Yuck--I Think I've Developed the Disney Rash

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

I never heard of this, but I googled and here is what I found: Golfer's Vasculitis
http://walking.about.com/od/medhot/a/legrash.htm

My dad gets this everytime we all go to Disney and he does a ton of walking and when it's warm out. The first time he got it.... Kinda freaked him out. They look very red on him... Starts right about sock line and works up on him depending how long were there in the heat and walking. Not much you can do to avoid it... But there are remedies to relieve it a little. It usually disappears from him about 2-3 days later.

 

[RivaLJ]

I just got this after doing a lot of walking in Washington DC earlier this month.
Didn't itch and disappeared after a week. I neglected to put sunscreen on my legs one day and that's when I got it. So it's not a Disney only rash!

 

[P00H1010]

I have gotten the dreaded "Disney rash" before.....Benadryl cream seems to help mine go away.

 

[thornton0511]

I remember standing by the top exit of thunder mountain last year at night waiting for my husband and son to get off the ride by some type of high grass or bushes and I kept feeling like I was getting bitten by something...sure enough the next morning I woke to find red itchy chigger bites on both legs from the ankle all the way up past my kneesNeedless to say it made the rest of my vacation a little uncomfortable, and I was sure to stay away from any kind of possible chigger breading ground after that!

 

[ajh88]

I got this a couple of years ago for the first time ever and it did freak me out too! I also found the information regarding golfer's vasculitis and other possible causes. By the time we got home after driving, it was almost totally gone.

I did a bit of research on it, and some of the things I've done since then to prevent it are:

a) Taking Ester-C - there is a study out there showing that vitamin C and bioflavinoids (Ester C has both) can help prevent vasculitis. The study used about the equivalent of 2 per day and I just take 1 per day, but I've had luck with it.

b) Avoiding NSAID's - I try to use only tylenol on my trips - NSAIDs like ibuprofen can cause rashes anyway in some people and I've never had an issue with it normally, but on the trip when I got the rash, I was using ibuprofen more than tylenol.

c) Wear high socks - I look like a dork and I don't care. I normally wear no-show socks with sneakers, but now on vacation, I wear Diabetes and Circulatory socks by Dr. Scholl's that come about 1/4 to 1/2 way up my calf. Covers up that part of my leg where I got the rash before, in case a reaction to the sun off the pavement is to blame. (I don't have diabetes OR circulatory problems, but the socks are designed not to be binding for people who do have those issues).

d) Putting my feet up any time I sit down - just simple elevation of the legs

Now, I have no idea if any one of these things, or a combination of all 4, have helped to prevent a re-occurrence, but I have not had the rash again in 2 trips (1 in June, 1 in August) since I have done these things.

 

[mommyrosa2]

I just don't know what it is. When I typed the original post, it was flaring up in a new spot, apart from the one that came last night. Now it has settled back down. I also got some welts on the top of my knee on the opposite leg, but they have now settled down. I can see faint traces of them. Flared up at around 4:30 yesterday and today. SO weird.

I do have Benadryl so I will be taking some before bed.

If the Benadryl doesn't work, try OTC Zyrtec. My youngest DD developed a weird hive looking rash about a month ago, it would come and go in different parts of her body. Itched like crazy too. We tried the Benadryl and it helped but it kept coming back. She woke up on a Saturday morning and was covered again, but this time her lips started swelling so I took her to the ER...they ran some blood work, everything came back fine and they were disappearing and reappearing as we sat in the ER. Doctors there were baffled and told her to continue with Benadryl. After a week of this, I finally took her to the pediatrician as she was covered again and he diagnosed it as being a seasonal allergy and told her to stop the Benadryl and start taking one Zyrtec every night before bedtime. Well, it took a few more days but it cleared up for good and didn't return. He said allergies this year are incredible and they can cause hive looking rashes and not just hit the respiratory system, so now she's on Zyrtec until the Fall. I would seriously try the Zyrtec if Benadryl isn't working for you... good luck!

