Skin10 min
Sandalwood and multani mitti cooler for prickly heat (ghamoriya)
Those tiny, itchy red bumps that pop up on the back, neck and chest in humid weather are prickly heat. A cool paste of sandalwood or multani mitti, loose cotton clothes and staying cool usually settle them in a few days.
The Ayurvedic view
Prickly heat happens when sweat ducts get blocked and sweat is trapped under the skin. In Ayurvedic terms it's a classic pitta rash — heat plus moisture. Chandan (sandalwood) has been treasured in India for centuries for its cooling, fragrant touch, and multani mitti (fuller's earth) absorbs excess sweat and oil. Keeping the skin cool and dry matters just as much as anything you apply.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon pure sandalwood powder, or 1 tablespoon multani mitti
- Rose water or plain cool water to mix
- Optional: 1 teaspoon fresh aloe vera gel
How to prepare
- Mix the powder with enough rose water to form a smooth paste; stir in aloe vera if using.
How to use
- Take a cool shower, pat dry and apply a thin layer on the rash.
- Rinse off with cool water after 15 minutes, before it dries hard. Use once or twice a day.
Helpful habits
- Wear loose, light cotton; change out of sweaty clothes quickly.
- Use a fan or cooler and sleep in a well-ventilated room.
- Avoid heavy creams and oils on the rash, which block pores further.
- Drink plenty of fluids such as water, buttermilk and coconut water.
Precautions
- Patch-test first; stop if the skin feels tight, burns or itches more.
- For babies, keep them cool and lightly dressed and ask a paediatrician before applying pastes.
- See a doctor if the bumps fill with pus, become painful, the rash spreads, or if there is fever — which may indicate infection or heat illness.
