"Disney Rash" - I only get it at one park. Anyone else?

[goofy4tink]

A psoriasis diagnosis would be a bit ridiculous since that's a genetic disorder and not something that just pops up & disappears. I'm glad you were able to figure it out.

Yeah, no kidding, right? Talk about taking the easy way out. Thank God for Google.

I think it's a variation of stasis dermatitis. This occurs when the blood pools at the bottom of your legs and your veins don't adequately return the blood. I say variation, because I don't think most of us dealing with this have true vascular insufficiency. But I hear a lot of "first time this year", and what's different for everyone this year? They are older than last year, LOL, and age is one of the factors. It's caused more by standing than walking.

I got this last time we went, and it's definitely worse for people who are more overweight, older, or on blood pressure meds (but anyone can get it). The reason it's worse at MK is because of the STANDING. Walking is actually not bad for it, because it keeps the blood moving, and would be why people don't get it when running and then do at Disney. Think about the parks--at Epcot and AK, especially, there is a lot of time between activities where you walk a relatively long distance. Even at DHS, there's more "strolling", and many of the attractions are shows, where you sit down for a while. But at MK, there are many more rides, which you stand in line for. And while there's plenty of walking, the park as a whole is more compact and there's much more standing.

P.S. I'm not an MD, just a PhD who spends her days with MDs, and they like my theory.

And the funny thing is that I got it after a day in MK!!! Makes sense. It's not the walking, it is the standing.

I too am a victim of this rash and on BP meds as well! I think I will try your remedy next time and see how it works for me.

Get your legs raised up, some nice cool wraps on them. It does help.

It could be that. It could also be polymorphic light eruption. If you google that, there is a lot of talk of it on UK sites. It seems people from there go away to sunny places and get it because their skin isn't used to the sunlight. It's an allergy of sorts. Even here in the U.S., I didn't get one year when we went in February because I was wearing pants. Then the next trip which was in June, I got it. Also turned out that was the first exposure my legs had to the sun for probably over ten months. I guess I was technically older in June but I don't think that much older!

I get plenty of sun....as I said, there are several different 'rashes' happening.

I just can't figure out why I get this rash at Disney but not at Universal.

We are on the tail end of a 4 day Universal trip: no rash yet and virtually the same "behavior" as at Disney in terms of walking. I've gotten the rash at Disney in October and April: its much hotter and more humid now than those trips but no rash.

And, as mentioned by others upthread, hydrocortisone cream takes care of it (I have tubes of HC cream in our storage lockers). I just can't figure out why Disney and not here at Universal.

I did notice that there's less asphalt at Universal (which someone mentioned upthread) and no animals (i.e. horses like at Disney) but I did water rides here like I would at Disney. I really had assumed it was the heat/humidity of Florida versus Oregon or Minnesota.

Now its driving me crazy trying to figure out the difference between Universal and Disney. And how I can avoid it in the future at Disney.

This is me after 1 day of Disney at the end of April 2014 but my calves/ankles are unmarked as of now:

You seem to have broken skin, like a true rash. For those of us with vasculitis, the skin isn't broken..it's all beneath the skin.

Could it be blood type......I am O+

Well, I'm 0-, so maybe. Or it could be that I'm over 50, fair skinned, a bit 'fat' (but just 20 lbs or so) and female. Seems to hit those of us that have the 4 Fs the hardest. Add in high bp and you're a goner!!!

 

[Kmoquin]

Just leaving the MK now and the rash is all over my legs. This has been going on for years. Everytime I go to Disney. So on this trip we had to move things around and we didn't end up at MK until the 5th day here. But have been to all the other parks. I spent the whole day at the MK and have the rash. I saw a doctor here in orlando about two years ago during a Disney trip. He mentioned it had something to do with the reflection off the ground. Once mine was so bad I ended up with cellulitis. At least I know I'm not alone with the issue.

 

[ncdj2013]

I get that exact rash every time I go to Disney. I just thought it was heat rash. I don't think I could blame a specific park and we spend less time in MK than anywhere else. I will take note next time and see when it appears.

 

[Ametista]

After my trip in March I developed hives all over the back of my thighs the day I got home. I searched the internet for hours and the only thing I could find was something about hot tubs and bacterial infections (I was in the hot tub at our resort one time, and in the pool a lot). It was very itchy, I wanted to claw my legs off! Anyway, going with the bacteria theory, I cleaned the rash with hydrogen peroxide several times a day and it went away after about a week. But it left a weird red scar that took a month or so to leave completely.

 

[Disgrammy]

I just can't figure out why I get this rash at Disney but not at Universal.

We are on the tail end of a 4 day Universal trip: no rash yet and virtually the same "behavior" as at Disney in terms of walking. I've gotten the rash at Disney in October and April: its much hotter and more humid now than those trips but no rash.

And, as mentioned by others upthread, hydrocortisone cream takes care of it (I have tubes of HC cream in our storage lockers). I just can't figure out why Disney and not here at Universal.

