Quick answer
Itchy red bumps and prickling in the summer heat? That is prickly heat (ghamachi) — blocked sweat ducts. Here is how to treat and prevent it in Bangladesh, and what actually cools the skin.
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Shop oily-skin products →The short answer
The core fix for prickly heat (ghamachi) is to keep the skin cool and cut down sweating: shade or a fan/AC, cool showers, loose cotton clothing, and keeping the area dry. For the itch, calamine lotion or a chilled aloe vera gel (such as Bring Green Aloe 97% Soothing Gel) helps. Do not scratch, and do not put heavy creams or oils on it. Once the sweating stops, mild prickly heat usually clears on its own within a few days.
What prickly heat actually is
Prickly heat (heat rash, ঘামাচি) happens when, in hot and humid weather, the openings of the sweat ducts get blocked and sweat is trapped under the skin. You get:
- Small red bumps, sometimes tiny clear blisters
- A prickling, pins-and-needles feeling and itching that gets worse when you sweat
- Usually on the back, chest, neck, throat, underarms, waist, skin folds and anywhere clothes are tight
It is very common in the Bangladesh heat, especially on the muggy days from April to September. It gets worse when load-shedding stops the fan, on a crowded bus, or after a full day in office clothes. Children, heavier people and those who work in the sun get it more.
Why it happens
- Heavy sweating that cannot dry. In humid air sweat does not evaporate; it sits on the skin.
- Tight or synthetic clothing. Polyester or tight jeans trap sweat.
- Heavy creams, oils or thick lotions. Mustard oil or a heavy body butter in the heat blocks the path for sweat.
- Lying in bed for long stretches, especially during a fever or illness.
How to treat it, step by step
- Cool the skin. A cool shower, or a cool damp cloth for a few minutes. Sit in shade or under a fan/AC. This is the real treatment.
- A gentle wash. Do not scrub again and again with a harsh antiseptic soap. A mild, fragrance-free cleanser such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser can be used on the body too.
- Pat dry. Press gently with a soft towel; do not rub.
- Calm the itch. Calamine lotion helps dry the bumps and cool the itch. Aloe vera gel kept in the fridge and applied thinly feels soothing; for large areas Pax Moly Aloe Vera Soothing Gel, or on a small budget Ribana Aloe Vera Gel.
- Keep the area dry. A very light dusting of powder in skin folds can give short-term relief, but if it clumps with sweat it blocks pores. Staying cool and dry works better than powder.
- Do not scratch. Scratching breaks the skin and can lead to infection. Keep children’s nails short.
Once heat and sweating come down, most mild prickly heat clears within a few days.
Products that help
Prices as of 27 September 2026; the product page shows the current price.
| Product | What it does | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bring Green Aloe 97% Soothing Gel | Cooling, calms itch | 300 ml | ৳1,634 |
| Pax Moly Aloe Vera Soothing Gel | Large areas on back and chest | 300 ml | ৳1,299 |
| Ribana Aloe Vera Gel | Budget, fits in a bag | 130 ml | ৳299 |
| Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser | Mild cleanser for face and body | 473 ml | ৳3,555 |
| Cetaphil Baby Wash & Shampoo | Bathing babies and young children | 230 ml | ৳1,699 |
When buying any gel, check it is low in alcohol and strong fragrance; both sting broken skin. You can also browse all verified products.
Prickly heat in children: for parents
Children sweat more and cannot change their own clothes, so they get prickly heat more often.
- Dress them in thin, loose cotton; do not bundle them in layers.
- Bathe them once or twice a day in lukewarm-to-cool water with a mild baby wash, then dry them well.
- Go easy on heavy oil massages in the heat.
- Do not apply any medicated cream to a child’s rash on your own; if there is fever, pus or spreading, see a paediatrician.
Preventing prickly heat
- Loose, thin cotton clothes. Change out of sweat-soaked clothes as soon as you can; keep a spare vest at office or class.
- Shower, or at least rinse with water, after sweating.
- No heavy oils or creams on the body in the heat. A light gel or lotion is enough.
- Drink water and avoid the harsh midday sun.
- At night, keep the room as cool as you can; a thin sheet and cotton pillowcases.
- For face and whole-skin care in the heat, pair this with the summer routine.
Prickly heat or something else?
Small, uniform itchy bumps on the back and chest that last for weeks may be fungal acne rather than prickly heat; see fungal acne from sweat. For larger pus-filled spots, see back and body acne.
Common mistakes
- Caking powder onto the rash and leaving it on all day.
- Scrubbing with harsh soap several times a day.
- Using a steroid or antibiotic cream on your own to stop the itch.
- Spending all day in tight jeans and synthetic clothes.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if the bumps become painful or pus-filled, spread quickly, come with a fever, or do not ease within a few days despite staying cool; it may be an infection that needs treatment. Dizziness, nausea or sweating that suddenly stops in the heat are signs of heatstroke; get medical help immediately.
Buy verified
At TheSkinProof every product is batch-code checked against the importer invoice, with 2× money-back if a product is proven counterfeit. To find the right routine for your skin, take the skin quiz.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to use a moisturizer on oily skin that has prickly heat?
Yes, a light water-based or gel moisturizer is fine, but avoid heavy oil-based creams since they can clog pores and make prickly heat worse. Apply it on slightly damp skin right after a shower.
Where can I buy an original calamine lotion or aloe gel in Bangladesh?
Buy from a seller who can show the importer's invoice and batch number for the product. Checking this before you pay protects you from fake stock sold in the same packaging.
How can I tell if an aloe vera gel or calamine lotion is genuine?
Check that the batch code matches between the box and bottle, the seal is intact, and the print on the label looks sharp rather than blurry. A sudden change in texture or smell compared to a previous bottle is also a warning sign.