This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about the remaining days of summer. It’s still August, so in most places, it’s still quite warm, and the hot weather can affect your skin.

Prickly heat is caused by sweat glands becoming clogged so that sweat gets trapped beneath the skin. The result is a rash of little red bumps in places where skin folds touch. Dr. Amit Pandya, a dermatologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says prickly heat is more annoying than dangerous. Usually, getting out of the heat and exposing the affected area to air will clear up the problem. You can also wash the area with cool water and use calamine lotion to ease the itch. To prevent prickly heat, dry carefully after a shower and use baby powder or talcum powder. In rare cases, a yeast infection may develop, and that can be treated with anti-fungal creams.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/dermatology  to learn more about
UT Southwestern’s clinical services in dermatology.