Has the summer heat got your skin raising concerns? Talking about heat rash or “prickly heat.”
Miliaria in adults
is a skin reaction to humidity and heat, appears as small inflamed bumps that typically present around skin folds, under eyes, and along hairlines. These bumps are visible blockages to sweat ducts, the result of sweat backflowing into eccrine ducts and sweat glands, and can occur at each layer of the epidermis. This blog gives guidance on the onset, and prevention of this skin condition.
For the purpose of simplicity and scope, in this article, we focus on Miliaria Crystallina; it resembles water droplets on the skin's most visible layer and it ruptures easily.
Miliaria Crystallina
occurs at the most visible layer of the epidermis with bumps typically no larger than 1-2mm; without care, this condition can develop into Miliaria Rubra, which occurs at the midlevel epidermis and may result in an inflammatory response that causes visible red blotches beneath the stratum corneum: "this backflow results in a rash comprising sweat-filled vesicle formation under the skin. "(statpearls)
Cutaneous buildup forming a biofilm on the skin's surface can result in the formation of miliaria - most commonly at the upper torso, neck, and head.
This is why regular exfoliation is a good friend to your skin's health.
Other lifestyle choices can help as well, like wearing less restrictive and less synthetic clothing; reducing skincare products that retain oil and hydration, and minimizing makeup coverage to avoid sweat flowing back into your epidermal layers. Risk factors can encourage the rash to appear within a few days of exposure to risk factors but subsides "after the superficial layer of skin rubs off," (statpearls) so if you begin seeing these on your skin, exfoliating will help clean and rejuvenate your skin cells for a healthy texture; regulate sweat buildup, and neutralize the microbiome of your skin. To follow it up, a light moisturizer that is suited to your skin's overall needs and is non-comedogenic would be most supportive to the overall wellness of your skin. If left untreated, Miliaria Crystallina can progress into Miliaria Rubia, which occurs at a deeper level of the skin and itches from inflammation, requiring more attentive care than if prevented.
If your skin is developing Miliaria or you've noticed an increase in sweat, the Detox Mask by Tuel can help alleviate the effects of bacteria building up in your pores. Visit skincaresweets.com where you will find specialized exfoliation products, in case your skin needs a little extra care.
https://skincaresweets.com/products/detox-clay-mask-tuel
References
- 1.Guerra, Karla C. “Miliaria.” StatPearls [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Sept. 2024, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537176/.
- 2.Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L. Dermatology. Vol. 1. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017. Diseases of the eccrine and apocrine sweat glands; pp. 643–644. [Google Scholar]
- 3.Miliaria crystallina in an intensive care setting. Haas N, Martens F, Henz BM. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2004;29:32–34. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2004.01444.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 4.Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin-induced miliaria crystallina and lichenoid follicular eruption. Seghers AC, Tey HL, Tee SI, Cao T, Chong WS. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2018;84:121. doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.206233. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.Miliaria crystallina induced by idarubicin and all-trans-retinoic acid: two case reports. Valenzuela-Ubiña S, Villegas-Romero I, Jiménez-Gallo D, Arjona-Aguilera C, Linares-Barrios M. Australas J Dermatol. 2021;62:0–10. doi: 10.1111/ajd.13641. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]