Can I prevent Disney Rash?

[goofy4tink]

I've heard this, too; however, the "official" diagnosis of it indicates that it's vascular and caused by blood flow or some such thing.

As for me, I'm going to do anything and everything that MIGHT help. I'll be slathering on that sunscreen as y'all have directed and see if that helps. It was pretty awful last time!

If it's vasculitis, then try to sit down and rest your legs/feet every hour or so. And if you can, without looking funny (hard to do when in the parks!!!) elevate your feet. I know that I do that in my room at the end of the day, and it helps a lot. I also put some cold compresses on my lower calves and that helps as well. Try not to wear any elastized socks....the 'rash' seems to be the worst above the sock line if it's at all tight.

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay, then...it sounds like there are two rashes that people get at Disney and that they are very similar in appearance. Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference? I guess I assumed I had Golfer's Vasculitis. The rash I had was below the surface (not raised welts) and were painful/uncomfortable. They seemed to be eased by benadryl cream and just a plain lotion with no dyes. I think I also took allergy meds, though I don't recall. At the time, I assumed it was hives caused by brushing up against something I must've been allergic to. I treated it as I would hives, but without the nearly immediate success I'd experience with Benadryl when treating hives.

How can I tell the difference between the rash caused by UV rays, and Golfer's Vasculitis?

http://walking.about.com/od/medhot/a/legrash.htm

This link really does give a very good description of what happens to me. It doesn't bother me usually..no pain, no itching. Well, there was the first time I got it so badly that it did bother me a bit....felt like pressure on the back of my legs. Of course my ds who was visiting us from Tampa told me it looked like I had leprosy!!! Nice.

If you use anything on the rash, and it helps, then it's not vasculitis, it is a different kind of heat rash. When it's vasculitis, nothing is going to make it go away because it's 'inside' the body...it's the blood vessels that are affected.

 

[CathieArms]

I'm really hoping the UV diagnosis is correct. I *never* put sunscreen on my legs and, honestly, I've never been burned on my legs. But, maybe the reflection from the ground to my legs is exactly what happened, which means I have an easy cure.

Unfortunately, I think the Golfer's Vasculitis makes a lot more sense. I was 38 the last time I went, but I've got all the other high-risk items that would make it more reasonable.

 

[snykymom]

I've had it both on my legs and my arms. Unfortunately, sunscreen does nothing for it; I've worn sunscreen, tried different sunscreens, different SPFs, non-allergenic, etc., and nothing works. But it's not just from being on my feet a lot; I didn't get it touring Italy, on my feet as much as in Disney. And the arms/chest rash doesn't have anything having to do with being on my feet.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

I dont think anyone in my family has had this when we went down...but will bring some of the things that people suggested...thanks for this info

 

[linnell]

I've done the 3 Day Breast Cancer walk twice and this is a common ailment. The biggest thing is to use breathable/non-clogging sunscreen. The cheap stuff will acutally block your legs from releasing the sweat they need to. Another mistake is shaving your legs in the morning, and then applying sunscreen.

 

[Disneyhayes]

This happened to my daughter last week when we were in WDW. She was freaking out, but DH gets the same rash when exposed to the sun. Those darn sun-hating Swedes. A little SPF helped it to stop spreading, but she still has bumpies after returning home. Although, she said she didn't care and wanted to go back to WDW for more sun rash after we got home and it was in the middle of a blizzard.

Yay swedes!!!! My Mor Mor came up from Naples to visit and saw snow and said "just like home" haha. She always jokes cause we all know that where she is from in Sweden it is not always snowing

 

[2girlsmom]

The pics don't look like the rash I had on my legs in December, which were itchy and painful, oddly, I came to the conclusion they were from my jeans rubbing the bottom of my leg, so will look into the inital options. Our first trip it was warm and I was in capris or shorts, so didn't have a problem, this time was cold and was in jeans daily.

 

[tiggertabi]

The pics don't look like the rash I had on my legs in December, which were itchy and painful, oddly, I came to the conclusion they were from my jeans rubbing the bottom of my leg, so will look into the inital options. Our first trip it was warm and I was in capris or shorts, so didn't have a problem, this time was cold and was in jeans daily.

My rash is also itchy and a little painful. Sorta like itchy bruised bumps. It always starts the 2nd day or so into a trip, with itching right around my ankles, on the back (where my socks would be, but I don't usually wear socks at WDW.) Eventually it spreads up the back of my legs especially, sometimes on the front as well. It is little red bumps and they itch and hurt so bad!

I should try putting sunblock there - I don't usually sunblock my legs at disney...hmmmm...

 

[carrie1626]

I got the "rash" this past AUG and went to the First Aid station in Epcot. I was given some packs of Benadryl gel lotion and it helped!!

I had never gotten it before. And my sister who had gotten it previously, did not get it this trip. Strange

 

[snykymom]

I've done the 3 Day Breast Cancer walk twice and this is a common ailment. The biggest thing is to use breathable/non-clogging sunscreen. The cheap stuff will acutally block your legs from releasing the sweat they need to. Another mistake is shaving your legs in the morning, and then applying sunscreen.

What kind of sunscreen do you use? I've tried everything I could find, including all the non-allergenic baby sunscreens and still get it! (If you're uncomfortable posting this on a general thread, could you PM it to me?)

Thanks!

 

[AreWeThereYeti]

I tried to look at all the posts so excuse if I'm repeating something! I, too, had the rash problem for several years on my Disney vacations. The only other time I ever had it was when I'd do a great deal of walking in either Arizona or Nevada. Mine never itched but was very red and very hot to the touch. I'd put my feet up and put cool rags on it or ice. Maybe three years ago I mentioned it to my then new doctor, she immediately said that it was my blood pressure med! I've since changed that med -- been to WDW about five times including trips in April and June -- NO RED rash whatsoever. Just a thought -- could be what's going on with some of those who have gotten this.

 

[leebee]

THis happens to me, too, when we go to WDW. Last August it was really bad, and my shins started turning maroon/purple in addition to the horrible red splotches on the backs of my legs. I finally bought some hydrocortisone cream and it helped clear it up. We were at WDW for 10 days... rash started on day 1, I started using the cream on day 4, it cleared up by day 8. Next trip I will use the hydrocortisone cream from the start!