Just back from WDW with a not so nice souvenier!!

[sammielynn]

I am allergic to sunscreen and if I use most types of this stuff I itch for weeks. I read something about the sun and reflection off the pavement at Disney causing others problems. Hope it gets better.

 

[ScarletFire]

Whatever it is, go to the doctor. My doctor prescribes a topical steroid (betamethason dipropionate cream) to me because I am severly allergic to poison ivy. According to the info, the cream is also used for insect bites. My daughter was severly bit by no-see-ums at the beach and it took forever for the bites to disappear.

 

[mill4023]

DW had the same thing when we were there this past March/April. It was a rash on the top of her feet and around her legs. It seems much more likely to me that it is an allergic reaction to something. I know bugs sometimes like certain people more than others, but it seems unlikely that you could get all those bites without anyone else in your family even getting any.

 

[memymomonica]

Maybe I am over sensitive, but I lived in South Carolina for 3 years and I could feel the "sand fleas" "no see ums" biting me. I can't imagine getting bit that many times and not feeling it. I would think it is the sun. It happened to me here at home. I had shaved my legs before a day at the beach. Went home with red itchy spots. Not sure if it was the sun or water, but it took a week to fade. Looked scary until it cleared up.

 

[maelstrom]

Does it look like the redness on my chest in this picture?
http://webcookie.net/disney/walt disney world - june 2006/kristen with sequined bride ears.jpg

I get little bumps with pinkness/redness around them. I'm allergic to the sun.

 

[goofy4tink]

I sometimes get a rash just above my sockline on my legs. It is blotchy and very itchy. It happens after I spend time walking around on the pavement at the theme parks. I notice that it happens most often right after I've shaved my legs. I think the shaving actually leaves the skin sensitive. The reflection or heat from the pavement irritates the skin.

Hmmmmm, I wonder if that's my issue. Is your 'rash' and redness on or under the skin Peg?? Every time I go to WDW, when it's hot/humid I get this blotchy, red rash on my calves, front and back. But, it is under the skin rathr than on top of it. I do have a b/p issue and am on meds for it. And I do tend to retain water during the summer months but again, on meds for that as well. Only about 10 lbs over my desired weight. So, I can't describe it to my doctor, so I took a picture of my legs for her. Know what she said it was??? Eczema!! I kept telling her that it wasn't on top of the skin but underneath...that it couldn't be felt by touching the skin and it didn't crust or scab. Nope, she didn't care. She said eczema and that was that.
But, it does happen about 3 days or so into my trips and that's about when I shave my legs. I wonder if shaving at night, before bed might help. I never even gave that a thought. Thanks!!

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

Does it look like the redness on my chest in this picture?
http://webcookie.net/disney/walt disney world - june 2006/kristen with sequined bride ears.jpg

I get little bumps with pinkness/redness around them. I'm allergic to the sun.

No, it doesn't but my youngest daughter has gotten that at WDW before.

 

[maelstrom]

Hmmmmm, I wonder if that's my issue. Is your 'rash' and redness on or under the skin Peg?? Every time I go to WDW, when it's hot/humid I get this blotchy, red rash on my calves, front and back. But, it is under the skin rathr than on top of it. I do have a b/p issue and am on meds for it. And I do tend to retain water during the summer months but again, on meds for that as well. Only about 10 lbs over my desired weight. So, I can't describe it to my doctor, so I took a picture of my legs for her. Know what she said it was??? Eczema!! I kept telling her that it wasn't on top of the skin but underneath...that it couldn't be felt by touching the skin and it didn't crust or scab. Nope, she didn't care. She said eczema and that was that.
But, it does happen about 3 days or so into my trips and that's about when I shave my legs. I wonder if shaving at night, before bed might help. I never even gave that a thought. Thanks!!

I get that too. It's heat rash. And it's different than what I get on my arms and chest, which has the bumps, and is the sun allergy. My body hates the sun and heat.

 

[lorrainesy]

Could it be a heat rash?

 

[Feralpeg]

Hmmmmm, I wonder if that's my issue. Is your 'rash' and redness on or under the skin Peg?? Every time I go to WDW, when it's hot/humid I get this blotchy, red rash on my calves, front and back. But, it is under the skin rathr than on top of it. I do have a b/p issue and am on meds for it. And I do tend to retain water during the summer months but again, on meds for that as well. Only about 10 lbs over my desired weight. So, I can't describe it to my doctor, so I took a picture of my legs for her. Know what she said it was??? Eczema!! I kept telling her that it wasn't on top of the skin but underneath...that it couldn't be felt by touching the skin and it didn't crust or scab. Nope, she didn't care. She said eczema and that was that.
But, it does happen about 3 days or so into my trips and that's about when I shave my legs. I wonder if shaving at night, before bed might help. I never even gave that a thought. Thanks!!

Mine is always under the skin. I don't know why, but it seems almost like a reaction to the heat or the shine off the pavement.

 

[proudmomof4]

They are red bumps mostly on my arms and legs. They're itchy and a little sore. I thought they were insect bites at first because they kind of look like mosquito bites but I have more now since I got home. Also my dh and dds don't have a bite on them. We were in the parks Saturday thru Friday and also at Ft Wilderness for the campfire/ movie Friday night and at the ocean in St Augustine Saturday. Any ideas what these might be? TIA!!!

