Miliaria rubra can also appear as blotches of red or pink skin. The small skin bumps (papules) of miliaria rubra often appear within red or pink areas of skin. This close-up image exemplifies the smooth, red skin lesions typical of miliaria rubra.
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Picture of Prickly Heat (Miliaria Rubra): Miliaria rubra can also appear as blotches of red or pink skin. Divider line
Miliaria rubra can also appear as blotches of red or pink skin.
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Self-Care Guidelines
Prevention and treatment consist of controlling heat and humidity. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help to reduce fever. Remove any occlusive clothing, limit activity, and seek air conditioning or any cooler environment. Cool compresses can also help with the discomfort. Prickly heat usually resolves once people move to a cooler environment. Make sure to drink lots of fluids.

For those with a history of prickly heat, consider daily showering with soap and application of topical anhydrous lanolin before exercise.
When to Seek Medical Care
The most common complications include secondary infection from scratching and heat exhaustion.

Infected areas may need antibiotics. Seek care if the area develops pus, redness, crusting, swelling, or tenderness.

In cases of heat exhaustion, the skin will appear hot and flushed without any sweat. The person may complain of dizziness, nausea, weakness, headache, confusion, or difficulty breathing. This can progress to heat stroke, so medical care should be obtained right away. Symptoms of heat stroke include a very high temperature, of 105°F or greater, decreased or loss of consciousness, or seizure.

While awaiting medical care, get the affected person indoors or under shade, undress them, and apply cool compresses to the body. Do not give fluids.
Last Modified: 3 Mar 2008
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