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What is a Rash?

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A visible outbreak on a person's skin is known as a rash. It can be in many different forms, like a change in the colour, texture, or appearance in the skin on any part of the body. It can also cause itchiness, dryness, or unusual warmth of the skin. In severe rashes, blisters or cracks can form on the skin which can be extremely painful.

The severeness of the rash varies from person to person, the major reason for this being the environmental conditions they are in or their medical history. Meaning, people with allergies or other conditions are more vulnerable to severe breakouts. The same goes for people living in extreme climatic conditions.

Summer rashes are the most common type of rashes in countries like India that are closer to the equator as they face warmer climatic conditions. The most common types of summer rashes include heat rash, some kinds of insect bites, bee sting, poison ivy, and athlete's feet, etc.

What Then are Summer Rashes?

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Heat rashes that often arise with the rising heat of summers are caused when sweat ducts are blocked, causing inflammation and discomfort. The excessive heat causes the body to go into an overdrive producing sweat in a bid to cool us down, thereby causing these blockages. Germs that gather in such areas make matters worse.

Summer rashes are thus different from those caused by insect bites and bee stings. They also differ from rashes got by contact with ivy, oak, or sumac plants though these can also form blisters, redness, and even allergic reactions. And, athlete's feet are caused by the dryness of skin which results in cracks, itch, and scaly skin.

8 Effective Home Remedies for Dealing with Summer Rashes

Though most summer rashes go away by themselves, as cold weather comes in, they can be extremely annoying and uncomfortable and you would want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. If so, here are eight home remedies for quick treatment of summer rashes, especially the ones caused by excess body heat.

Wear Loose and Light Coloured Clothing

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If you want to stay safe from the dehydrating heat of the summers, you need to wear light clothing that does not irritate your skin or make it sweat even more. Loose clothes will also not stick to your skin when it sweats, making the healing stage of your rash go much faster.

You may wear certain bright-colored polyester or other synthetic fabrics that are made for sports as these are designed to wick off the moisture. Even though cotton does not help with the moisture problem, it is pretty breathable so you can wear that as well. Linens too will keep you cool and the slightly thicker fabric will help ward off some of the summer sun as well.

Make an Oatmeal Bath

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Oatmeal can really reduce the itch and inflammation on the skin. For this reason it is a great home remedy for people suffering from heat rashes and sunburns. To make the best out of this popular breakfast food item, pour one to two cups of colloidal oatmeal in a lukewarm bath and let it soak for about 20 minutes before getting into the bath. Ensure that the bath is not too hot.

Another way to get the oatmeal's benefits is by making a paste with water and oatmeal and applying it to your skin, paying attention to the problem areas. Mix equal volumes of water and flour to make this paste. You can easily buy oatmeal online, or grind oats into a flour if you have that lying around at home instead.

Soothe Irritated Skin with Rose Water and Honey

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Rosewater has a very soothing effect on the skin and can remove the itchiness and irritation as well. In fact, it is one of the best remedies for skin rash. For a home remedy with rose water that will last you all summer, make a mixture of 200 ml rosewater, four tablespoons of honey, and 200 ml of pure water. Mix them together before freezing them in an ice tray. Put the cubes in a fine muslin cloth. Take only four to five at a time. Now, press them against your skin part that has been affected by summer rash. This will also help balance out the pH level of the skin.

Aloe Vera Gel

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Aloe vera has many advantages, one of them being one of the fastest treatments for prickly heat. The sticky gel does this by alleviating the inflammation while also soothing the redness of the skin. It also softens and hydrates skin and prevents further dehydration.

You will need an aloe leaf for this which you will cut it into pieces. Next, squeeze the gel from it, into a bowl and apply the gel to the part of the skin that is affected by prickly heat. You may massage it till it absorbs fully for fast soothing. Do this twice a day till the heat rash has been treated fully. You can also use pure aloe gel that are available aplenty nowadays.

Fuller's Earth or Multani Mitti

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Fuller's earth helps to clear clogged pores, therefore, helps treat prickly heat while making the skin fresh. It will also help reduce the over-productivity of oil on your skin and restore its glow. Hence it is a popular ingredient in many Indian face packs and home remedies.

For the best effects, make a paste of the mitti and rosewater and apply over the areas that have been affected. Wash after some time and do this everyday till you get complete relief from rashes. You may continue it afterward as well to maintain a glow on the face and to ward off further rashes.

Neem Pack

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Neem has many medicinal purposes, including the fast treatment of skin conditions like rashes. You may make a face mask by mixing some neem into some water, and grinding it thoroughly, till it forms a thick paste. Alternatively, use neem oil or ready available dry neem powder, mixing it with a little water to make a paste.

The anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory qualities of neem will help your skin get rid of any and all types of rashes it is suffering from. It will also help make your skin cleaner and make it brighter.

Chickpea Flour or Besan

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Chickpea flour works as a skin cleanser and expels all impurities and exfoliates the dead cells, making it a great home remedy for rashes. For this, make a thick paste of water and this flour with three tablespoon flour and some water. Then apply this on the part infected by rash and wait for 15 minutes before washing it off. This will help treat rash in just a few days. What works just as well is besan, or gram flour that is a regular staple of Indian kitchens.

Calamine Lotion

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Calamine lotion has may advantage that helps treat rashes of the skin. This is so because it has zinc oxide which helps soothe the itch, one reason why it is a popular skincare product for sensitive skin. Get some of this lotion and apply it to the affected area with cotton pads. Do this as needed and till you get relief. This will also provide moisture and prevents the dryness of skin. You can buy a bottle of Calamine lotion for just Rs.149 on Flipkart.

Staying Cool and Hydrated is the Best Way to Prevent Rashes

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Even though all these remedies will help you to treat your rash quickly, it is still the best to take precautions like taking a bath daily, twice a day if necessary, and wearing light and loose clothes.

Eating mindfully can also make a world of difference. There are many fruits and vegetables that are known for their cooling effects on the body and which are readily available in the summer months. If you needed another excuse to gorge on watermelons and cucumbers, here is one, but do not also overlook all the summer gourds which are especially healthy and cooling.

But if the rashes get too painful and spread rapidly, you should immediately visit a doctor for medical advice.

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Drink plenty of water

Staying adequately hydrated is important all year round but more so in the summers when the body is constantly losing a lot of moisture while trying to keep you cool. So drink up, whether it's plain water or drinks that will restore the electrolytes lost in sweat, such as tender coconut water, juices and sharbats or bite into juicy fruits. It really is a delicious way to ward off skin troubles!