First comes the heat, spreading across your limbs; an unstoppable red invasion.
Then comes the itching, which builds to such a degree that you can’t help but have a go, even though you know this is self-sabotage.
Sweat and heat rashes, or millaria, is a common condition. It’s caused because sweat ducts become blocked, stopping liquid from escaping and mild swelling under the skin instead, according to the NHS. Infants and young children who can’t regulate their body temperature as well as adults are prime victims, but sweat rashes can strike anyone, especially overweight people with skin folds, hyperhidrosis sufferers or those with a penchant for very tight clothing.
How to tell if you’ve been hit by a bout of sweat rash? Tell-tale signs include small irritated bumps that feel itchy or prickly, or in worst cases, blisters.
You’re most likely to get sweat rash if you exercise a lot, or have skin folds that chafe - think inner thighs, love handles or around the underwire if you wear a bra. Hot, humid weather doesn’t help things, either. It’s why you might experience sweat rashes more when you’re on holiday, especially if you’re headed to the tropics.
Sweat rashes are incredibly uncomfortable. The good news? They are entirely treatable.
If you can, have a cool shower to dial down the heat, and once cleaned, try to keep the rash area dry - talcum powder is great for this. Switch to loose clothing to allow your skin to breathe freely.
A cream or ointment can help soothe the burn, but make sure you’re not using anything that’s only going to block your oil glands further. Not sure where to turn? We’ve rounded up the best nourishing balms, lotions and potions to bring your skin back from the brink. Some are staples you likely already have stashed in a cupboard of the house, but most are new, innovative brands with formulas that work fast.
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Australian Bodycare Rescue Cream for Sore Skin
A country where temperatures have been known to push the 50°C mark knows a thing or two about treating heat rash. From the simply-named Australian Bodycare comes this rescue cream, designed to soothe burns, bedsores and nappy rash.
The rich, silky lotion doesn’t sting on contact with the skin and is packed with 100 per cent natural Australian Tea Tree Oil and other nourishing ingredients to bolster the skin’s natural barrier, with one Amazon reviewer deeming it “a miracle worker”.
They said: “I had a horrid experience where an item of clothing got really sweaty and chafed horrendously, resulting in an extremely painful, weeping patch of skin. I applied this cream and within two days, it was pretty much resolved.”
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Daktacort Hydrocortisone Cream - 15g
When you’ve already developed a sweat rash, what’s needed is a solution rather than a preventive.
Hydrocortisone cream is great at calming itching and angry sore spots for short bursts (long-term use can cause side effects such as further irritation, dryness and burning).
Dab a little on the cleansed affected area and wear loose clothing to help air flow.
Do ensure you’re using a cream rather than an ointment, as this can block oil glands and make a bad situation worse. Not suitable for kids under 10.
Buy now £8.90, Boots
E45 Cream 350g
One of the hardest-working moisturisers around, everyone has a tub of E45 cream knocking around. It’s ideal for treating sunburn and nourishing dry skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis, ichthyosis and some cases of psoriasis.
It can also pour milk on the burning flames of your sweat or heat rash with hero ingredient lanolin soothing, without stopping sweat ducts from blocking up.
Buy now £10.00, Amazon
Megababe Body Dust Top-to-Toe Powder
High temperatures and humidity can feel nightmarish - especially if you’re having to deal with boob sweat, underwires rubbing and cloying heat around your joints. That’s why we love Megababe’s body dust.
Give the talcum powder access all areas, and you can kiss painful chafing and prickly heat goodbye. The formula soaks up excess moisture, cooling inflamed areas and soothing skin with aloe and chamomile.
Buy now £17.00, Cult Beauty
Lush Silky Underwear
It might seem impossible for a talcum powder to have moisturising properties, but this is Lush we’re talking about; home of thoughtful beauty innovations such as the shampoo bar and shower jellies. The Silky Underwear is a lightly scented dusting power that keeps sweat and chafe at bay.
Simply drizzle a little over skin after bathing and enjoy the feel of velvety soft skin all day. No need to worry about tell-tale white marks; once rubbed in properly, the white dust will fade into a light veil on the skin.
It's pretty effective on under arm and under boob sweat too (hey, we’ve all been there).
Buy now £12.00, Lush
Lyonsleaf Calendula & Marshmallow Balm 30ml
A balm to soothe dry, sore, irritated skin, this balm is suitable for use from head to toe, not just for chafing – although it offers a great solution for that too.
It’s ideal for anyone with sensitive skin as the all-natural plant oils it’s made with means it’s gentle enough to use on delicate areas while also working hard to heal your skin. The fact it’s water-free means the oils will go the distance in lubricating chafing.
It’s also helpful for a range of other skin ailments, such as helping heal fresh tattoos, soothing sore nipples when nursing and softening heels, elbows, and dry hands and feet. A bathroom cabinet hero, by all accounts.
Buy now £11.99, Amazon
WooWoo Saddle Sore Soothing Balm 50ml
Cyclists and spin studio devotees know all too well the pain caused by friction during a ride. Specifically designed to use after a workout, this nourishing chamomile, rosehip oil and aloe vera-infused balm cools and heals flustered skin, especially in areas prone to chafing. As well as heat rash, this also works a treat on razor or waxing burns as the instantly cooling balm creates a barrier over hot spots.
Buy now £5.06, Lookfantastic
Neat 3B Action Cream
Hailing from the land Down Under - where temperatures can reach unbearable highs - this fast-acting cream stops chafing in its tracks. The unscented formula works on everyone, even those with a low sweat threshold, and can be used on any body parts that rub uncomfortably, from inner thighs and underarms to under the breasts. It can even stop fungal infections by eliminating moisture from the equation.
Buy now £12.95, Amazon
Megababe No More Chafe Duo
Send raw friction packing with this hero solution from Megababe.
The bundle includes a full-size balm-like Thigh Rescue which glides over skin and forms a protective barrier. It comes with a mini version (23g) which you can tuck into your bag and reapply as needed.
The skin-nourishing formula is packed with anti-inflammatory aloe, healing pomegranate seed extract and ginger root to balance tone and boost elasticity, so it's as comfortable as it is kind to skin.
Buy now £16.00, Cult Beauty
Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream
Best for: Treating sore skin
With a formula that has remained unchanged since 1931, this baby barrier cream is frequently recommended by doctors and midwives for the treatment of nappy rash and skin irritations. Gentle enough to use from birth, the water-repellent base stayed put for hours and stopped irritants from coming into contact with our baby’ skin.
The cream is enriched with anti-inflammatory zinc oxide to speed up healing, anhydrous hypoallergenic lanolin to soothe and soften along with a gentle local anaesthetic to ease pain.
The formula is thicker than others we tested, and required more effort to rub in. It also took longer to wipe off. You can use it to treat other skin conditions like sunburn, rashes and grazes, so it’s a versatile cream to have around.
Buy now £4.00, Amazon
Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment
It may be made for babies, but this ointment is excellent for caring for irritated skin in general. Keep a tube in your bag if you’re prone to getting prickly rashes, ready to glide on the silky soft formula when you need it.
This ointment is infused with provitamin B5 to nourish skin and support the healing process. The water-in-oil blend seals in the skin’s natural moisture and forms a thin, breathable barrier that does a great job at protecting sensitive areas from irritants and rubbing.
Buy now £6.30, Amazon
Jock Itch Treatment for Men
Menfolk aren’t always forever adjusting their parts: sometimes chafing or an itch is to blame. Calm things below the belt with this anti-fungal treatment cream, made with all-natural ingredients. It will send prickly heat running for the hills.
Buy now £12.99, Amazon
