do you always suffer from it, if not it could be down to your sun tan lotion. I never normally suffer, but one year I had a very bad dose and I put it down to the Nivea sun tan lotion, I've not used it since and have never suffered since.
I dont know I went abroad 8 years ago and it did it then only on my stomach, never get my tummy out over here so wouldnt no if I always suffer. It may have well been the lotion I had at the time, whats best to use?
two of my friends used to get this but now use piz buin oil free suntan lotion and also one (whose was particularly bad) takes piriton. They have had no problem with it for a while - the key is oil free suntan lotion, does not have to be piz buin but for them it is tried and tested.
Quite honestly 4get, I have never found a solution except to wear a very high factor sun lotion, i.e. factor 30 and keep out of the sun between 11.00 and 4.00. Keep as cool as possible because it's basically caused by blocked sweat glands (so, as advised, stay away from oily or greasy sun lotion).
Make sure you take some antihistamine cream as well as the tablets.
Go for a light tan, i.e. before 11.00 am and after 4.00pm. Walk about rather than lie in the sun getting hot and sweaty and have a long 'enjoyable' siesta;o) when the sun is at its hottest.
Prickly heat has ruined holidays for me when I was younger and more foolish!
I used to really suffer badly with this all over my body, but only ever got it when wearing sun lotion - the only one I have never had a reaction with is Piz Buin and i have tried most of the well known brands (off the top of my head I know I have used Ambre Solaire, Nivea and Soltan).
My friend was advised by a doctor (although this was about 4years ago and I doubt they would suggest this now) to have 2-3 sessions on a sunbed prior to going abroad as this would expose her skin to UV rays in short bursts and prepare her skin. She swears by it and still does it.
If none of the advice works and you still end up with prickly heat I was told to run a bath through a sock (tight / stocking sock) of porridge oats and it is supposed to help tremendously.
or Go to bar at 11.00am. Drink 'til lunchtime (under sunshade) , have a long leisurely lunch from 12.30 until 2.30 with more drink, sleep from 3.00 until 4.00.
it's one of those things that happens sometimes; it might be suntan cream that does it or it might not. But if the last time it happened was 8 years ago, it may never happen again (as I remember body cells all die after 7 years ago so you are a 100% different person from the one you were then). Take some piriton and perhaps antihistamine cream too just in case, but a one-off 8 years ago shouldn't be getting you too worried now. As a general principle, though, Lottie is right - mad dogs and Englishwomen go out in the midday sun; have a long lunch somewhere and avoid the hottest part of the day.
I had this 4get while I was away. You are meant to start taking anti-histamines a few days before you go. You can get a calcium based gel from the chemists which soothes the itching. I had it on my back and chest and had to wear a t-shirt so the sun couldn't get to it. It was ok after a day and one day of covering up was worth it to get rid of the itchiness! There is a sun tan lotion which costs nearly �20 which works at stopping it - I think its called clarins or claritin (not too sure). Where are you going anyway?
I hope you have a good time, I would just try everything going to try to prevent it. By the way mine seemed worse if I had been in swimming pool (must be to do with the chlorine irritating it) so try and rinse off when you get out too x