Heat rash on lower legs

[photobug]

Just wondering if anyone has found a remedy for the "hiker's rash" or the heat rash that develops above ankles when in hot and humid weather and on feet all day? I have seen 2 dermatologists and they are stumped.


This discussion is related to Lower Leg Rash.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

This may be due to the sweat from the skin being help up ion the socks and garments.

The management would involve keeping the area clean and hygienic, washing all clothes in hot water and applying calamine lotion at the site. Further, anti-histamines may be utilized to treat the itching.

Hope this helped. Let us know if you have further queries.

Best regards

[grandolf]

Yes, I recently for the first time in my life developed some heat rash areas around my legs where my socks, I believe were too tight.  I forgot my sock liners and instead wore my socks that I had on my feet at the time (runner's socks that came up above my ankles), then my wool socks over those.  I hiked with my brother on the Manistee River Trail.  It wasn't particularly wet or hot, but probably humid.  Upon taking off my socks at the end of our first day (10 miles in) I was shocked to see this incredible rash.  The next day, we walked out, headed for a pharmacy and I applied calamine.  With the socks off, calamine on, the next day, I headed back into the woods for another 10 miles but with new SmartWool socks (no need for a liner)...the rash almost disappeared, however, I am typing this about a week later and I still have some itchy patches.  The redness is gone, but the itch remains.  So I have continued to apply calamine.  I am shocked that this happened, but am learning that it is more common than I thought.  I see my regular physician on Friday and I will ask him about it.  I think it's truly a heat rash...and will carry something like vaseoline and/or calamine into the woods the next time just in case.  I hope this helps.

[gbfowler]

I am also perplexed by this.  Spent a day hiking in Oregon yesterday and got it again -- although it wasn't particularly hot or humid....

For a picture reference:

http://picasaweb.google.com/gbfowler/TableMountain2008/photo#5220348216808197730

[tlmpdm]

poor circulation and being overweight ---I believe is the cause of my lower leg rashes below the knees--when it is hot or direct heat is applied my leg rash starts to spread and intensify.

[brianarmy]

hi i get the same problems i find that i can only walk in shorts and no socks also wear sandels. i can walk for miles but i still get the leg pain later

[Sunny_pgh]

I too suffer from this, and it has always happened in the summer, with long pants, shorts, socks or no socks.
HOWEVER! I have just come homes from a day walking around in NYC in 40 F. cold weather, and I have it again.  It was cold and wet, I know beyond the shadow of a doubt thatI was not sweating, I never even had to unzip my jacket to cool off.

I had on tall boots so it wasn't due to my jeans rubbing my legs, so I know it's not that kind of a rash.

It is not as bad in the past, where it developed into a raised blotching rash with "patterns", it is much more like the early stages.

Hydrocotizone cream doesn't help.

I wish I knew what the solution was!  My ;egs are starting to carry some "scarring" (i.e. splotchy darkening of the skin) from the more severe cases (walked one day in San Francisco this summer in shorts and sandals - worse one yet!), so I'm starting to get more concerned.

Please give me an answer!
-Shirl