Ankle rash during extended WDW vacations?

[Kirk]

Old thread (2003) but same question:

About 4 to 5 days into my stays at WDW I always seem to get a red, slightly itchy rash just above my ankles on the inside of my legs. It sounds like "prickly heat" or "heat rash" but seems like a weird place to get it. Anyone else get this kind of thing? What can you do to prevent it?

Once I start getting it things only get worse! Ointments, Aloe, lotions, double socks, sunblock, nothing seems to help! I wear shorts with tennis peds typically. The rash starts just above and to the rear of my inside ankle and spreads up and forward. It doesn't itch at first but does some once it has had a chance to spread.

Best I've been able to do is delay the onset by a day or 2 with double socks and 50 SPF block 3-5 times a day.

 

[kmb584]

Our last trip was the first time I got that and when I searched the internet I was surprised to find that it's referred to as the "Disney rash". It's essentially the result of the heat radiating off of the sidewalk and onto lower legs and ankles and aggravating the blood vessels.

 

[goofy4tink]

I get a 'rash' but it isn't particularly itchy. Mine is considered 'golfers vasculitis'. It's a circulatory issue that is more common in females that are over forty, fair skinned, and on the heavy side. Mine was also made worse by my b/p medications.
It usually happened about 4 days into my stay, especially in the warmer weather. It went away as soon as I was off my feet, out if the heat.
I believe there are several different types of lower leg rashes that occur at WDW though.

 

[Christine]

I also had t his last time I went and had to look it up.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I get a 'rash' but it isn't particularly itchy. Mine is considered 'golfers vasculitis'. It's a circulatory issue that is more common in females that are over forty, fair skinned, and on the heavy side. Mine was also made worse by my b/p medications.
It usually happened about 4 days into my stay, especially in the warmer weather. It went away as soon as I was off my feet, out if the heat.
I believe there are several different types of lower leg rashes that occur at WDW though.

Hi Kirk.

Yes, it is as Diane describes here above. I have had it a few times, exactly as you and her state.

This will give you some insight.....


https://www.google.com/search?q=gol...9i59j69i60&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8

 

[bdcp]

It's also something golfers get. It has to do with the heat/humidity and walking on the asphalt. I've had it on all our trips except for a couple in Nov where the temps were cooler. It's broken capillaries and not really a rash. It starts where my socks are on my ankles and slightly compress the skin. What I do is soak my feet in cold water and elevate them as much as possible. Otherwise, it's itchy, red and goes away after I've been home a couple of days.

 

[cvjw]

I have had this rash off and on over the years, but it got so bad on a trip in 2014 that I had to go to the emergency clinic by Downtown Disney. Mine was a severe case of "solar dermatitis". The Dr. put me on oral steroids and gave me a steroid cream. The rash was gone in a couple of days after that.

Now, I just take some steroid cream with me to Disney and use a little if I start to see the red bumps appear on my legs.

 

[disney world dreamer]

sounds like a vein related rash which easily occurs when you go from regular daily activities to typical disney world vacation activities such as excessive walking and standing for days on end.

 

[Lynne M]

Once it starts itching, I've found that benadryl is the only thing that helps. Apparently the reaction is like an allergy.

The key is prevention, once it gets started it's hard to get under control. I've found that using sunblock religiously keeps it from starting.

 

[Tinkerbell53]

Oh my gosh! Me too. I thought this only happened to me. On our last trip it got so bad it swelled and was almost purple. I had to wrap it up with an Ace bandage for the last couple of days because it was beyond using sunblock. I never remember to put sunblock there at the beginning of the vacation. We usually go in Jan/Feb or Nov and have a mild case but this April/May trip was the worst yet. I used aloe gel that seemed to help. Definitely will need to remember the sunblock from day one in the future though. I feel your pain literally.

 

[asta]

I get rashes like this that always start at my ankles when I take NSAIDs like Aleve, Advil or Mobic.

 

[Kimberle]

I have had this as well. Last July, I finally found a solution. I wore light fitting cotton pants that hit just above my ankles. I wore with socks (the kind diabetic's wear) and dusted my legs with Gold Bond power (to help with the sweating), and sneakers. I walked all over WDW and didn't get the "rash" at all.

