Is A Daily Vitamin Supplement Your Answer to Preventing Heat Rash?

Is a daily vitamin pill the answer to solving your heat rash (prickly heat) issue? Majority of the fair skinned people are known to get severe heat rashes in hot and humid months. As a result; they are unable to enjoy outdoor activities like swimming or spending a day on the beach and even the use of tanning beds. Their prickly heat rashes tend to make their skin appear blotchy, swollen, red and angry-looking. In some cases, the rashes get itchy and scratching these could lead to the formation of pus filled blisters that are harder to treat. The reason why a prickly heat rash arises in the first place is due to clogged sweat glands.By further using heavy moisturizing creams or sunscreen lotions, the sweat gets trapped underneath the dermis, upsetting the entire cooling mechanism of the body. This leads to formation of heat rash blisters on the skin.

Thankfully, there are some things one can do to prevent prickly heat. Primarily, one needs to strengthen their immunity and make the body stronger from within. This includes taking proper nutrition and drinking adequate quantities of water. Also, by taking certain skin friendly vitamins and mineral supplements, one could prevent inflammation caused by allergic prickly heat rashes. Let us find out which vitamins can help prevent heat rashes.

Prickly heat and vitamins to avoid it

Fair skinned people travelling to tropical areas for a vacation or those living in very cold countries (where there is not much sunshine), could benefit from following vitamins for their prickly heat rashes:

1. Vitamin C– Take at least 1000mg of vitamin C to avoid prickly heat rash. If you are travelling to the tropics, start this vitamin at least 10 days before you go. The antihistamine properties of vitamin C help prevent itching and inflammation associated with prickly heat rashes.
2. Vitamin E– Take at least 1000 International Units of Vitamin E. This will strengthen your immunity and prepare your skin for the hot weather to prevent prickly heat rashes. A study published in the American Academy of dermatology Journal has also shown that vitamins C and E taken together can prevent skin damage resulting from sudden or excess exposure to sun.
3. Vitamin B-complex- B-vitamins, particularly B6, can help keep heat rashes at bay by strengthening the body from inside out. B6 vitamin also prevents and heals damage resulting from excess sun exposure. You could get most B-vitamins through fortified cereals, chicken, fortified oatmeal, potatoes, bananas etc. Recommended daily intake of B6 vitamin is up to 1.3g.

Homeopathic preventive remedies for heat rashes

Apart from these vitamins to stop prickly heat rashes in summer, following homeopathic remedies and Bach flower remedies can also help people with a tendency to developing prickly heat rashes.

• Apis 30C – This remedy is known to reduce inflammation and burning. Take one tablet every 2 hours as soon as the prickling skin reaction occurs after sun exposure.
• Sol 30C– This is a particularly effective remedy for preventing all kinds of sun related skin issues. Take 1 tablet three times a day for 3 weeks or for the duration for which you are exposed to hot and humid climate.

Steps to prevent heat rashes

Apart from these vitamins to prevent heat rashes; following measures must also be taken:

1. Drink plenty of water and green tea which helps fight inflammation.
2. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid dairy, peanuts, eggs, coffee, chocolate etc which could aggravate skin allergies.
3. Eat omega 3 essential fatty acid rich foods including fatty fish like salmon, walnuts, flax seeds etc. These are skin friendly ingredients which can strengthen skin and prevent damage.
4. Seek shade where possible. Wear light colored, loose cotton clothing and a wide brimmed hat.
5. If you find yourself getting too hot, take a cool bath. Sprinkle some prickly heat powder all over after patting the skin dry.
6. Avoid using heavy moisturizing skin creams, sunscreen lotions etc which can clog the pores and further aggravate the rashes.

Skin issues usually stem from deficiencies and problems in the gut. Find out if certain foods are causing your prickly heat rash. Talk to your doctor if this aforementioned list of vitamins is right to help you overcome and prevent prickly heat rash each summer.