Sock-line rash - I know there was a thread about this!

[ncbyrne]

I get it too. First time I got it on a WDW trip, I went to a walk in ER, and was told it was concrete dermatitis. I wore slacks for the remainder of the trip to hide my hideous looking legs. It lasted for a couple more weeks before it finally faded away. I was in my early 40's then, and not over weight. The nurse mentioned that although it wasn't common, it occured mostly in women from the Northeastern states. She told me that I could now tell people that I contracted a "rare tropical disease"....

 

[phamton]

I just did a search on google for concrete dermatitis and go this description:
Dry cement that comes in contact with the skin will absorb moisture (perspiration) away from the skin, and over a period of time will cause the skin to become hard, dry and cracked. In some cases the result will be severe skin cracks that bleed and become infected. At the same time the lime in the cement, which is a caustic, will have an irritating effect on the skin. Recommendations to eliminate skin contact from both wet and dry cement include: Boots, gloves and clothing that are impervious to moisture should be used while working with wet concrete.

My rash wasn't dry and cracking.

 

[TimNDansMom]

I also get the rash. It varies with intensity depending on the time of year that we go down south. It starts out as small red spots around my ankles and spreads.

The first time I noticed it was during our Disney trip in July 2000. We also drove down to Key West that trip and it got really red down there and spread quickly.

I had previously read about the rash here on the DIS and when I stopped in at a Key West drug store, the pharmacist confirmed it was an allergic reaction to the sun. I now keep 1% hydrocortisone cream on hand to sooth it. I also tried Benedryl that trip but I found it made me too sleepy, although it did work.

Now I try to keep to the shaded areas when walking, smear on the highest spf factor I can find and have even put some liquid foundation make-up over top as an added barrier when I see the rash starting and I manage to keep it from getting out of control

 

[wdarling]

i'm so glad i found this post. my mom and grandma suffer from this. i called them both and we are all relieved to have solved this disney mystery that has been with us for the past 18 years.

 

[SoleilLoca]

My mom gets this every time we go to WDW, she read online (might have been this board) it's unoffically called Disney Disease (at least in my family it is) she started taking triple antibiotic ointment w/ us and uses it as soon as she breaks out. Vitamin E oil might help also.

 

[phamton]

They call it the Disney disease on the newsgroup: rec.arts.disney.parks. There are obviously lots of different rashes being called Disney disease. Antibiotic ointment or vit. E oil wouldn't help me as my Disney rash is all underneath the skin. There is no irritation on the outside of my skin to even medicate as mine is not a true rash. It would be like putting antibiotic ointment on a bruise, in my case, since it's all under the skin.

Even though it is the Disney Disease, I've gotten it at Universal studios and Islands of Adventure too.

 

[Micca]

I've had it on several occasions at WDW. No pain, no itch, just a red rash. I've not had it in quite a while since we have stopped going during hot weather.

 

[dkayford]

I am going to Disney in a few days, and in the past I too have gotten the "under the skin bleeding" look. Does anyone have any suggestions of oinments or medicines to take before I go to the parks to prevent this?

 

[Micca]

I have had the "pixie hickies". Fortunately in my case it doesn't hurt or itch, it just "is". I never put anything on it, and it goes away when I come home. I guess it's not terribly attractive, but because I am a guy, I figure no one is looking anyway.

 

[KEH]

I am so glad I found this thread (how sad does that make me sound?). I get this every time I go to WDW and thought it was sunburn and I had missed bits with the sunscreen though I was baffled how I missed the same bits every time. Now I know what it is!

 

[Ahrizel]

Ah,the infamous Disney rash. I seem to the pmle version, bumpy red and itchy as heck. The feet and ankles tend to swell badly also, though that may be related also to the sheer amount of walking. Get it on all my trips,sumer and winter. You can look at my feet and lower legs and tell what kind of shoes I wore-the rash is only on sun exposed skin. I use hydrocortisone cream on it and that helps some. Really, the only cure is going home. I pretty fair skinned, and somewhat freckly. Mom gets it too, though my fair hubby never does-lucky him! I basically consider it one of the few bad things about Disney, and I'll put up with it because of the good.

 

[nanajoyx2]

I've been getting this on the inside of my ankles since 1995. I don't think mine is caused by sun sensitivity. My ankles swell when I walk alot, especially in the heat, but I don't get the "rash" until the third or fourth day of pounding the pavement. It is hot to the touch, but it doesn't itch or hurt. But is sure looks ugly. Mine goes away right after I return home.

 

[goofy4tink]

Last month was the first time for me!!! We were in WDW in Aug '03 also and nothing happened. But, my rash showed up around day 5-6. Bright red, with streaks going around to the front!! My feet did swell a little. It was really humid so I figured it might be that. And yes, I do fit those 'f' definitions...40 and over, female, fairskinned and fat ( but just a tiny bit, about 10lbs.!!)
It disappeared 2 days after we got home. We'll see what happens at Thanksgiving time.

 

[Teri1]

I can't believe after all these years on this site I had not heard about other people having this. I thought I was the only one. I got it the first time after spending 2 days at Cedar Point. I thought I was having an alergic reaction to something and put Hydrocortisone on it and that didn't work. It just gradually went away. Then I got it real bad last year at WDW. I did not wear socks so my theory of a reaction to the socks or detergent in the socks was wrong. I figured it had to do with being on my feet too long. Now I am worried about how I am going to keep it from happening on my next trip!

 

[Rodrigo]

This happened to me 2 weeks ago, for the first time in 4 trips, I still don't know what caused it. It felt as a lot of mosquitos bit my leg in the sock line. Not pain but itch. Weird.

 

[Moosysmom]

I noticed this for the first time 4 years ago and I had taken a behind the scenes tour of the gardens in Epcot. I just figured I was allergic to something in the gardens. I have noticed tho I get every time I go to disney (I have a problem with ankle swelling anyway). At least I'm not the only one, and my weight loss has been helping it.

 

[disneynay]

The Disney rash sucks! I get it every year on the backs of my arms. It looks like bad irregular sunburn, and itches like crazy. It gets worse when you are sunburned - then it burns like fire. YUK

 

[Dancind]

I got this two years in a row during our August trips, but not this year. I have no idea why I was spared this time. Last year, I used aloe vera gel on it and it seemed to help.

 

[disneylovr1]

My mother started getting a red, raised, itchy rash around her sock line during one of our many disney trips, and I've noticed that I seem to occasionally get a milder (so far) version of it when we go. I always just assumed it was some kind of combination of sweat, heat, sun, sunscreen, and vibration from feet pounding on concrete all day. But I'm glad to see that other people have it happen also, it makes me feel better about the whole thing. It isn't particularly attractive, but I've never had it so bad that I thought it was that noticable (thank heavens). We;ve never used anything on it, but for what we get I think a mild hydrocortisone could help somewhat.

 

[itsacyn222]

I've had this happen multiple times when I wore socks. I ended up switching to flip flops one day & the rash didn't appear. I went back to socks & it came back. It has happened when it was both hot & cold with both shorts and jeans so I don't think it is the reflection. What I did was order a pair of 100% cotton socks online. It worked! The rash has not come back. I think all the other rayon/acrylic fibers is what was causing the reaction. Hopefully this will help others as it seemed to work great for me.