Anyone ever get a bad rash on their legs when they walk in the heat?

[sherry7]

Hi DIS'ers. Weird question, but here goes. Yesterday, DS and I went to a local amusement park. It was hot (around 85) and extremely humid. By about mid-afternoon, I had developed an itchy red rash on both of my legs. What's strange is that it is only on the inside of my legs, at the lower part of the calf. It did not spread any higher on my legs, nor did it develop on the outside of my legs. Last year, when we were in Williamsburg, VA I got this same exact thing, on the same exact part of my legs. Hydrocortisone does not help. Neither does Benadryl gel or Aveeno ointment.

A couple of months ago I read a thread on this same topic but can't find it now. Does anyone else get this? Does anyone know what causes it? What type of medication, either over the counter or prescription, has helped you? This seems to be some type of heat related thing, so I would like to be prepared before we take our September trip to Disney. Thanks in advance.

[jesdmill1]

My Mom got this last year at WDW. The people in first aid suggested: wearing shoes with socks, lots of high spf sunscreen on legs, and applications of aloe gel and using diuretics if your legs swell really badly. They said its caused by sun reflecting off of pavement onto your legs. They called it the "Disney rash" but I guess you can get it at any park!

[sewnmomma]

I also got this rash at WDW in Oct 1999. I went to First Aid Station,& was given a lotion to put on my legs. They also suggested wearing long pants,& hydrocortisone.I don't remember what the lotion was, but it helped.

[tinkerbell1967]

Yes, I get it everytime we go to Disney and it is hot. The hydrocortisone usualy works for me though!

[tink2dw]

We always make sure to get Sunscreen on our calfs from ground to the height of shorts and under the chin. that reflected sun is the worsest!!

[sherry7]

Thanks for the replies. More advice anyone?

[adamak]

Actually, I got that almost every summer, walking around in the heat. Doesn't matter if I wear shorts or long pants. I think I read it somewhere that it's allergy... or something about blood pressure. (Yeah, I know..... kind of 2 different things)

I would like to know the cure too. I have tried sunscreen, ointment, anti-itch everything... but no luck. I found that once I get cooled off, my legs are fine again. So I was just avoiding walking around in the heat.

[skeezixspud]

Polymorphic light eruption. One of those nebulous terms that describes the effect without specifying the cause. I did find a decent laymen's explanation on a British medical website.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/lighteruption.htm

I find that taking oral antihistamines for the whole vacation period, plus a couple of days before and after, helps me avoid it. Of course, I also put sunblock on with a trowel. I find that once I get it, I have to let it run its course, so prevention is the best strategy.

[beans]

Hi Sherry7,

Last summer when we were down there, I developed this really terrible rash on both bottom half of my legs! I thought at first it was poison ivy, but then it didn't make sense that I would come in contact with this stuff in the park. Then, I thought it was a reaction to the chemicals that they put in the water for the water rides (especially at IOA...we had just gone to the park the previous day.) When I realized that it was an awful heat rash, I got some clear caladryl and put it on in the mornings before going to the parks and a brought a small tube of benydryl to put on my legs whenever I felt the rash getting very warm and the itching was going to act up. That seemed to help, but it took a while for the rash to clear when I got home. The other thing that I think contributed to the heat rash was that I would put a moisturizer on my legs before heading out. Needless to say, I didn't do this the rest of the time I was at DW. Now, I'm not even going to try to put moisturizer or sunscreen on my legs when we are down there in later on this month. Hope this helps.

[juliebelle]

my dear mother got this and she was 77 at the time, so she spent almost the whole week in bed at Port Oleans...she was very miserable, with itching and burning on both of her lower legs. We felt so bad for her, but she said laying on the bed with the cool air around her made her feel better. We tried all sorts of lotions to help her, but nothing worked, just time made it heal up eventually. This sure is a strange thing to have happened.

[Mouser]

My Mom who is in her 70s also got a bad case of it one year at WDW....she is very prone to sun burn and has high blood pressure and is on a lot of medications. She can no longer wear shorts of any type there as her legs get covered with this icky red rash...It did not clear up when she got home so she saw her doctor, he said it is a few things..all which cause it. First and foremost it is heat rash caused by the suns rays bouncing off the pavement in Florida and it can of course do it in other places too, mostly in the hotter months. The heat radiates up and hits your legs, causing a heat rash to develop. Those most prone to it are those who are sun sensitve and who sun burn easily even with sun screen. It is often made worse by the fact people are on antibiotics or maintenance drugs which cause more sensitivity to the sun and heat anyway...Best preventive is sun screen and to wear socks, not just shoes or sneakers. Sandals often make it worse as more of your foot is exposed to the suns rays...My Mom combatted it by wearing long pants and white socks, she also used a sun screen on her legs under the pants and she put a moisturier then on her legs when she got back to her room in the evening..this seemed to work well for her.

