Rash from Epcot pavement?

[aubriee]

Everytime I've gone to Epcot the next morning I have red blotches on my lower legs. It doesn't itch or anything, but is just big red splotches. The last time I was there I asked one of the CM's about it and she said quite a few people have a problem with it and it has something to do with the fiberoptics in the pavement as you leave Epcot. When I left that night I made a point of trying to avoid those blocks of pavement, but round up with red splotches the next morning anyway. The last two trips I've made I was even wearing sock and long pants, but still got them. Anyone have any idea how to prevent these blotches?

 

[Mickey527]

I get that almost every time I go to WDW in the summer. I got it so bad once that I went to the ER at Celebration. I was told that it was like a sunburn from the sun reflecting off the pavement onto my skin. they said sunscreen would help a little but only if I reapply every few hours.
I did that once and I still got the rash, but not as bad.
It is worse if you have light skin or have a tendancy to retain water. Apparently the water in your cells get too hot and it causes the rash to be worse.
I am going back next week and will try sunscreen every day and aloe at night before bed. I will let you know how it works out, especially since my cardiac Dr took me off the "water pills". Peggie

 

[KJMAX1]

A few years ago there was a thread about this, and some pavement has glass in it. Therefore it reflects like crazy.

 

[chamonix]

I remember that thread, and I have to say if the pavement does indeed reflect and this rash is basically sun exposure, then why is it a rash and not just a tan or sunburn? I have gotten it several times at WDW, (never traced it solely to Epcot though). It's annoying, and I hate looking like I am diseased and/or contagious, LOL!

Next trip I am taking hydrocortisone cream and will see if it helps once I get it. The rash thing is just a bummer (and gross).

Personally,I have always thought it was reaction to something in the water on water rides, or a reaction to the vinyl/plastic on rides. (things that would/might touch your body around the ankles) Maybe some chemical they spray on the pavement at night to kill bugs or clean it.....? I really can't believe it's a reaction to sun reflection.

 

[Valentine]

Boy did I get this really badly this past trip at the beginning of the month.. I don't know what I am going to do in August!! UGH!! LOL!! IF you get the itchy one.. just stop at the first aid station in the parks and they will give you this magic ointment that takes away the itch immediately!! I kept forgetting to ask them what it was.... They told me at the Aid stations that people who use over 30 sunblock had a tendancy to get it more???????? I tnought maybe I was using too much sunblock and got a reaction from it... Who knows! I got it TERRIBLY at Tyhpoon Lagoon last summer... WOW.. I still get a reaction immediately on my chest whenever I am in the sun..... So... be careful and cover up!!!

Kathy

 

[NotUrsula]

The problem is almost always either PMLE or edema from the unusual amount of walking. Here is the most recent long thread on the subject:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1024764&page=1&pp=15&highlight=pmle

BTW, the "magic ointment" is hydrocortisone.

 

[Hixski]

I got this rash for the first time after we had been walking around in a swamp park. I thought I had gotten some kind of swamp rot.

It seemed like everytime I walked on the hot concrete after that it would come right back. I asked the doctor about it and was told that they call it in laymans terms "Concrete dermatitis". It is from the heat reflecting off the concrete. I told him that I used Cortaid and it would stop itching. He said yes it will stop the itch but it does not let your skin breath. He said to take Benedryl and to let the skin breath. It got better much faster that way.
Of course a couple of adult beverages helps too.

Me DH

Counting down till Sept. for WDW and VB.

 

[hopesmommy]

I walked The 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk in June 2005 in Dallas/Ft Worth. MANY of my fellow walkers had this rash. The docs on the walk called it a road rash. It is caused from the chemicals, dirt and sun on the sidewalks and roads. It is also made worse by not drinking enough WATER. This is because your small capillaries break when they are not hydrated. We had this rash for about 2 weeks after the walk ended. There is nothing to prevent it. Sorry.

 

[NotUrsula]

... There is nothing to prevent it. Sorry.

That is true if the problem is edema, but not true if it is PMLE. PMLE *is* preventable. Please see the thread I linked above for info on how to tell the difference.

 

[suezb]

I'm so glad I found this thread. I have sun allergies myself, and am thinking this is going to bother me. I never wear anything but pants, even when it's 115 out, but sun goes right through the clothing; and if it's UV rays coming up from the cement, then it'll just bounce right in.
I should look to see if solumbra or coolibar has some type of leg covers. They have arm cover, which have 30 SPF sunscreen, and I really need that! I walked outside today for 4 whole minutes, and my arms are incredibly burned and hurting And not to mention my nice sun rash that developed *sigh*

 

[DISNEY180]

Thank you for the posts. I have been going to a tanning bed for the last couple of weeks to get a base tan as I don't want to become a lobster while in WDW in July.

