Skip to main content
  • About Canesten
  • FAQ
  • Contact
Home
  • Skin & Foot Health
    Skin & Foot Health
    • CONDITIONS
      Feel good in your skin
      • Athlete's Foot
      • Nail Fungal Infection
      • Jock Itch
      • Ringworm
      • Sweat Rash
      • Fungal nappy rash
    • LEARNING ZONE
      • Learn all about athlete’s foot
      • Understanding nail fungal infection
      • Everything to know about jock itch
      • Facts about ringworm
      • Find out more about sweat rash
      • Practical tips for skin and foot hygiene
      • Fungal nappy rash
      • What is Canespro® Once-Daily?
      • What are the symptoms that Canespro® Once-Daily can treat?
      • Bifonazole vs Other Azoles
  • INTIMATE HEALTH
    INTIMATE HEALTH
    • CONDITIONS
      • Thrush
    • LEARNING ZONE
      • All you need to know about thrush and pregnancy
      • Effective Treatment of Vaginal
      • Thrush in men
      • Vaginal health: what you need to know
      • What is Thrush
      • Thrush Trivia Quiz
  • Canesten
    • Canesten Antifungal Cream Clotrimazole 1%
    • Canespro® Once Daily Bifonazole
    • Canesten Gyn 6 day Therapy Vaginal Tablet 100 mg
  • Where To Buy
Bayer Cross Logo
  1. Home
  2. Skin & Foot Health
  3. Learning Zone
  4. Find out more about sweat rash
Muscular man with white towel around neck happy after Canesten heat rash treatment

Find out more about sweat rash

Find out what a sweat rash is and its causes, and who are most at risk of suffering from the condition. Learn about the symptoms, treatment options and prevention methods of a sweat rash.

What is sweat rash?

A sweat rash (also known as intertrigo) can be itchy and painful, but it is not contagious. It is an inflammatory skin condition that causes a reddish rash to appear between the folds of your skin, areas of skin which rub together, and areas of skin where there is less air circulation.1

You will normally see it under your arms, in the crease of your neck, on the back of your knees, under your breasts, in the groin area and between abdominal skin folds.2 The area between your skin folds are warm and moist, which creates a welcome environment for skin fungus to grow.

A sweat rash is often accompanied by a fungal infection known as Candidiasis, which is caused by Candida yeast, as well as other types of fungi or bacteria.

What causes sweat rash?

The factors that can cause or worsen your skin inflammation include: moisture, heat, lack of air circulation and friction between skin folds. Additionally, sweat, urine and faeces can contribute to this condition.

Who is at risk at getting a sweat rash?

You are more likely to get a sweat rash if you:

  • are overweight

  • have diabetes

  • have a weakened immune system due to chemotherapy or HIV

  • have a splint, brace or artificial limb

  • are exposed to high heat and humidity

  • use clothing and shoes that are too tight

  • are confined to bed for a long period of time 3,4

Sweat rash is common during the dry season, and can affect you frequently if you play sports regularly. Infants often get this fungal infection because of their chubbiness, short necks and flexed posture. While adorable, those baby skin folds are ideal for moisture to collect, so it’s important to clean them regularly.5

Sweat rash symptoms

Intertrigo starts as a red rash or small bumps or spots in your skin folds. After that you can experience symptoms such as:

  • red rash with scaling on the periphery

  • stinging or burning sensation on the skin

  • broken skin (in the space between fingers or toes)

  • blisters

If it is not infected, the rash is usually symmetrical. It can appear on both sides of your skin folds, under both arms or both breasts. The reddish area can quickly become inflamed and raw. Your skin may start to crack, bleed, ooze, and crust over, and the surrounding area may become scaly. 