I have also had it on occassion, and we called it Disney Heat RAsh at the time.....I have seen so many in the parks with it over the years, it is truley epidemic there I think....:( :( :(

[sherry7]

Thanks for the advice. I still have it on my legs from this past Saturday. It is starting to improve, but it still looks pretty nasty. I don't think I could stand wearing pants in the parks. I would be way too hot. I actually take 2 different prescription drugs that can make me more susceptible to sunlight. I don't usually put sunscreen on my legs, but I will try that to see if it helps. I have not tried Caladryl yet, perhaps that may help.

[DaddyDon]

Maybe i may offer a suggestion, I work in a factory @110 heat year round,so i know alittle of rashes and some things that work for me and some of my co-workers.destin diaper rash cream helps as does seebreeze,cortizone helps with some rashes,wear lite loose fitting clothes,lite in color helps.I hope this helps.

[sherry7]

DaddyDon....I did not even think of diaper rash cream. I will pick up some tomorrow and see if it helps. Thanks!

[#1MMFan]

My mum gets this each year in the summer. Obviously some sort of heat rash also aggravated by dependency of the legs. Sometimes wakes her up during the night - burning, itching etc. Quite unsightly - I didn't realise so many folks got it! I must tell her so as to put her at ease next time (fingers crossed!).

Does anyone get those awful lumps from mosquito bites (at least that's what I think causes them). They go soooo itchy and hard and red and just stay as a lump for weeks. Benadryl kinda soothes them for a bit but they are also so unsightly.

Being medically qualified I guess I should know about these things, but dermatology was never my favourite subject, yeuch!!

John :bounce:

[DaddyDon]

You are so welcome but dont forget about the seabreeze,Believe it or not it does really work!!!!!!!:D Its not just for teenagers,

[CARRIE0604]

I JUST FLIPPED WHEN I FOUND THIS TOPIC TODAY. WENT TO POLY NOV OF 00' AND GOT A NASTY RASH THE 2ND DAY. I HAVE SENSATIVE SKIN AND ALSO TAKE MEDS SO I CHALKED IT UP TO THAT. THOUGHT I WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN. NEVER THOUGHT
ABOUT THE PAVEMENT REFLECTING THE SUN (I ALWAYS WERE SPF30 ). I'M GOING AGAIN TO BWV IN OCT OF THIS YEAR I THINK I WILL WEAR PANTS IN THE MORNING/AFTERNOON WHEN SUN IS MOST INTENSE AND THEN SHORTS MAYBE AFTER 4 OR 5 PM MAYBE THAT GAME PLAN WILL WORK. IT TOOK 2 OR 3 DAYS AFTER I GOT HOME (MIDWEST) FOR THE RASH TO GO AWAY
AND I VISITED THE FIRST AID OFFICE AT EPCOT AND MK AND CALAMINE AND BENADRYL AND NEITHER HELPED ME.

[Michele]

#1MMFan,

My 6yo son gets those red hard bumps with mosquito bites. I just assumed he is somehow allergic to them. They last for at least a week.

I use maximum strength cortaid on them, and that seems to help. But most of all I try to keep him from getting bitten. He is always getting sprayed with bug repellant and I bought Cutter bug repellant wipes to carry with us in WDW.

[#1MMFan]

Michele

Where do I get the cortaid and the cutter wipes? I'm from Scotland so they'll be different brands over here. I take it cortaid is some sort of topical hydrocortisone? What are the cutter wipes? We took extra strength bug spray last time, but it made no difference. Looking forward to trying to book a holiday in January. In Jan 2001 I didn't get any nasty bites... must have been a good time to go!

John

[Michele]

John-

You're right, the Cortaid is topical 1% hydrocortisone anti-itch cream. I got it at our local drug store. The company that makes it is Pharmacia & Upjohn.

As far as the wipes go, I cannot attest to their effectiveness yet. I usually use Off! spray, but I thought that would be hard to carry around WDW so I am going to try these wipes. I got them at the same drug store.

[DaddyDon]

Okay im just a south ga boy what do i know ?You may think i just fell off the turnip truck,HA HA.Oh im sorry that was the watermelon truck! try some meat tenderizer, it breaks down the protien that they inject into u., Well it works in south Ga, maybe it will work 4 u in scotland good luck,and let me know if it helps,if not just call me a south ga reneck.

[Laurajean1014]

You mean like "Adolf's Meat tenderizer?" Do you apply it when your skin is wet? Will I look like I have salt on me??? Tell us more, please.

[DaddyDon]

Yes thats the one,Wet it a little to make a paste, and apply to bite ! It works great on BEE and Wasp bites,I read this in some first aid manual somewhere,And yes you will be able to see it on your self,But the manner that it works is to break down the protiens|bites, stings,The protien is the matter that you have a reaction too,Im no doctor ican only say it does work!And the name brand makes no matter.:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[leanne2255]

I swear by Gold Bond powder. I put that on my legs in the summertime, and am not bothered by heat rash.

[iwannago!!]

oh boy.. where to start..
first experience was in Mexico.. itchy rash, I cried to my now hubby because 'I ruined vacation' mexico pharmacies have 5% hydrocortisone... didn't help.
2nd experience was WDW - emergency room, shot of cortisone (in my butt, it hurt) and prescription strength benedryl and a 'cortisone pack' pills for a week.. NO CREAM.. Cream traps the histimines and they can't escape so the itch is made worse..
Cold showers.. oatmeal baths.. NO CREAM, NO ALOE.. Benedryl...

