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Home » Topics A–Z » Miliaria
Author: Dr Amanda Oakley, Dermatologist, Hamilton, New Zealand, 1997. Updated by Dr Anita Eshraghi, Dermatologist, Sweden. February 2018. Revised September 2020
Miliaria is a common skin disease caused by blockage and/or inflammation of eccrine sweat ducts. Miliaria is frequently seen in hot, humid, or tropical climates, in patients in hospital, and in the neonatal period. Miliaria is also known as sweat rash or prickly heat.
Based on the level of the sweat duct obstruction, miliaria is divided into three types:
Miliaria
Miliaria can affect all age groups and racial groups.
Miliaria results from sweating. The main contributing causes are:
Other diseases and treatments that have been associated with miliaria are:
Complications of miliaria include:
Miliaria is diagnosed on its typical clinical presentation.
In severe cases or repeated episodes, punch biopsy can be useful. Miliaria crystallina shows vesicles associated with the sweat ducts within or just under the stratum corneum of the epidermis. Histology of miliaria rubra shows spongiosis and spongiotic vesicles.
Tzanck smear taken from vesicles will distinguish miliaria from herpes simplex or toxic erythema of the newborn.
Skin disorders presenting with papules, vesicles, or pustules that look similar to miliaria include:
Resolution of miliaria requires minimising heat and humidity to reduce sweating and the avoidance of irritation to the skin. Strategies to avoid sweating and reduce irritation follow.
Treatment of miliaria may include:
Most cases of miliaria resolve within a day or two after changing to a cooler environment without any treatment or complications.
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