I did notice that there's less asphalt at Universal (which someone mentioned upthread) and no animals (i.e. horses like at Disney) but I did water rides here like I would at Disney. I really had assumed it was the heat/humidity of Florida versus Oregon or Minnesota.

Now its driving me crazy trying to figure out the difference between Universal and Disney. And how I can avoid it in the future at Disney.

This is me after 1 day of Disney at the end of April 2014 but my calves/ankles are unmarked as of now:

Looks a lot like my legs and forearms. I only noticed it at Disney but this spring I also broke out in the rash after a day at a yard sale at home. The tables were set up on a parking lot and it was very sunny. Headed to Disney in a few days, will see what happens on this trip.....
Mine is always very itchy and lasts for up to a week after getting home. I always have thought it was sun-related.

 

[saradela]

LaST WEEK I WAS A T DISNEY FOR 10 DAYS, I USED CROCS BECAUSE MY LATE EXPIRIENCE WITH WARM FEET WITH THE RASH, I WAS FINE UNTIL DE 8 DAY, WHEN WE RIDE SPLASH MOUNTAIN. THAT DAY I GOT IT.

 

[Kevenswife2]

Somehow I stumbled upon this thread and couldn't believe others suffer the same thing!
I'll have a distinct sock line and will turn a deep red on the lower part of my calf. Ugly and embarrassing! I thought it might be caused by spider veins breaking? After a few days it feels kind of raw, and seems to take forever to go away.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Not MK for me but DHS!!!!

OMG it was so awful. I could actually feel it coming on. Different docs I have spoken to say its lack of circulation in combination with the reflective heat of the pavement. I see all the painted pavement in DHS and I get

I've never gotten it before but last trip, July, 2013 I sprained my knee the day before we left for WDW. Day one at WDW I ended up at the urgent care and they put one of those thigh to mid calf wrap braces on my leg. The next day we went to DHS. I hobbled around and got Toy Story FP (gee remember when we could to THAT, while the fame rode RRC. By the time we met up I was already toast!

When we returned to the resort, some one with experience himself with this stupid darn rash said to do the following.

Put your leg up (and I mean a stack of pillows high up) for one hour/2x day and put cold rags on it. I also slept with my leg elevated and cold rags/ice. It certainly did help but picture dealing with the rash and a sprained knee day one into your WDW vacation! I stayed in the shade as much as possible and loved the evenings. Made the best of it. It went away the day we returned back home. Of course it did! That was the only time I was unlucky with that darn rash.

 

[hm1975]

I get it every time we are in Disney. Doesn't matter what parks we visit. It hurts when you touch it. I take Benadryl and use hydrocortisone cream. Lasts for about 10 days for me.

 

[bluedoggy]

I started reading this thread because this has happened to me for years, every time we go to WDW. I thought it was just me. Just above my sock line my legs get really red, and an area of about 3 inches up will get red and blotchy with spots. Even if I use sunblock. Happens whatever park we go to and even with different types of shoes.
It usually lasts for about a week after we get home. Does not matter what time of year we go.
Will be following to see what others say.

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

Got this in November 2013. Can't say which park because I was at all and park hopped daily. But this was the worse case. I actually saw a woman about my age who also had it and we shared misery.

Feb 2014 nothing I recall. I was solo so my pace was very different and more relaxing.

November 2014 my husband got it. If I did get it it was no where as bad as 2013 cause I would have remembered. And we were slower pace than 2013.

Difference in the vacations, we had free dining in Nov 2013 and I ate a lot of things I don't usually eat. I'm very allergy sensitive.

I went about 6 years ago to Flower and Garden and my allergies were horrific.

So all the thoughts of why are interesting. I now pack allergy meds and cortisone cream just in case. I wanted to blame my hormones but that wouldn't explain my husbands rash. LOL

I like the idea of not walking down the road and through the shops instead. I probably did that when I went in Feb 2014 and didn't get the rash. I also ate more the way I normally eat cause I was alone and could be picky.

I guess we'll have to see what happens my next trip. It's always an adventure. But I'll not stop going.

 

[riverbend]

I think it's a variation of stasis dermatitis. This occurs when the blood pools at the bottom of your legs and your veins don't adequately return the blood. I say variation, because I don't think most of us dealing with this have true vascular insufficiency. But I hear a lot of "first time this year", and what's different for everyone this year? They are older than last year, LOL, and age is one of the factors. It's caused more by standing than walking.

I got this last time we went, and it's definitely worse for people who are more overweight, older, or on blood pressure meds (but anyone can get it). The reason it's worse at MK is because of the STANDING. Walking is actually not bad for it, because it keeps the blood moving, and would be why people don't get it when running and then do at Disney. Think about the parks--at Epcot and AK, especially, there is a lot of time between activities where you walk a relatively long distance. Even at DHS, there's more "strolling", and many of the attractions are shows, where you sit down for a while. But at MK, there are many more rides, which you stand in line for. And while there's plenty of walking, the park as a whole is more compact and there's much more standing.

