Conquer Heatwave Skin Struggles with Skin Doctor, Dr Eva Melegh: Your Ultimate Guide to Managing Heat-Induced Skin Issues

With temperatures soaring, countless individuals will face skin issues that may be unfamiliar to them. The extreme heat doesn’t discriminate; it can unleash a range of skin concerns on anyone—regardless of their skin history.

Dermatologist Dr Eva Melegh boldly sheds light on five common skin issues that can erupt in the heat and provides powerful strategies for tackling them head-on.

PLE is an aggressive allergic reaction to sunlight, resulting in a rash that could easily be mistaken for heat rash. It predominantly targets younger individuals, especially women, but early teen boys are also at risk—particularly on their ears. Fair-skinned individuals must tread carefully.

PLE rashes typically strike soon after sun exposure and usually resolve within 5-7 days, but brace yourself; they can flare up repeatedly over the coming weeks. Should the blisters burst or become scratched, the risk of infection looms large.

The hallmark of PLE is an unbearable itch that surfaces after exposure to the sun, often within mere hours or days.

The rash typically manifests as large, angry red patches adorned with tiny blisters that can ignite a burning sensation. Notably, PLE rashes can strike areas shielded from direct sunlight, like the chest, buttocks, and underarms, which are still vulnerable to the relentless heat. Ears are particularly susceptible to PLE, frequently presenting with small, itchy blisters.

Antihistamines can be your powerful ally in managing recurrent PLE rashes. Calamine lotion may provide relief from the maddening itch of blisters, and cool baths or showers can deliver much-needed comfort. For an extra edge, eliminate harmful bacteria from the affected area with Clarol Silver Serum (clarol.co.uk), which boasts a patented silver ingredient that repels harmful bacteria while nurturing beneficial ones, facilitating wound healing. If the rash escalates after a week, seek medical advice without delay.

Heat rash is a fierce skin response to excessive sweating, manifesting when sweat glands become clogged due to heat-induced inflammation of the skin pores. It is characterised by small, fiery red bumps that feel prickly and hot, surging swiftly on sun-exposed skin, particularly in humid and sweaty zones such as underarms, beneath breasts, on the neck, behind knees, and in elbow creases.

Approximately 30% of adults may battle heat rash, with an even higher incidence among babies and young children, whose sweat glands are still evolving and may struggle to regulate temperature as effectively as those of adults. Heat rash thrives in hot and humid conditions.

To conquer heat rash, swiftly shed any tight or sweaty clothing and cool the skin by seeking shade. If possible, take a cool shower—gently rinsing the affected skin without scrubbing. Ensure the area is thoroughly dried before donning fresh clothes and steer clear of heavy moisturisers or sun creams until the rash has vanished.

Once the rash has retreated, gently exfoliate the affected areas to banish any lingering dead skin cells. You might want to try Clarol Silver & Birch Exfoliating Wash (skinshop.co.uk), which features birch bark extracts that gently cleanse clogged pores and a patented silver ingredient that curbs the growth of harmful bacteria while nurturing beneficial bacteria.

Sun cream allergies can strike due to a potent mix of factors, including heightened skin sensitivity from heat, sweat mingling with sun cream ingredients, chlorine from pools reacting with those ingredients, and extreme heat destabilising sun cream components, making them more reactive.

Sun cream allergies typically erupt as a vivid red rash at the site of the reaction, which can become inflamed and intensely uncomfortable. The areas around the eyes, face, and neck are particularly vulnerable to these reactions.

Sun creams containing chemical filters and fragrances can become dangerously unstable in high heat. To lower the risk of sun cream allergies, opt for mineral sun creams that create a physical barrier against the sun’s rays instead of relying on chemical filters. These typically contain fewer chemicals, making them less likely to provoke a reaction. Zinc Oxide emerges as the most stable mineral SPF, perfect for sensitive skin. Consider using Kalme Day Defence SPF40 (kalme.co.uk), which is low in chemical ingredients and enriched with pure zinc oxide alongside natural anti-inflammatory components.

Applying a barrier cream beneath sun creams can further minimise the risk of reactions. Kalme Undercoat (skinshop.co.uk) is an innovative lightweight cream designed to be used under sun creams and cosmetics to diminish skin reactions, featuring a patented ingredient that helps soothe skin sensitivity.

Sweat chaffing ignites when skin becomes irritated and inflamed due to friction, often caused by skin rubbing against skin coupled with sweat and heat. This can lead to swelling and disrupt the skin’s surface, allowing sweat to seep into the abrasions and provoke a skin reaction, resulting in raw, red skin and a painful burning sensation.

To thwart sweat chaffing, ditch tight clothing and opt for sweat-absorbing, anti-friction materials. Rinsing off salt and sand after swimming can also help prevent chaffing, along with regular showers to wash away sweat.

Dusting talc in areas prone to chaffing can keep the skin drier. An anti-chaff balm slathered on vulnerable areas, especially before physical activity, can also offer significant relief.

For sensitive areas like between the buttocks, labia region, and groin folds, it’s crucial to use skincare products specifically crafted for these regions, free from chemicals, fragrances, alcohol, or petroleum. Consider In2mate Moisturiser and In2mate Wash (in2mate.co.uk), which are over 99.9% natural and packed with prebiotics to aid in skin repair from minor abrasions while helping to curb bacterial and fungal growth.

The scalp is often neglected in the scorching heat, yet it’s a vulnerable battlefield. Not only is it easy prey for sunburn, but it also tends to accumulate sweat as the body dumps heat through the head.

This makes contact scalp dermatitis from sweat alarmingly common in extreme heat, even among those who typically enjoy a trouble-free scalp.

Sweaty scalp dermatitis can masquerade as dandruff, as the scalp becomes irritated and itchy, leading to dryness from sunburn and inflammation, compounded by reactions to chemicals from regular shampoos and pool chlorine, resulting in flaking. However, this differs from typical dandruff, which is caused by a fungal infection. The key distinction is that scalp dermatitis often presents with relentless itchiness and small, white flakes.

It’s vital to understand that anti-dandruff shampoos will not tackle scalp dermatitis and may worsen the condition.

Chemicals and fragrances in regular shampoos can also exacerbate the problem, so switching to a shampoo and scalp treatment specifically formulated for scalp dermatitis is crucial. Consider Hydrosil Scalp Shield Shampoo and Scalp Shield Tonic (hydrosil.co.uk), which features natural plant steroids to combat inflammation and itching, alongside a prebiotic to fortify the scalp barrier, and is free from fragrances and chemicals. The tonic is especially powerful as it’s a leave-in formula, delivering ongoing relief for hours.