisture  on the skin and makes little bubbles which pop and become sore.  Usually too small to see. Actually it is best to keep the skin as dry as poss.  Wear kitchen roll in the crease in  the bra if big busted.

[magicdice]

there's this fantastic aloe vera soothing gel. it has the consistency of jelly, it's green, and comes in a see-through plastic bottle with a yellow lid (can't for the life of me remember the name). if your friend can find some, she should keep it in the fridge & apply it as soon as she comes in from the heat.

i know that doesn't answer your original question but this stuff is like a miracle-cure and needs to be shouted about

[FP]

Boots Medicated Talc is also very soothing and keeps the skin dry.  It's quite cheap as well.

[paulaoneill]

I also suffer from this and it is not the sun rays that cause it as such it is the heat that is retained in your body from the sun. Your friend must not sit out in midday sun, but is better to wait until the afternoon/early evening sun; and only little bits at a time. I know this doesn't sound like great fun!! I also found that dry heat which is found in a lot of mediterannean countries is the worst for prickly heat. I went to Florida last year for the first time and the humidity levels there are very high and I found that I didn't suffer at all - A first for me! It's also a good idea to wear perfume free water based (not waxy) suncreams, and as stated before the aloe based aftersuns are very good.