I have never had the problem that is being discussed on this thread but what I do have all year round is Psoriasis on my body.

Due to having this medical issue am I more susceptible to getting PMLE while in WDW?

 

[suezb]

Has anyone gotten this rash while wearing pants and socks? I'm wondering if the skin has to be exposed, or if it can go through the clothing material as well. I wear pants and socks all through the summer, so I'm hoping this will help prevent the rash.

 

[LindaBabe]

I used to get it every trip, back in the 90's and yes through trousers and socks - including the coldest May day I ever spent in Florida. Haven't gotten it recently, but i'm using an ecv, now, so don't walk much. Just a note to the psoriosis sufferer - sunlight actually helps with that particular ailment.

 

[MinMouse]

I got this rash for the first time after we had been walking around in a swamp park. I thought I had gotten some kind of swamp rot.

It seemed like everytime I walked on the hot concrete after that it would come right back. I asked the doctor about it and was told that they call it in laymans terms "Concrete dermatitis". It is from the heat reflecting off the concrete. I told him that I used Cortaid and it would stop itching. He said yes it will stop the itch but it does not let your skin breath. He said to take Benedryl and to let the skin breath. It got better much faster that way.
Of course a couple of adult beverages helps too.

Me DH

Counting down till Sept. for WDW and VB.

My daughter (age 7 at the time) had this happen last August. It actually looked like hives and I thought we were going to end up in the er. She is always a trooper but she just looked pathetic. I'm packing the benadryl for our trip ---- in only 15 days! Thanks so much for the info. I was so glad to find this thread.

 

[KJMAX1]

Its likely I have PMLE. I live in Seattle, and am very fair skinned. I have started using a tanning cream, but I dont know if that will help. I will try and spend more time in the sun and see if that helps. Mine feels like a razor burn wheny ou shave your legs. Its not really welt like bumps.

 

[jjsmom]

Yep, it's happened to me too; every "hot" trip. My beloved family (I'm the only one who gets it) affectionately calls it the "Disney Rash". A bath and Hydrocortisone cream and are the only things that help and is usually gone by the next morning. It reappears by late afternoon on the next park day. I will be curious to see if it happens this time (June) since I've been going to the gym and I'm not sure if the problem is related to circulation. Anyway, it's a small price to pay for WDW!!

 

[jcemom]

I'm glad I decided to do a search on this, and I'm glad I'm not the only one. At least now I won't worry so much that I have some horrible incurable disease. Mine didn't show up until after I got home from Disney, over a week ago, and I still have it. My legs look awful. I'm actually happy that it's finally cold in my area so my long pants cover my legs without me keeling over from heat stroke. My rash is itchy. DH thought it might be some kind of poison ivy or something, but I was pretty sure that's not what it was. I haven't been near any poison that I know of, and it's all over both legs from my ankles to past my knees, worse on the fronts than the backs, but still everywhere. Ugh! I've been putting cortisone on it and that seems to help with the itchiness somewhat, but not completely. Soaking in a warm bath feels the best, but I can't live in the tub, LOL. I've been to WDW many times, and even used to live in Florida years ago, and never got this darn rash before.

 

[figgy4me]

I got it really bad one year and finally asked a pharmacist and he suggested Hydrocortizone & benadryl cream mixed in equal parts and applied several times a day. It does help and I keep some in my luggage. I also use more sunscreen now and haven't had any problem in the last few years.

 

[Matt'sMom]

The problem is almost always either PMLE or edema from the unusual amount of walking. Here is the most recent long thread on the subject:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1024764&page=1&pp=15&highlight=pmle

BTW, the "magic ointment" is hydrocortisone.

I frequently get Polymorphic Light Eruption (PMLE) when I travel to Southern states -- it is basically an allergic reaction to the intensity of the sun's rays. Sunscreen doesn't do much to help this at all. Last trip I started taking Benadryl several days prior, and then continued daily dosage throughout our WDW vacation. It worked beautifully, and I had no eruptions of that nasty rash at all.

If you find that you tend to get this prickly, itchy rash on your lower legs &/or arms when you travel to WDW, the Benadryl preventative treatment may be worth a try.

 

[Tonya2426]

OMG!!! I just thought my Mom and I were both weird when we break out in a rash on our legs when at WDW. I had no idea it had a name. We always use hats and sunscreen but are never very careful about reapplying on our legs. Now I know!!!!! Thankfully it is never itchy and just looks bad.