How long will prickly heat last? Can I get rid of prickly heat overnight?
If you are looking for a natural way to soothe heat rash at home, you’ve come to the right place.
Read on to discover tips and a natural Aloe Vera lotion and shower gel for soothing prickly heat.
Quick answers:
- For a fast way to calm heat rash, get into the shade, take a cool shower and drink water
- Avoid scented skin care products
- Our best shower gel for prickly heat: Green People Scent Free Shower Gel
- Our best lotion for prickly heat: Green People Scent Free Body Lotion
- Always seek medical attention if your heat rash is severe, doesn't improve or if you become concerned by your symptoms
What is heat rash?
If your pores are blocked and your skin can’t release sweat, irritation builds beneath the surface, leading to an itchy, often painful rash, known as prickly heat or heat rash.
Prickly heat can affect anyone of any age. Our 2025 heat rash survey of 2,000 people showed that as many as 59% of Brits have experienced heat rash, with women being more likely to experience it than men[i].
The rash associated with prickly heat will start to fade as the body cools, but it can take a few days to disappear completely.
Our survey revealed that for most people, the symptoms of heat rash last for around 24-48 hoursI.
4 quick tips for calming heat rash fast
- SHADE: Sit in the shade and rehydrate by drinking plenty of water
- SHOWER: Using gentle, fragrance-free shower products, followed by a cooling Aloe Vera lotion
- LOOSEN UP: Help the skin breathe by wearing loose, light clothing.
- COOL: Keep the skin comfortable by applying a damp cloth to the affected area
Which shower gel to use for prickly heat?
If you are taking a cooling shower, we recommend our Scent Free Shower Gel as our best body wash for prickly heat.
With a soothing Aloe Vera base and no artificial fragrance or essential oils, this organic shower gel cleanses and calms the skin with gentle bubbles.
Scent Free Shower Gel 200ml
A hypoallergenic shower gel for gently cleansing ultra-sensitive skin
167,00 kr
Is Aloe Vera lotion good for prickly heat?
We’re often asked, “Is Aloe Vera lotion good for calming prickly heat rash?” and the answer is yes!
Aloe Vera has natural skin-soothing properties, making it an excellent natural ingredient for helping to calm heat-rash-prone skin.
It also has fantastic antiseptic and antibacterial properties, which can help reduce the likelihood of the rash becoming infected.
We use Aloe Vera as the base in our Scent Free Body Lotion. The NHS also recommends avoiding using scented products when trying to calm prickly heat, which makes this product our top-pick lotion for prickly heat.[ii]
Discover deep skin hydration with our soothing, fragrance-free body lotion
277,00 kr
Scent Free Body Lotion 150ml
Can you use SPF after a prickly heat flare-up?
Yes! Skipping essential protection is never a good idea and risks sunburn as well as long-term sun damage.
Despite this, our heat rash survey reveals that a quarter (25%) of Brits have avoided using suncream due to worries it will trigger irritation or a heat rash breakout. Worryingly, this rises to 64% of those who regularly experience heat rashi.
For a skin-soothing way to protect your skin from sun damage following a heat rash flare-up, choose Green People Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30.
Oh, so soothing for sensitive skin, this high factor, non-pore clogging SPF uses safe UV filters and is 100% fragrance-free. It's also dermatologically tested and clinically proven to be gentle on sensitive skin, making it the ideal SPF for skin that’s prone to heat rash.
Scent Free Sun Cream SPF30 200ml
Protect sensitive skin naturally with our best-selling SPF30 sun cream
310,00 kr
Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, explains why Scent Free SPF30 was developed, and how she ensured our best-selling Scent Free SPF30 was suitable for skin prone to prickly heat.
Why has my prickly heat rash flared up?
Are you wondering what caused your prickly heat to flare up?
Prickly heat is more likely to happen if your skin overheats. Individuals who sweat excessively can also be particularly prone to heat rash. This can explain why you may develop heat rash during a heatwave, as well as during menopause, pregnancy or if you become overweight.
- Prickly heat triggers include:
- Exercising in hot conditions
- Spending long periods outdoors in warm weather
- Wearing tight clothing that rubs against the skin
- Applying pore-clogging personal care products
Some sun creams and personal care products, such as deodorant and sun cream, are known to contain pore-clogging ingredients, which can block pores and lead to heat rash. Look out for:
- Mineral oils
- Silicones
- Petrochemicals
- Pore-clogging UV filters (Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, Octocrylene)
- Thick, greasy formulas
But you don’t have to worry about that with Green People. Loved by those prone to heat rash, our water-repellent sun creams are clinically proven to be gentle on the skin and enriched with effective UV filters that allow the skin to breathe.
Preventing heat rash
Keen to avoid further heat rash flare-ups? Here are some tips on what not to do when you have heat rash
Do not sunbathe. Now is not the time for tanning. Allow your skin to cool and recover before going back out in the sun.
Do not dress in tight clothes. Lycra leggings may feel comfortable, but they can rub against the skin, potentially aggravating your prickly heat rash. The best fabrics to wear when calming prickly heat are light, breathable fabrics, such as cotton
Do not do vigorous exercise, Going for a jog might help distract you from your heat rash, but it can cause the skin to overheat. Wait until your skin is calmer to achieve your workout goals or exercise indoors in a cool or air-conditioned room.
Do not use harsh skin care. Foaming agents and exfoliants can irritate your skin barrier and are best avoided. It is also a good idea to avoid heavily fragranced skin care products as these can irritate sensitive skin. Instead, stick to a unscented, non-pore clogging skin care routine that’s dermatologically tested and proven to be gentle on the skin.
When to see a doctor for heat rash
This information in this post is information only and should not be considered medical advice.
If your heat rash does not fade or you develop any other symptoms, follow NHS advice and seek medical advice from your GP or pharmacist.
We hope that you have found this guide to calming prickly heat rash helpful. If you’re prone to prickly heat and need help choosing an SPF for heat rash-prone skin, please get in touch with our friendly UK customer care team on 01403 740350. We’re always happy to help!
REVIEWED BY CHARLOTTE, FOUNDER OF GREEN PEOPLE
This blog post has been reviewed by Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, who has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry.
A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People’s Choice in the 2023 list of Who’s Who in Natural Beauty.
A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible ‘Naturally Gorgeous’. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
If you wish to republish this content, please credit Green People as the original creator with a link to 'How to calm a prickly heat rash flare-up.' Please do not use an affiliate link.
