This is a rash that develops when the sweat glands become blocked.
The rash can vary in appearance based on a person’s skin tone.
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Why Does Rash Appearance Vary With Skin Tone?
AndreyPopov / Getty Images
This has led to healthcare providers having difficulty providing accurate diagnoses and prompt treatment for those with dark skin.
A rash’s appearance will vary significantly based on a person’s skin color.
This is partly due to the different amounts of melanin in the skin.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNetwww.dermnetnz.org2023
An example is howerythemaon light skin looks red.
However, darker skin can have a purple hue, ashen gray, or darker brown appearance.
What Does a Heat Rash Look Like on Dark Skin Tones?
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Reproduced with permission from DermNetwww.dermnetnz.org2023
Heat rashcan appear as small, raised bumps that look likepimples.
These bumps form in clusters and can easily break.
The bumps can look white or darker than the surrounding skin in people with dark skin tones.
When your body temperature rises, you will release sweat through these glands.
This causes inflammation, which leads to a heat rash.
Common signs of a heat rash are:
These small bumps can resemble pimples and are clearblisters.
They are commonly found on the head, upper trunk, and neck.
How Is a Heat Rash Diagnosed?
Heat rash is diagnosed based on its appearance.
A healthcare provider may ask questions about recent heat exposures or heatrashhistory.
What Else Could Be Mistaken for a Heat Rash on Dark Skin?
Skin conditions that cause small, pimple-like bumps may be mistaken for a heat rash on dark skin.
These include:
Many times it’s the context of the rash that helps a person identify its cause.
How Long Does a Heat Rash Last?
Generally, a heat rash lasts one to two days after the body has cooled down.
More severe forms of the rash can last for a week or longer.
How Is a Heat Rash Treated?
Heat rash can usually betreatedat home with a few steps.
The first step is to reduce the body’s temperature.
Get out of the heat and dry off the skin.
Then take a cool shower or apply cold compresses to the skin affected by heat rash.
Heat rash can be very itchy.
Over-the-counter (OTC) anti-itch products likehydrocortisone creamor calamine lotion can minimize itching.
To prevent heat rash, avoid wearing synthetic fabrics that trap the heat.
Clothing should be loose-fitting to allow airflow.
Also, double-check to take frequent breaks during warm weather to avoid overheating.
A secondary bacterial infection, frequently from theStaphylococcusbacterium, is a potential complication of heat rash.
Summary
Heat rash is a skin condition that causes an itchy, bumpy rash.
People who have dark skin may present with darkened areas with small white or dark-colored bumps.
Blocked sweat glands cause the rash.
It generally resolves within one or two days.
In more severe cases it can last up to a week.
Harvard Medical School.Heat rash: how to spot it and what to do.
Ullah N and Vishrolia C.Recognising common skin conditions in people of colour.Pharmaceutical Journal.
doi:10.1211/PJ.2021.1.113627
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Skin pigment disorders.
Sangha AM.Dermatological conditions in skin of color: managing atopic dermatitis.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol.
2021;14(3 Suppl 1):S20-S22.
