3 Routine Corrections When Heat Rash Makes Clothes Uncomfortable

A waistband or bra band can become the part of an outfit you keep thinking about all afternoon. If an itchy summer rash is making clothing uncomfortable, the next step does not have to be another strongly scented product.

Three corrections for the routine

1. Give cooling a place in the day. The NHS¹ suggests loose cotton clothing, lighter bedding and cool baths or showers. A damp cloth or an ice pack wrapped in a towel can cool the area for up to 20 minutes.¹ Pick a change that fits where the discomfort occurs.
2. Tap or pat instead of scratching. That is the NHS¹ advice for itchy heat rash.¹ If you catch yourself scratching through a shirt during a meeting, keep a clean cloth available for a cooling break afterward.
3. Check the fragrance. Perfumed shower gels and creams can irritate affected skin; the NHS¹ advises avoiding them.¹ Photograph the products you have used so a pharmacist can see the names and ingredients.

Set a point for getting advice

A pharmacist can suggest suitable symptom treatment. See a GP if the rash does not improve after a few days.¹ Ask what to use, where to apply it and when to stop, rather than trying several products together.

Keep notes about the location, the clothing touching it and what you changed. There is no need to turn the note into a judgment about how clean you are.

Arms Up includes a Fresh Log and zone-by-zone match. Use the log to record sweating circumstances and the skin discomfort you want to discuss. See the book.