Heat rash

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Heat rash usually heals without problems, but complications sometimes occur, such as:

  • Infection. Occasionally, heat rash becomes infected with bacteria, causing inflamed and itchy pustules. This can occur in children in diapers but shouldn't be confused with diaper rash, which results from irritation to tender skin, not from blocked pores.
  • Heat exhaustion. In hot weather, people with miliaria profunda are at risk of heat exhaustion, because their sweat ducts are blocked. Heat exhaustion can cause low blood pressure, dizziness, nausea, headache and a rapid pulse. Untreated heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition.
References
  1. Pielop JA. Benign skin and scalp lesions in the newborn and young infant. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 12, 2009.
  2. Miliaria. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for HealthCare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch118/ch118e.html. Accessed Nov. 2, 2009.
  3. Acne, rosacea and related disorders. In: Habif TF. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Maryland Heights, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00016-X--s0970&uniq=174064897&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=924617043#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00016-X--s0975%3Bfrom%3Dcontent%3Bisbn%3D978-0-7234-3541-9%3Btype%3DbookPage. Accessed Dec. 2, 2009.
  4. Extreme heat: A prevention guide to promote your personal health and safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp. Accessed Nov. 1, 2009.
  5. Fealey RD, et al. Disorders of the eccrine sweat glands and sweating. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.; McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2985825. Accessed Dec. 2, 2009.
  6. Walker JS, et al. Heat emergencies. In: Tintinalli JE, et al. Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 6th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2004. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=604435. Accessed Dec. 2, 2009.
  7. Godkar D. Rare skin disorder complicating doxorubicin therapy: Miliaria crystallina. American Journal of Therapeutics. 2005;12:275.
  8. Berger TG. Dermatologic disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2010. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=747. Accessed Dec. 2, 2009.
  9. Seto CK, et al. Environmental illness in athletes. Clinics in Sports Medicine. 2005;24:695.
  10. Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 9, 2009.
DS01058 Jan. 19, 2010

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