I think the double socks are too heavy and add to the sweating. Try light socks that go above your ankle.

 

[goofy4tink]

sounds like a vein related rash which easily occurs when you go from regular daily activities to typical disney world vacation activities such as excessive walking and standing for days on end.

If it's the same thing I get, it's pretty much tied to that addtl walking around in the heat/humidity!!! Which is why it was tied to my b/p meds!! A circulatory thing evidently.
No itch, nothing you can do for it, other than elevate and stay off your feet. My ds told me I looked like I had leprosy!!!

 

[disney world dreamer]

If it's the same thing I get, it's pretty much tied to that addtl walking around in the heat/humidity!!! Which is why it was tied to my b/p meds!! A circulatory thing evidently.
No itch, nothing you can do for it, other than elevate and stay off your feet. My ds told me I looked like I had leprosy!!!

i've never actually had any issues but i've seen otherscomplaining that they have this rash and they don't know what it is.
then in april while on a solo trip to disney world i fell at DTD and went to urgent care to get stitches.
while i was there 2 different people came in with the same type of thing described on here and both people were told it was vein related from going from normal activities to disney activities.
they were both given a cream and told to elevate and soak in cool/cold water or to put cold compresses on.

 

[minnie mum]

I've seen several threads on this board over the years on this topic. The general consensus is that it is "golfers vasculitis". Usually self limiting and not requiring medical intervention, it goes away on its own. Here's just one article I found after a quick Google search: http://walking.about.com/od/medhot/a/legrash.htm

 

[twelve]

Yup, I get it everytime I visit. But I think mine is from Chiggers

 

[Micca]

Used to get that, but don't any longer. It didn't give me any pain or itching, so it was no big deal. With numerous trips under our belts, we don't stay in the parks as long as we used to, I suppose that has something to do with it.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

My brother get I as well, but mostly when they are golfing or walking a great deal in 1 day or 2 or 3 days.

AKK

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

I got it also, many times. I fit the fair, fat and over fourty/fifty rule, LOL.
Anyways the first time I got it I was nervous as it looked like some type of allergic reaction.It was red, puffy, raised,itchy and just on the inside of my ankles up to my calves. I think I went to the Nurses/First Aid Station the next day. She told me it was very common down there and rest it and elevate it with ice/cool cloths (if I remember correctly). I also remember that I thought I would possibly get a blood clot...but I don't think that's the case. I've had it at least 3-4 times.
I think it's a combination of sun, pooling blood in your lower legs/poor circulation. It did go away after I got home and rested with my legs up. Not looking forward to possibly getting it again this summer...but I know to elevate it with zip-lock ice-bags when I get back to the room to help prevent it from becoming a worsening case.

 

[NotUrsula]

There are actually two different conditions that people think of as "Disney rash."

Golfer's Vasculitis: or the so-called "sockline rash". That one is caused by unaccustomed walking, and can hit anyone who doesn't normally do a lot of walking in their daily lives. It is a form of edema, caused by swelling of the blood vessels in your feet and ankles, and the release of fluid leaking into your tissues. Wearing tight socks probably makes it worse, because they create a definite demarcation where the pressure on the capillaries in the foot ends. Best treatment for this one is to take an anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen before your start walking each day, plus soaking your feet/ankles in cold water and then elevating them for as long as possible whenever you can. I'd also advise thinking about switching to supportive sport sandals; they let your feet breathe better (and you can also detour for a few minutes into every splash fountain your encounter and cool off your feet!) The best thing to do is to try to prevent it by keeping your feet cool, because trying to treat it after it hits is much less effective.

Polymorphic Light Eruption (PLME) is a different condition that looks a lot the same, only no sock line, and it tends to be most common in fair-skinned middle-aged women who normally don't spend much time in the sun. This one is an allergic reaction to unaccustomed UV-B radiation in the semi-tropical Florida sun. Best treatment for this is to take a non-drowsy antihistamine starting several days before the trip, and being careful to use only broad-spectrum sunblocks. The only after-treatment that works for most people is oral steroids.

It's also possible to get both of these at once, which is double the misery. Walking practice before you go on the trip is the best thing to do, and walk with shorts on, so that your legs get some gradual sun exposure as well.