Prickly heat is a condition that one gets in the extreme summer months and it is not only irritating, but can also turn painful. The most common procedure that people follow is to go to a store and get some anti prickly heat lotion or powder and use it for some temporary relief.

However, such treatment rarely gets rid of the rashes. The condition normally persists till the cooler temperatures take over.

The word is, often these over the counter medications for prickly heat contain several chemicals that can give side effects and sometimes, depending upon the sensitivity of the skin, can aggravate the situation. Here the herbal medicines are quite reliable as they neither use harsh materials nor do they leave any side effects. In fact, it is recommended that those with sensitive skin use herbal products.

If you get prickly heat, the first thing to do is to get the heat out of the body and make sure that the pores of the skin are open. Cold shower and cold compress on the affected areas is a good first aid for prickly heat. Never use any greasy moisturizer in this situation. Aloe vera is very effective in treatment of prickly heat. It can soothe the affected areas very fast with its anti inflammatory property and its zinc content helps in drying up the blisters that often accompany prickly heat.

You can use the essential oils of lavender and chamomile. They are quite effective in any skin problems including prickly heat. These are so gentle on the skin that they can be used on the children also. Lavender can soothe and cool down the skin. You can use lavender directly on the skin for relief. Honey, though sticky in feeling, is an effective coolant. It also replenishes the sugar lost by the skin due to sun.

Finally, there is no better alternative to diet if you want to stay fit. It is true for preventing prickly heat too. Include lots of fluid in your daily diet in summer. You can even choose juicy fruits like watermelon, pineapple, cucumber and herbs like fresh mint, lemongrass, etc for keeping you cool from within.