Miliaria can be defined as a very common type of skin problems but is equally dangerous also. Prickly heat or miliaria is nothing but some common rashes caused by sweat retention. Heat and humidity are two of the main components involved in the cause of miliaria. Miliaria is a type of heat rash, which lasts for some days. It can also be defined as a classic newborn rash as it is very common skin problem in newborns. The pores of the immature sweat glands get chocked-up easily, leading to tiny pink bump or water blister. The disease is a common condition found generally in hot and humid environment like in the tropics and during the summer seasons.

Although it can strike on people of all ages, it is especially frequent in children and infants because of their underdeveloped sweating glands. Children's skin can be somewhat sensitive to heat. Baby's face can become red where it is against the skin of the mother. This redness is produced from blood vessels in the area to dilate to cooling the skin down. Cooling the skin generally makes the rash disappear within couple of hours and in many cases, even sooner.

People who are more prone

Miliaria is very common in the first few weeks of newborn’s life. It is particularly common in hot, humid weather; nevertheless, almost any newborn can get it. It is more common in babies those are bundled too warmly.

However, older children and adults can also suffer from miliaria, in which case it is often termed as “prickly heat.”

Clinicalfeatures

The signs and symptoms of miliaria involve small red rashes, known as papules those may produce itching or more often cause an acute 'pins-and-needles' prickling sensations. These rashes might simultaneously occur on various places or areas on the body of the sufferer, the most common includes the face, neck, under the breasts and even under the scrotums. Other body sites include skin fold, areas of the body those constantly rub against clothing, such as the back, torso, and stomach, etc. A related and sometimes concurrent condition is folliculitis, wherein the hair follicles turn plugged with foreign matters and that results in inflammation.

The symptoms related to miliaria are not be confused with shingles as they can be very same. Shingles restricts itself to one side of the body but also has a rashes-like appearance. It also accompanies by a prickling sensations and pains throughout the regions. Those who suspect they suffer from shingles and not miliaria should seek medical attention immediately as the sooner antiviral drugs can be taken, the better.

Treatment for miliaria

Medical assistance should be paid for the very first episode of rashes with the appearance of miliaria. The derivate includes several conditions that an experienced doctor or healthcare provider would be able to recognize and might require treatment distinct from the general measures deemed for miliaria.

In most of the cases the rashes of miliaria resolve without interventions. However, severe cases might last for a number of weeks and produce significant disability. General measures must be recommended for all patients; this includes moving to air-conditioned environments if possible, avoiding sweat-provoking actions and plosive clothing, and taking frequent cool bathing or shower.

It has been advised that the use of topical antibiotics (including the usage of antibacterial toilet bars and soaps) might shorten the duration of symptoms in miliaria rubra even in the absence of evident severe infection. Other topical agents that might reduce the severity of symptoms involves anti-itch preparations like calamine or menthol and/or camphor based products and topical steroidal creams, however caution is using any product that is oil-based preparation (ointment and oily cream as opposite to water based or aqueous lotion) that can increase blockage to the sweating glands and prolong duration of illnesses.

Other agents have been looked into includes supplemental vitamin A and C and vitamin A based products, but it is worth to note that there are some little scientific evidences supporting any of the above therapies in terms of actually reducing the length of symptoms or frequencies of complication.

Cases wherein the rashes have developed into open blisters or pustular lesions, a doctor must be consulted as other (less benign) considerations should be excluded and/or more strong-growing treatments might be required.