I noticed you mentioned the spots were on your arms and legs so I don't think it would be from shaving your legs and then going out in the sun. I just came home last week from 9 days at FW and we were amazed that there were no mosquitos biting us, we didn't notice any no-see-ums either and the campfire was very comfortable too (lack of bugs).

Did you go to any water parks during your stay? My family and I went to the FW pool a few times with no problem but then on day 6 of our trip we went to TL, then the next day I noticed a bumpy red rash on both of my legs and both of my arms, my oldest DS had it also but no one else in the family had it. I don't think it was from the sun reflecting off the pavement because we had only been to the themeparks on day 2 of our trip (although I am not doubting other people's experiences, just explaining my own). I then recalled that when we went to TL in 2003 my DS and I had had the same rash, so I concluded that we must be sensitive to something they use to treat the water at TL.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I think all these posts should convince you, the op, to go to a doctor.

We can't see what they look like and therefore can't properly diagnose you. There are many things that can cause symptoms similar to what you're describing and not all of them are permanantly cured by an antihistimine.

 

[LSUDis]

Okay, that's it.....you've all convinced me.....I'm not shaving my legs for or at Disneyworld!

Seriously, I have always lived in a wooded area. . . okay, in the wilderness. . . as a child, my mother would always warn me about walking in tall grass or through bushes or sitting/lying on the ground because of something she called "red bugs." Now, I'm not sure what the official name is, but these bugs can't be seen and they cause little red (hence the name) bumps around any part of you that comes in contact with them--especially ankles, bottoms, etc. that may contact the ground. So, I'm betting at Fort Wilderness you were somebody's dinner. They can inbed in the skin and stay for a while. These are not no-see-ums because they do NOT fly.


Solution--a bath with a bit of bleach in the water;
for the itching, try a bath with some baking soda in it
-or- Aveeno in the bath water

 

[WDW TRIP NUT]

I know exactly what you are talking about. I get it everytime I go to WDW in the summer months. No one else in my family gets it. I am almost postive it is from an allergic reaction from the sun hitting the pavement in some theme parks. I read an article on this one time and it talked about a chemical in some theme park surfaces that some people are allergic to when the sun reflects off the pavement. I also noticed several others while in Disney with the same rash. However, I never get it when we go in the cooler months. I'm from South Mississippi and know for sure it is NOT from any type of animal. HA HA We went to six flags in San Antonio a few weeks ago and I also got it there! I put benadyrl cream on the area and take benadryl tablets at night. It usually takes a week or so, but it does go away. It is pretty embarrassing because it looks like some rare plague!

 

[opal]

I vote for the Biting midges or the sea lice. I have had this happen to me numerous times in Fla and the Caribbean. I tried changing sun screens, sitting in the shade, etc. Nothing worked and I was the only one in our party who was getting bit.....lucky me . Now when I go in the water I use SafeSea:

http://www.buysafesea.com/sea_lice....reen&OVKEY=sea louse sunscreen&OVMTC=standard

which has sunscreen it as well, kinda a pricey but it beats having a vacation ruined by endless itching, not to mention how attractive those red bumps are with a cute little sundress!!! When at WDW I just use Off Botanicals. It does a good job and no chemicals.

Sorry about your discomfort. It's not a lot of fun. I had some nights that it kept me awake all night. But your post reminded me that I need to stock up before our trip next month.

 

[vermonter]

My son has a tendency to get that type of rash from sunscreen. (He actually has that rash right now from a field trip with his school-I sent in hypoallergenic sunscreen, but another parent didn't know and put hers on him). Even if you are using your normal sunscreen, maybe someone else's in the water could be trouble for you?

 

[SnwflkCts]

I think going to the doctor is the real answer ... but was wondering if it could be poison ivy?? or poison sumac??? --

I got poison ivy once when some got into the open fire where we were burning brush and I stood in the smoke. Not a campfire ... but it could happen.

Hope all the rashes clear up but really YOU SHOULD GO SEE A DOCTOR.

 

[adisneymama]

Thanks for all the quick replies and keep the suggestions coming please! I did not eat anything unusual nor am I on any meds. I already looked up bedbugs and don't think that's what they are. Plus I would think my hubby would have gotten them too or my youngest dd as she slept with me one night. I will definitely look up sand fleas.
I feel like I have to stay in the house because I look like I have the bubonic plague!!

THis happens to me everytime we go to Disney. Use cortizone cream and it will be completely gone in a few days. If OTC cortizone doesn't work, your DR can prescribe something a little stronger.

 

[Tropicana]

If the bumps don't go away in a few days, see a dermatologist. It could be a bacteria or yeast infection picked up at the pool or the beach. These need medication.

 

[laura001]

I would vote for it being a reaction to a combination of the sun and sunscreen. Were you in salt water? That could have also been a factor when combined with the sun.

Two years ago I was in Myrtle Beach and the same thing happened. I took an antihistamine and that did not really help at all. All I could figure out was that it was the above combinations I explained above. The rest of the summer I was out in the sun, but had no problem at all.

The rash was only on my legs and looked awful!

Good luck!