Allergy to sand or sun?

We live at the beach and have for quite a while.  My daughter is 3 years old and has been going to the beach since she was a baby.  The past two days she has been breaking out into a terrible terrible rash every time we go to the beach.  The longer we stay the worse it gets.  Today during our visit to the beach I ran her over to the urgent care.  I was told it looked like an allergic reaction.  The longer we were at the dr. office, the better the rash looked.  It was slowly going away.  I went back to the beach to get the rest of the family and again, her rash returned within minutes.  So, we left.  On the car ride home, the rash faded.  We get home and its completely gone.  Later on in the evening around 8:00, we go out on our back patio.  We do live really close to the beach, and have sand in our back yard, however she did not touch sand, but once again, within minutes of being outdoors she starts breaking out again.  So it seems to me that every time we go outdoors near ocean water or sand, she breaks out in a terrible rash which goes away when we go back indoors.  Any ideas????

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Such a rash which comes and goes is due to hives which is usually due to an allergic reaction to the water or organic and inorganic contents of sea water. Use a mild cleanser with moisturizing properties like Cetaphil. Also use cotton clothes and change the clothes twice if there is any increased sweating. Try keeping the skin free of sweat as far as possible. If the symptoms still persist then you can apply mild steroid and give her some antihistaminic like Benadryl.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.