How to treat prickly heat

Prickly heat (miliaria) is a common condition in daily life, primarily caused by high temperatures, excessive sweating, and high humidity—conditions that impede timely sweat evaporation. When sweat accumulates within the sweat ducts or beneath the epidermis, small vesicles form; such vesicles developing beneath the stratum corneum constitute prickly heat. Rapid resolution of prickly heat generally involves the following approaches: 1. Oral administration of traditional Chinese herbal medicines that clear heat, dry dampness, and relieve summer-heat; 2. Topical application of medications—primarily those with heat-clearing, dampness-drying, and astringent properties, such as calamine lotion or prickly heat powder. Alternatively, decoctions prepared from herbs like *Atractylodes lancea* (Cang Zhu) and *Sophora flavescens* (Ku Shen) may be applied topically to alleviate symptoms; 3. Ensuring adequate ventilation, maintaining skin dryness, and facilitating prompt sweat evaporation.