Stop Those Prickly, Itchy, Red Hot Bumps – Herbs for a Heat Rash

Summer is a time for sweating, which can lead to an insanely itchy heat rash! These prickly, itchy, red hot bumps can erupt when our sweat glands become clogged. This often happens when we become overheated. Our body’s cooling mechanism, to sweat, can stop working effectively due to the sweat glands becoming blocked with bacteria and sebum. Then, the sweat becomes trapped under the surface of our skin. Combined with bacteria on our skin, this can cause an itchy heat rash!

What should you do when you get a heat rash?

Get out of the sun and cool down.
Take a cool shower or bath as soon as possible.
Use only mild soap to clean off, as soaps with harsh perfumes or chemicals could further irritate the rash.
Drink plenty of water to help the body flush toxins.
Avoid scratching, it will only spread possible bacteria, create openings in the skin, and make it worse.
Apply calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream, or try a recipe listed below.

Itchy Heat Rash – Oat Soak Recipe

1 cup of dried oats, ground
1/2 cup of Epsom salt
Tub with cool water

Instructions: First take a quick cool shower to rinse off any dirt and grime. Then jump in the tub. Turn on the water, plug the tub, add the oats and salt, and soak in the soothing cool bath.

Aloe & Comfrey – Heat Rash Comforting Gel

1 cup of aloe vera gel
1/2 cup of fresh comfrey root, sliced, or 1/4 cup of dried comfrey root
1/2 cup of boiling water

Instructions: Boil the comfrey root in water for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let it brew for 10 more minutes. Strain out the root from the water and allow the water to get to room temperature. Add the aloe vera gel to the comfrey root infused water. Apply to skin with a cotton ball or wash cloth. Keep in refrigerator; should last a few days. Avoid with pregnant and lactating women, and with open skin wounds. Discontinue use if any additional irritation occurs.

Heat Rash Ingredients Research

Colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) has been used for centuries as a topical treatment for various skin conditions and was used in a blind study on twenty-nine female subjects with mild to moderate itching on their dry lower legs. The oatmeal significantly improved skin dryness, texture, and itch intensity. From: Michelle Garay, M. S., Judith Nebus, M. B. A., & Menas Kizoulis, B. A. (2015). Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 14(1), 43-48.
Active colloidal oatmeal moisturizer showed effectiveness in this randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study. From: Kalaaji, A. N., & Wallo, W. (2014). A randomized controlled clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of an active moisturizing lotion with colloidal oatmeal skin protectant versus its vehicle for the relief of xerosis. Journal of drugs in dermatology: JDD, 13(10), 1265-1268.
This overview of oatmeal (Avena sativa) shows research for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can be useful in topically treating pruritus, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and viral and fungal infections. From: Pazyar, N., Yaghoobi, R., Kazerouni, A., & Feily, A. (2012). Oatmeal in dermatology: a brief review. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology, 78(2), 142.
Based on in vitro and animal studies, avenanthramides from oats were a potent skin anti-itch and anti-inflammatory. From: Sur, R., Nigam, A., Grote, D., Liebel, F., & Southall, M. D. (2008). Avenanthramides, polyphenols from oats, exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-itch activity. Archives of dermatological research, 300(10), 569.
Bathing in magnesium dead sea salt improved skin texture and inflammation in those with dry skin, compared to tap water. From: Proksch, E., Nissen, H. P., Bremgartner, M., & Urquhart, C. (2005). Bathing in a magnesium‐rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin. International journal of dermatology, 44(2), 151-157.
Comfrey extract was anti-inflammatory in humans. From: Petersen, G., Lorkowski, G., Kasper, F. R., Gottwald, R., & Lücker, P. W. (1993). Anti-inflammatory activity of a pyrrolizidine alkaloid-free extract of roots of Symphytum officinale in humans. Planta Medica, 59(S 1), A703-A704.
A topical preparation containing comfrey reduced wound healing time of adults and children without side effects. From: Barna, M., Kucera, A., Hladikova, M., & Kucera, M. (2012). Randomized double-blind study: wound-healing effects of a symphytum herb extract cream (Symphytum× uplandicum Nyman) in Children. Arzneimittelforschung, 62(06), 285-289.
Aloe vera extract 0.5% in a hydrophilic cream was safe and effective in treating psoriasis. From: Syed, T. A., Ahmad, S. A., Holt, A. H., Ahmad, S. A., Ahmad, S. H., & Afzal, M. (1996). Management of psoriasis with Aloe vera extract in a hydrophilic cream: a placebo‐controlled, double‐blind study. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 1(4), 505-509.
This study showed aloesin derivatives as active components in the wound healing capabilities of aloe. From: Yagi, A., Kabash, A., Okamura, N., Haraguchi, H., Moustafa, S. M., & Khalifa, T. I. (2002). Antioxidant, free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects of aloesin derivatives in Aloe vera. Planta medica, 68(11), 957-960.
A randomized comparative trial of 60 infants showed that a treatment with aloe vera and calendula was safe and effective in treating diaper rash. From: Panahi Y, Sharif MR, Sharif A, et al. A randomized comparative trial on the therapeutic efficacy of topical aloe vera and Calendula officinalis on diaper dermatitis in children. Scientific World Journal. 2012;2012:810234.