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

It happened to me once a couple of years ago. It was burning, red and painful and appeared just as we were walking into France for a late lunch. At the time I thought it was my latex sensitivity since it appeared the day after floating on the lazy river in an inner tube at Blizzard Beach. It appeared only on my left calf. Benadryl didn't help which led me to realize it wasn't a latex reaction.

My sister got it this May. Coincidentally it appeared after having lunch at Les Chefs!

 

[connie1042]

I get this when ever we spend a whole day at the parks. I have heard it is the reflection from the cement walkways and black top. I have gotten it several times, and it is always at Disney. I have had sun poisoning, but this is not the same. I all so have a a bad reaction to no-see-ums in Florida, but not at the parks. It always goes away once I get home.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I have had heat rashes before, though not on my legs, and not at WDW. that said, what usually REALLY helps for me is alcohol. That's a reason why I carry hand sanitizer. Alcohol supposedly dries the skin, but it also cools it. It's a rememdy that works best if applied quickly, before the rash gets really bad. I've used it for all kind of skin flare ups, generally with great results if you can get past the initial sting.

 

[bop28]

Google this: Disney Rash and Golfers Vasculitis....

 

[snels]

I am just getting over the Disney rash. I got mine at the EAA in Oshkosh last week. If the weather is hot, I get the heat rash.

I have been getting the rash at Disney the last few years. I haven't found anything that keeps me from getting it. It is uncomfortable and pretty ugly for a few days and then disappears.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Hmmm, neverheard of it before today and thank goodness I have never had it. We were there in August our last trip, but usually go during cooler weather.

 

[lampshadehead]

Wow I really thought I was the only one. Last year, third day, I started to get what my Dr. later said could have been generalized urticaria. It started on my arms, and the backs of my knees, the worst part was my chest though. It wasn't totally obvious but some of my traveling buddies noticed I was red (redder than usual ha!). The first aid stations gave me benedryl, and I found that taking a half a pill during the day was enough to make it bearable, and then at night i would take the whole pill. One of the very nice nurses I met that week suggested that it could have been an allergic reaction to the sunblock. Actually, a part of me wondered if it could have been the bed sheets, or, even a reaction to different tap water since the breakout even seemed to come from the inside of me. My lips would slightly swell if I bit down on them, so that in my mind could rule out sheets? The itching seemed the worst at night in bed even though that was when I was taking the highest dose of benedryl, and in the morning.
Taking benedryl in the hot florida sun at MK was making me nervous I wouldn't be able to keep up with 10year olds, but a combination of lattes and expresso from the bakery (and waters) sure did help!

 

[Missytara]

I never heard of this, but I googled and here is what I found: Golfer's Vasculitis
http://walking.about.com/od/medhot/a/legrash.htm

That is exactly what it is.....

 

[goofy4tink]

I never heard of this, but I googled and here is what I found: Golfer's Vasculitis
http://walking.about.com/od/medhot/a/legrash.htm

It IS Golfer's Vasculitis. I get it every time, when it's hot. So I guess we can call it Disney Vasculitis. My sister gets it too and when you are in Disney if you'll look around you'll see lots of people with it. It does seem to affect larger people worse.

Yup, me too. I was getting it every single time I was at WDW..and only there. I kept asking my primary care doctor. She kept trying to tell me it was psoriasis. Ah, no..it's under the skin, and doesn't bother me!! I even took photos of it for her...still, said it was psoriasis. I finally found the info about golfers vasculitis...and found out that the blood pressure med I was on made it worse!!! Told the doctor and she was amazed. She looked up side effects and there it was!!! DUH!! She should have paid me that time!!
It would seem that the vasculitis happens happens to this group....female, forty+, fair skinned and 'fat' ( I use that loosely, since while I have put on some weight over the years, it's only 15 or so pounds more). Other than that..yup, meet all the qualifications.

And nothing relieves it other than elevating your legs, keeping cool. It goes away in time. It didn't bother me, other than a mild achiness in my lower legs. No real pain, no itching. My ds did say it looked like I had leprosy though...nice guy!!!

There are other causes for other types 'rashes' at WDW. But those usually include itching.