If a secondary infection develops, which can be caused by bacteria, fungus or yeast, the intertrigo will become more inflamed, and may develop a foul-smelling odour.6,7

Canesten

Sweat rash treatment

The treatment of intertrigo will depend on if it is just an inflammatory condition or if you also have an infection. If your skin is only showing the signs of inflammation (such as redness, itching or burning), you can use a cream that is anti-inflammatory. If you have a sweat rash that is accompanied by infection, you should treat it with a topical antifungal medication.8

Canesten®️ provides a range of products that contain active ingredients that will be suitable to treat each fungal infection, depending on the severity of your symptoms:

Keep an infected area cool, clean and dry to avoid sweat rash.

You should see a doctor if your symptoms persist. You might also need to seek advice on how to lose weight if your condition is caused by obesity. For cases of bacterial infection, your doctor might prescribe an oral antibiotic.

If you are pregnant or elderly, antifungal medication might not be suitable for you. Your doctor can recommend an alternative treatment.9

Preventing sweat rash

You can try and lower the risk of getting intertrigo. These tips can help you:

  • Keep your skin cool, dry and exposed to air.

  • Pat rather than rub your skin. Dry-rubbing may damage your skin and spread infection.

  • Always wash your hands after applying a treatment to avoid spreading infection.

  • Clean your skin gently, moisturise or apply a skin barrier protectant cream.

  • Use fragrance-free soaps and other skin products to minimise irritation.

  • Don’t wear tight clothing or shoes that can constrict the affected area. If your toes are affected, wear open-toe shoes.

  • Avoid tight-fitting clothes that may rub your skin and choose natural fabrics like cotton as compared to synthetic fibres like lycra and nylon, as the latter reduces the amount of air which reaches the skin.10,11

REFERENCES:

  1. Causes, in: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/intertrigo
  2. What causes intertrigo?, in: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/intertrigo
  3. History and Physical & Treatment and Management, in: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531489/
  4. Etiology and Predisposing Factors & Preventing Recurrent Infections, in: Kalra, M. et al. op. cit.
  5. Etiology & Epidemiology, in: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531489/
  6. Clinical Manifestations, in: Kalra, M.: op. cit/
  7. Symptoms, in: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/intertrigo
  8. Treatment / Management, in: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531489/
  9. History and Physical & Consultations, in: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531489/
  10. History and Physical & Treatment and Management, in: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531489/
  11. Preventing Recurrent Infections, in: Kalra, M. et al. op. cit.

Related Articles

Smiling man in white T-shirt happy after Canesten jock itch treatment

Everything to know about jock itch

Find out about jock itch and its causes. Learn about the symptoms, treatment options and prevention methods of a jock itch.

LEARN MORE
Closeup view of woman foot with beautiful and healthy nails after Canesten treatment

Understanding nail fungal infection

Fight the brittleness and thick discolouration of your toenails, which is caused by a nail fungal infection.

LEARN MORE
Smiling woman in white sweater happy after Canesten ringworm treatment

Facts about ringworm

Find out how ringworm spreads, its causes and who are most at risk of suffering from the condition. Learn about common ringworm symptoms, treatment options and prevention methods.

LEARN MORE
Clean and healthy female feet on white backdrop

Find out more about sweat rash

Find out what a sweat rash is and its causes, and who are most at risk of suffering from the condition. Learn about the symptoms, treatment options and prevention methods of a sweat rash.

LEARN MORE
Woman in shorts wearing white sneakers tying shoe

Learn all about athlete’s foot

Learn about athlete’s foot and how you can catch it. Find out about the symptoms of this fungal infection and how you can treat it. Discover tips on preventing athlete’s foot.

LEARN MORE
  • Conditions
    • Athlete's Foot
    • Nail Fungal Infection
    • Jock Itch
    • Ringworm
    • Sweat Rash
    • Learning Zone
    • Intimate Health
  • Discover Canesten Products
    • About Canesten
    • FAQ
    • Contact us
  • Where to Buy

Copyright © Bayer. All rights Reserved

  • Sitemap
  • Bayer Global
  • Condition of use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Imprint
  • L.SG.MKT.CC.11.2020.0475