Heat rash under breasts is one of the most annoying problems that a woman can get during the summers. Read this article to understand the problem better and the possible solutions to deal with it.
Heat rash is also referred to as prickly heat. It can be identified as red, itchy skin bumps that often give rise to severe burning sensation. It makes the skin rough and is tender to touch. Heat rash is a common occurrence in a hot and humid weather condition and may erupt in various parts of the body. Sometimes, blisters may also appear under the breast area. Many women tend to get heat rash under the breasts and it is extremely uncomfortable because it takes a long time to heal.
Causes
Heat rash is mainly triggered by excessive sweating. In normal conditions, the sweat produced by the body gets evaporated. When you are perspiring heavily, then there are chances that the sweat glands that lie under the skin surface get clogged up with sweat. As a result, the skin pores fail to absorb the sweat and it remains trapped beneath the skin. When the sweat cannot escape, then the skin reacts to this condition. This leads to skin inflammation and eruption of rashes on its surface. The fabric of your bra can be responsible for the heat rash. Bras made of certain fabrics prevent proper evaporation of sweat from skin surface thus promoting growth of bacteria and yeast in this area due to which, skin rashes show up. An ill-fitting bra is another cause behind this problem. If the bra is too tight, the chances of heat rash under breast increases manifold as it prevents skin breathing. On the other hand, if you use a loose fitting bra, then it leaves behind plenty of pockets where sweat can get trapped.
Treatment
The main aim of heat rash treatment is to alleviate the discomfort and prevent any further aggravation of the problem. This can be achieved with the help of some topical treatments. They are as follows –
Cold Therapy: You can cool down the burning sensation of heat rash with this treatment. Dip a washcloth in a bowl of ice-cold water and then place the damp cloth over the skin rash. Keep the cloth over there until it dries up completely. Alternatively, you can wrap up an ice cube in a piece of cloth and place it over the area for 10 minutes. This brings down the swelling of heat rash. A cold shower also gives the same kind of relief.
Hydrocortisone Cream: When the skin bumps are heavily swollen, then topical steroid creams have to be applied to bring down the inflammation. First of all, clean up the area thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water and let it air dry. Do not rub a towel over it as it can irritate the sensitive skin. Then apply the hydrocortisone cream. It should be applied after a gap of 2-3 hours for fast results.
Calamine Lotion: Apply calamine lotion for soothing the itchy, prickly feeling of the heat rashes. It also helps to keep the area dry and thus reduces the chances of infection. Make sure you clean the area before applying the lotion.
Baby Powder: The area affected by heat rash has to be kept dry to ensure fast healing of rashes. For this purpose, you should apply generous amount of baby powder under the breasts. This will soak up an excess of moisture from the skin surface and make it dry.
Garlic Paste: An infected heat rash can be cured by the antiseptic properties of garlic. Take a handful of garlic cloves, put them in a blender to make a fine paste out of it. Soak a cotton ball into it and apply it over the heat rash gently. It should be repeated thrice a day for quick elimination of the infection.
Tea Tree Oil: The sweaty skin folds under the breast is often a breeding ground for infection causing fungus. If there are signs of a fungal rash where a red patch is circling the central part of the rash, then it has to be treated with tea tree oil. This oil has excellent antifungal properties that can stop any further growth of fungus and the infection.
The only way to prevent heat rash under breasts is by keeping the skin cool. Wear lightweight, comfortable clothes. Make sure that the bras that you use are made of natural fabric materials like cotton that do not interfere with ‘skin breathing’. Try to spend time in an air-conditioned room as much as possible so that you do not sweat much. And finally, stay away from any physically strenuous activity that may make you sweat profusely.
