Medications and Risk Factors for Heat Rash

Previously published in Examiner

Heat rash known as prickly heat and miliaria is a condition that has been associated with babies who are bundled up too tightly and become overheated. However, adults even in Montreal and the rest of North America can get heat rash as well. Heat rash is a summer time ailment in Montreal and comes with hot and humid weather. Montreal summers are very hot and humid and with the climate change getting worse all the time.

Heat rash happens when perspiration is trapped under the skin and the sweat ducts are blocked. The rash can be blisters or they can be deep red lumps. They can be itchy or prickly; hence the name prickly heat.

Most heat rash goes away in time, though some severe cases will need medical treatment. The best prevention is to keep your body cool so it does not sweat.

Drugs and Medication

The chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (Adriamycin), the ADHD medication clonidine (Catapres), which is also a high blood pressure medication, isotretinoin (Accutane) an acne fighting drug, and bethanechol (Urecholine) which is given for bladder infections are among the drugs that can bring on heat rashes.

Basically we can sum up the risk factors for getting a heat rash as follows.

• being an infant.
  
• living in a tropical country.
  
• hot and humid weather anywhere in the world.
  
• Wearing too much clothing or clothing that is tight fitting and prevents your skin from breathing.
  
• having a fever or being bedridden.
  
• living in a really hot house without a fan or air conditioner.
  
• certain medications creams and ointments.
  

Heat rash also known as prickly heat and miliaria. Heat rash isn't something to be alarmed about. The rash usually goes away on its own. However, sometimes there are complications that need to be attended to by a doctor.

Sometimes heat rash may become infected with the sweat ducts get clogged with bacteria. We see this often with children. Sometimes parents can mistake the heat rash for diaper rash. When a baby has diaper rash it is because the skin is irritated. When the baby has heat rash that is infected, the symptoms manifest as pustules that are itchy and inflamed. Diaper rash may only cause redness. If the child has the redness and pustules elsewhere on the body then it is heat rash for sure. Either way a doctor can determine which skin condition the baby has.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heat-rash/DS01058/DSECTION=causes