We think it might have been the sunblock.. now I ONLY wear Neutorgena (sp??) oil free, everything free... and Copertone hypo allergenic.

NO PABA - NO NOTHING..

SO, we leave tonight.. and what do you know.. I left my benedryls (prescription) at home - so I will be leaving work early to run home and get them.. NO CHANCING it at WDW this weekend!!

[Serena]

I get this rash any time I'm in the sun any length of time. And I get it everywhere. Then it goes to blisters.
It put a major crimp in my vacation last year.

Be careful.

[jjsmom]

I couldn't believe this post when I saw it!! YES!! It happened to me in June. I am not susseptible (sp) to rashes or skin allergies, so when I saw my legs after day 2, I was quite shocked. Bumps were everywhere from my ankles to my thighs. DH & I were grasping at straws trying to figure out where it came from. Here are some theories, neither of which seem to be the correct answer. (1)Use of cheap, poor quality disposible razor without shaving cream (We only took a trial size can, barely enough for DH's face). (2) Excessive perspiration irritating the legs and creating an environment for bacteria to thrive (bacteria picked up from ride and restaurant seats). (3) Allergic reaction to Disney soap (I don't really buy this one-I've used Dis soap on many other trips)

Anyway, it looked and felt horrible and took nearly a week after the trip to clear up. My only relief on the trip was soaking in a warm tub. Next time, I will pack the bendryl and cortisone cream.

I love these boards!! Just when you think you're "all alone" with certain Disney experiences, along come others who have "been there done that".

Thanks.

[sherry7]

Oh my, when I started this thread I never imagined that there would be this many people who had this problem. I have taken all of your suggestions to heart, and went to Wal-Mart and bought every single remedy that each of you suggested. I think I'll need almost a whole suitcase for my leg-rash kit. ;) Thanks for all of the advice. Keep it coming! :D

[grammy3princesses]

we were in WDW the end of August and my DH got a rash from the tops of his sox to his knees.

I told him that people on this board were complaining about the same thing. He is skeptical when i mention the source of all my Disney knowledge.

This is what he came up with -- As we were walking and had hands full, he scratched his legs with his foot. So he feels that something on the bottom of his shoes caused the rash on the legs since it was not on arms or face etc.

Does this make sense? Maybe the combination of sweat and whatever from bottom of your shoes could cause a reaction. We were at the resort store buying balmex, hydrocortisone and anything they had in sight to releave the itch.


jo

[elgerber]

We just got back, and I had heard so much about the leg rash, so I told dh to make sure to get sunscreen all over your legs. Much to my surprise, my rash showed up on my arms and shoulders, and next to my sandal straps. It only itched on the back of one hand,but we have been home for 3 1/2 days, and I still have bumps all over my arms and some on my legs. Very strange. I went to the first aid stations twice, and both people said it was a reaction to sunscreen. It's the same that I have used at home, but I am not using that kind again, just in case. It got worse in the sun, and after the pool everyday. It did not come close to ruining my vacation, but it sure was irritating, and I looked a little odd LOL.

Erika

[K9pal]

I almost fell out of my chair when I read this thread!! I get this every summer when it gets hot and humid for several weeks at a time. Never have found anyone else who had it, just assumed I was weird! I use a prescription strength cortisone cream on mine.

[sherrie]

i had read awhile ago that this could be caused by something that they clean the pavement with reflecting on your legs. i have had this rash both times at Disney and never anywhere else. it does not itch just big red blotches from socks to edge of shorts.

[CathyScotland]

Skeesixspud above is absolutely correct. I have had this on and off for years whenever I go on vacation. It's always gone away by the time I get home to Washington, DC and I never have been able to show a doctor. But, this year in Hawaii it happened and I went to the hotel doctor who told me it was POLYMORPHOUS LIGHT SENSITIVITY and used the term "eruption." He said the problem was going RAPIDLY from dark to light and said next time to try to get some sun ahead of time. I'm not a sun-worshipper but anything is better than all that burning and itching! We're going in January to WDW so I better start now! LOL!

Good luck everybody!

[Poohbear123]

I have seen LOTS of People with this rash in WDW and Always wondered why these peoples legs looked SOOO bad! About 5 months ago, I read a thread on this and they called it "Tourists Rash" because the people that would get this rash were ALL from the NORTH! I am born and raised in Fl. and Have NEVER gotten it. Good luck to you all, and hope it does not bother you too much, you might try going to WDW in the Winter Months! (Dec, Jan. Feb).;)

[elgerber]

I was reading our Minneapolis paper yesterday and came across a daily column where apparently in his Wed. column, he happened to mention a rash he got on his legs at our State Fair. It generated a flood of calls and e-mails from people who have had the same thing, both at our fair and when on vacation in other places LOL. I guess it is not strictly a Disney thing.

Erika