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Miliaria

Skin disorders can be anything from a simple rash to a more serious lesion or tumor. The key for individuals is the quick identification and treatment of such skin disorders. By catching these disorders early the recovery time can be reduced and the spread of the ailment can be prevented.

Miliaria is a condition also known as prickly heat or sweat rash. They often look a lot like tiny blisters and can be patches of small, red rashes. Individuals need to be careful not to further irritate the rash by scratching even though they are very itchy. In two or three days they will typically disappear.

Who Can Get Them?

Individuals of all age can be affected by miliaria, but infants and young children are the most likely to get them. This is because they are the part of the population who still has undeveloped sweat glands. Individuals of all races can get miliaria and it equally affects both men and women.

What Can Cause Them?

A blockage of an individual’s sweat glands can cause miliaria. Hot, humid and tropical conditions seem to have the condition more prevalent.

How Does It Happen?

When your sweat glands get clogged up miliaria is the result. Sweat ducts normally carry sweat from under the skin to the surface. The ducts rupture when they are blocked and then the rashes occur.

Where Do They Appear?

The face, neck and under the breast are the most common area for miliaria. However, areas such as the back, chest and stomach that rub against clothes are also susceptible.

What Are the Symptoms?

While they will develop into small blisters, miliaria typically starts out as small red rashes. They may occur in more than one area of the body and are often very itchy.

How Can it Be Diagnosed?

Miliaria is easily diagnosed through a physical examination by a doctor or dermatologist since infants and young children are the most common patients. A child is more likely to have the skin ailment if they live in a tropical environment or it is during the summer months. Blood work can be done to confirm a diagnosis if it is not clearly miliaria.

What Treatments are Available for Miliaria?

If is important to make children as comfortable as possible. An individual can be annoyed and frustrated since it is a very irritating skin rash. Within a couple of weeks the rash will typically appear. The individual can be made comfortable by doing several things.

Staying in an air conditioned area is the first thing. It is also a good idea to wear clothing that is light and loose. Lots of cool baths is good for infected children. Unplugging the sweat glands and keep the individual eased and relaxed in the main objective.

Anti-itch lotions and topical steroid creams can be applied to the rash. For children under a certain age steroid cream may not be recommended. The itching that comes from the rash is helped to be reduced by these lotions and creams. Typically they need to be applied to the affected area at least three to four times a day. Sometimes the most annoying aspect of the rash is the itching. A person may have to take antibiotics if the rash becomes infected but this typically only happens in extreme cases.

It is also very crucial to keep the area clean. To reduce the spread of the rash and prevent further outbreaks then antibacterial cleaners can be used. To keep the area clean another option is to use antiseptics that contain salicylic acid. Miliaria is not contagious and usually clears up on its own so you don’t have to worry about getting it from your infant or child.

Young children and infants seem to be targeted by miliaria. Parents should keep an eye out for the rashes and seek treatment as soon as possible if they notice them. Not all treatments are suitable for all age since infants and young children often have sensitive skin. Treatments are often simple, but the most important thing is to keep the baby or child comfortable.

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