Heat Rash Miliaria

Rashes can be caused by many different kinds of things and many of them are very distinguishing.  A rash can be defined as any spots or red markings that appear on the skin, which is often itchy. There are many different types of skin rashes or dermatitis.

Dermatitis is a form of skin inflammation or swelling. Symptoms of dermatitis include redness and inflammation of the skin.  This is usually localized. The red area may form tiny blisters that leak clear fluid, and then become crusty. There is also severe itching. This is probably the worst part about a rash. There are actually many different kinds of dermatitis. Exposure to poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac is an example of contact dermatitis because a rash due to an allergic reaction develops as a result of direct contact to the skin. Other common causes of contact dermatitis include allergic reaction to wearing certain jewelry such as nickel, wearing certain perfumes, using certain cosmetics, shampoos, laundry detergents for your bed linens and clothes, household cleaners or solvents and the list goes on.

People develop rashes for different reasons, but usually it is due to an allergic reaction to something, either by direct contact or by ingesting something that the person in allergic to. Also rashes can be symptoms of certain diseases, such as chicken pox, measles or scarletina. Heat rash, miliaria or prickly heat are just a few of the names for what is typically known as heat rash.  It is most common in babies and young infants when they become overheated.

Miliaria crystallina is another type of heat rash. In this particular rash the skin doesn’t get red and inflamed. The normal appearance is of small clear vesicles. These are without any redness or other symptoms. Miliaria crystallina is a type of heat rash that occurs when the sweat ducts become blocked and rupture. These sweat ducts are closer to the skin surface though and don’t get inflamed, leading to the classic appearance of small clear vesicles on the child’s skin, typically on their neck, head, or upper chest.

Prickly heat, which is also known as miliaria rubra, is the most common type of heat rash. In this form of heat rash, the sweat duct becomes red and inflamed and manifest as small bumps with a red halo around them. They can be found grouped together inside the folds of his or her skin, such as the neck, armpits, and groin.