Prickly Heat and Exercise
 

I exercise a lot (at least four times a week) and I live in a hot, humid climate. I've noticed since it's gotten really warm, I have a really bad prickly heat rash on my neck. Is anyone else going through this? Apparently sweat is the culprit. I've been looking online and the suggestions to get rid of it are to "avoid exercise and sweating" and "try to stay in air conditioned areas". These two things are not an option. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm sure exercise is making it worse, especially because I sweat a lot.

I live in KY and the humidity is so bad here its like on Scooby Doo when they cut a doenut out of the fog and eat it. Yesterday was really hard, it was so sticky and just gross, hard to breathe. Hang in there...

I would suggest taking a wet rag with you when working out and wipe your neck with it and also wiping down your neck after working out with alcohol to strip the oils off the skin of your neck to help with this. I know I have done this and it seemed to help a little. Also, wash with an antibacterial soap such as dial.

I'm here in Atlanta, too, and have had a hard time with this myself. I've noticed that if I have on any lotions it is worse, so I try to exercise first thing in the morning or wipe down any lotioned areas before exercise. I have a rash on my neck right now, too, as a matter of fact... I've been using Neutrogena Oily & Acne Prone skin soap and that usually helps a little.

Hmm... I haven't had an issue with a rash yet *crosses fingers* but I'd imagine that any lotions/perfumes combined with sweat and oils from your hair are to blame. When it gets really hot here (so...in about a week) I rinse my hair in COLD COLD COLD water before I exercise and let it dry while working out, which keeps my scalp and neck cooler.

When I get back from working out, I shower in cooler water as well (and actually wash my hair to get all the sweat and yuck out)

I had this too!! Mine lasted about 5 days, went all across my neck...gross. It does go away, but cold water and wet rags seemed to be the only thing to give me any kind of relief. Good luck!

I think Prickly Heat is caused when your sweat glands are blocked and the sweat gets stuck under skin rather than coming out through the pores, thus causing a rash. It seems to me that to avoid this, you have to really avoid any kind of skin creams or lotions or any kind of products like foundation or powders. If you use these, you will block the pores and the sweat can't escape.
I think the other thing to do is to hold of on the exercise until your rash heals. Then I would use an exfoliator in the area once HEALED for 3 or 4 days, to make sure that any dead skin cells/old oils have been exfoliated away, leaving your pores open. Then I would invest in an exercise shirt that wicks, like something in a cool max fabric. THEN I would go out and sweat! But I wouldn't blot or rub the sweat away. I would just let it flow because this will make sure the pores are clear. If you blot or rub the sweat away with a towel, you may be inadvertently re-blocking the pores, resulting in....Prickly Heat!!! ...
Let us know how you make out!

Kira

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I used a little sea breeze on my neck last night, it seemed to make the rash go down a bit. I'm definitely going to use a lot of these suggestions and I'll keep you guys posted on how it goes.

I will say that the rash isn't burning today, which is a good sign.

When I lived in Puerto Rico, we used a medicated powder on areas that were prone to heat rash. If you google medicated heat rash powder you should get some results. It may help, may not, but for $5 it's worth a shot!

I would try using Monistat soothing relief chaffing gel. This stuff is wonderful for heat rashes. It is also really great as a make-up primer. Just saying. ;)