P.S. I'm not an MD, just a PhD who spends her days with MDs, and they like my theory.

FP+ and the increased SB wait times are starting to affect our health.

(Just kidding. I couldn't resist.)

 

[heazer]

Is it possible it's simply a "prickly heat rash"? Normally you would expect in it a body area that is covered and becomes overheated.

We ladies, especially in summer, tend to shave, lotion, and sunscreen our legs more. The lotions and sunscreens can make us more prone to the rash in the heat of summer (and with all that asphalt reflecting heat onto our lower legs) since it can block the pores and prevent them from allowing sweat to reach the surface of the skin to evaporate. That sweat blocked in the pores causes an inflammation, bumps, and itchiness.

 

[palmtreelover08]

At animal kingdom- (our first park of the trip)- DD and I got it. It was a short day (our day of arrival)- and it wasn't crazy hot (although it was August). We have been to the parks - all of them- on other trips 50+ times. There is nothing I can pinpoint the rash to. My DD and I got it- my nephew and sister did not. Mine was so bad- it looked like I was a terrible burn victim. I purchased hydrocortisone and kept the rashes covered with gauze. The rash was gone in about ten days. It caused my legs to swell as well. I'm pretty active- so I don't think it was from 3-4 hours of walking/sitting/standing in the park. Just plain old odd. This was last year- I probably have a post on here about it.

 

[coley444]

I'm 25 now and the first time I ever got what we call "sun bumps" was sophomore year in high school at the Dolphin. Now, I not only get them in WDW but also down the shore and the pool every summer. It's clearly some sort of combination of sunlight, heat, and probably water too. My dermatologist calls it solar urticaria aka hives.

I got it on my ankles our first day last May in WDW. Not fun.

Just returned from my January trip, however, and did not get it! The heat factor is the clear driver for me.

You can take Claritin or Zyrtec leading up to and during your trip so that it's in your system. Antihistamines are helpful.

My twin sister is prone to this too. She gets a prescription for Desloratadine- a stronger Claritin - and takes it 3 times a day during the summer. This really helps her. The pharmacist questioned the dosage since it seems like a lot but her doctor is an allergy specialist. She also gets a prescription for cordran lotion for topical relief. The lotion is $$$ but the doctor gives her a coupon for the prescription.

I don't have a script for my rash treatment. I just attempt to stay out of the sun or cover up best I can since I'm also at high melanoma risk since I'm very fair.

As others have said cortisone cream is also good relief. And the best lotion for relief that I ever put on it was Sarna! You can stick it in your mini fridge at the resort than put it on. Preventatively I like broad spectrum uva/uvb sunscreen sensitive skin spf 50 from coppertone. The best sunscreen my aunt brings me from cancun but I forget the name. I'll try to find it.

 

[SingingMom]

Just found a new product that might help the less extensive sufferers - gold bond medicated powder now comes in a spray. Much easier for some areas! Lol

 

[nemodeb]

At animal kingdom- (our first park of the trip)- DD and I got it. It was a short day (our day of arrival)- and it wasn't crazy hot (although it was August). We have been to the parks - all of them- on other trips 50+ times. There is nothing I can pinpoint the rash to. My DD and I got it- my nephew and sister did not. Mine was so bad- it looked like I was a terrible burn victim. I purchased hydrocortisone and kept the rashes covered with gauze. The rash was gone in about ten days. It caused my legs to swell as well. I'm pretty active- so I don't think it was from 3-4 hours of walking/sitting/standing in the park. Just plain old odd. This was last year- I probably have a post on here about it.

This sound like me about two years ago. My arms broke out with terrible hives. We thought I was allergic to the zinc/titanium sunblock, but my dermatologist thought it might have been more of a reaction to the preservatives in the lotion, not the zinc itself. We were trying to avoid sunscreens with oxobenzone in them. Took several days for the hives to go away. And my ankles did swell up too. First time in the many years we've been going to WDW. I think I'll pack some cortisone lotion for our next trip, just in case. We did get some benadryl at a gift shop on that trip, but I don't remember it helping much.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I get plenty of sun....as I said, there are several different 'rashes' happening.

I said COULD be PMLE. Just sharing what happened to me.

Not interested in keeping track of your rash analysis that closely.

 

[HollieS]

With the millions of people who visit the parks I'm sure every type of rash has been experienced by people. It just makes sense that on any giving day someone is going to be allergic to something in the park, someone is going to experience a medical condition for the first time, someone is going to have a completely random flare up and I'm sure someone gets a rash just because they're worried about getting a rash.

 

[exbjd]

We are here now and my 23 year old son got the Disney Rash. We were in Magic Kingdom yesterday and it was by no means hot out (chilly and windy 67 degrees). Today we were in Epcot and ran into a 10 year old girl who was at the Magic Kingdom 2 days ago and got the same rash!