Heat rashes are common skin conditions that affect those who live in hot and humid areas. Just like many skin ailments, for heat rashes, you can turn to natural remedies to give you quick relief and speedy healing. One such perfect natural remedy is using essential oils! Discover the top 5 essential oils for heat rash below.
What is Heat Rash?
Also known as sweat rash, prickly heat or miliaria in scientific terms, a heat rash is a skin disease characterized by small, itchy, irritated, red and heated bumps on the skin. It mainly affects those in hot humid regions especially in the tropics and during summer time. Though people of all ages can get heat rashes, babies and young children are more prone because of their underdeveloped sweat glands.
Heat rashes can appear anywhere on the body but the common areas are the upper chest, stomach, neck, skin folds and areas of the body where the skin usually rubs against clothing such as the back and chest.
Some of the symptoms of heat rashes include:
- Itchy red rashes
- Prickling sensation on the affected region hence the name ‘prickly heat’
- The area feeling hot and bothered
- And more
Heat rash symptoms are slightly similar to those of shingles but the major difference is that shingles usually restricts itself to one side of the body like the right side for example, while heat rashes spread out all over the skin without being limited to one side of the body. If you suspect you have shingles, seek medical advice. Also check out the most effective essential oils for shingles.
How Do Essential Oils Help Heat Rash?
Essential oils are potent plant extracts in liquid form. They are highly concentrated and have powerful therapeutic properties. What makes essential oils good for heat rashes in particular is there cooling and healing effects on various skin problems including acne, sun burn, skin rashes, eczema, bumps, and so on. Essential oils help heat rashes by:
- Soothing and calming the irritated skin
- Cooling the hot and bothered area
- Relieving itchy skin
- Helping numb the burning and prickling sensation
- Speeding up healing of the rashes
Below are the top 5 essential oils for heat rashes and further below, find 5 custom recipes that are super effective in alleviating these rashes:
Top 5 Essential Oils for Heat Rash
1. Peppermint
2. Eucalyptus
3. Lavender
4. Spearmint
5. Chamomile
5 Essential Oil Recipes for Heat Rash
If you are new to essential oils, please check out the Caution & Safety Information before Using Essential Oils.
1. Cooling Mist Recipe
What you need
- ½ cup distilled water
- 3 – 5 drops peppermint
- 1 tsp witch hazel
- 4 oz cobalt blue glass spray bottle
Method
- Carefully add the distilled water, peppermint oil and witch hazel into the spray bottle.
- Shake well to combine well.
- Spray onto the heat rash as needed throughout the day.
2. Refreshing Shower Melts
What you need
- 1 cup corn starch
- 20 – 30 drops peppermint or eucalyptus
- Enough water
- Silicone cube tray
Method
- Mix cornstarch, essential oil drops and enough water to form a semi- thick paste.
- Place the paste into a silicone cube tray.
- Keep the tray in the freezer for an hour.
- Then get the tray out and pop out the ready shower melts and store in a large mason jar.
- To use, drop a melt on the shower floor, near the drain. The pressure from the shower water will hit the cube and make it melt, releasing the peppermint’s scent with its therapeutic properties into the air, refreshing and cooling your body.
3. Soothing Gel
What you need
- 1 cup pure aloe vera gel
- 7 drops peppermint
- 5 drops lavender
- 8 oz amber glass jar
Method
- Place the aloe vera gel in the amber glass jar and vigorously stir in the drops of essential oils until well combined.
- Slather a liberal amount on the heat rash to cool and soothe it as well as speed up healing.
4. Soothing Bath Soak
What you need
- 2 cups colloidal oatmeal
- 10 drops eucalyptus
- 10 drops chamomile
- 10 drops lavender
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
Method
- Run a cold or warm bath and while the water is collecting in the tub, add in 2 cups of colloidal oatmeal.
- When the bath is full, mix the essential oils in the coconut oil and add it to the bath.
- Stir the bath with your hand and get in.
- Soak in as long as you want to for relief.
5. Homemade Heat Rash Powder
What you need
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 10 drops lavender
- 10 drops peppermint
- 7 drops chamomile
- Powder shaker bottle
Method
- In a large bowl, add the corn starch followed by the essential oils and stir well with a spoon.
- Carefully transfer the powder into the powder shaker bottle by placing small amounts on a large A4 paper, folding the paper by holding the two long edges together to create a tunnel and titling the paper over the open powder bottle for the powder to fill up the bottle.
- To use the powder, shake it on the heat rash and smooth the powder using your hands. You’re rashes will instantly feel soothed and cooled!
Personally, the last recipe works amazing in soothing heat rashes. If you constantly get heat rash, are you ready to give essential oils a go?