What Should Elderly People Do If They Develop Heat Rash?

Both adults and children may develop prickly heat (miliaria) if skin care is inadequate—especially elderly individuals who are bedridden, as they face a significantly higher risk of developing this condition. So, what should be done when an older adult develops prickly heat?

Management of Prickly Heat in Older Adults

During hot summer weather, older adults are particularly prone to overheating and developing prickly heat. The following methods may help alleviate symptoms: First, gently cleanse the affected area with lukewarm water; then apply a few drops of the recommended solution directly onto the lesions and allow it to air-dry naturally. A mild burning or warming sensation on the treated skin is normal. Apply the solution two to three times daily to achieve anti-inflammatory, anti-swelling, and antipruritic effects. Alternatively, “Shi Di Shui” (a traditional Chinese herbal preparation) may be used—adding 3–5 drops to bathwater provides a cooling and soothing effect, especially effective for early-stage prickly heat. Repeated bathing with this solution typically leads to noticeable improvement. Importantly, avoid scratching, rubbing, or scrubbing the affected areas to prevent secondary infection.

In older adults, prickly heat most commonly manifests as crystalline miliaria (miliaria crystallina), particularly among bedridden or physically frail individuals. Efforts should focus on minimizing sweating by maintaining optimal ambient temperature and humidity levels to facilitate sweat evaporation. Topical application of calamine lotion is also beneficial. Daily bathing and frequent changes of clothing are essential to keep the skin clean and dry.

Prickly heat occurs under hot, humid conditions when excessive sweating overwhelms the body’s ability to evaporate sweat, leading to obstruction and rupture of the eccrine sweat ducts, with subsequent leakage of sweat into surrounding tissues. Dietary remedies such as mung bean sugar water or mung bean congee—cooling, heat-relieving traditional preparations—may be consumed. If secondary bacterial infection develops, topical or oral antibiotics may be indicated. We hope this article has been helpful. Wishing you a joyful life and good health!