"Golfer's Vasculitis" is more than just annoying

[cc101]

I'd like to know anyone who's had this hideous and annoying condition anywhere on their bodies other than ankles and lower legs - have you had it start on your ankles and then over the years progress to other parts of your body? Any remedy to reduce redness besides not exercising or walking outside?

I moved from the dry climate of the Southwest and Southern Cal to hot and humid New England four years ago - nevr, ever had this until the first summer I arrived and then BAM! A weird, nasty rash that scares even me - I'm extremely active (walk every where and run 6+ daily) so suffice it to say being covered with this is not good for the image!

Seriously though I'd like to know if there's a way to treat and how to keep it from spreading.

[suziiibee]

I am 56 and got this rash for the first time last month after jumping on a mini trampoline for about 5 minutes. I am nearly always dehydrated. I sit a lot at my job and rarely exercise, so I suppose the sudden jumping was sort of a shock to my system. I am of Scottish descent and not overweight. My question is whether or not many of you suffer with leg cramps during the night. I'm wondering if this might be a related condition.

[Wendell1]

My wife, Zenith, has endured so-called Golfers' Vasculitis for many years now. At first we assumed that the rash was caused by fertiliser on the golf course. Visits to numerous internet sites suggest that there is no permanent cure. Then we discovered the miracle properties of lowly domestic Bicarbonate of Soda! It is claimed that most of life's ailments stem from an imbalance of Acid and Alkaline levels in the body. Ordinary bicarb quickly restores any acid/alkaline imbalance by boosting the alkaline count. On a scale of 1-14, it seems the ideal count should be about 7,5. Anything below 7 indicates too much acidity. I started taking bicarb for the odd bout of indigestion ... with instant relief ... before I read about the general acid issue. Zenith started taking bicarb just one month ago (1/2 teaspoon in warm water twice per day) and was astonished to notice that the golfers' rash has all but disappeared! Her friend, Anne, has had a similar "cure" after only two weeks on bicarb. It is still early days and one hesitates to claim bicarbonate of soda as the miracle cure for this (and other?) rashes and ailments, but it would certainly seem to be heading in the right direction. From what I have read on the internet, bicarb is not harmful when used responsibly, so most sufferers of golfers' vasculitis should be quite safe to try it. By the way, we initially bought a pack of litmus strips from our pharmacy to test our acidity levels. Zenith's initial test indicated a very high level of acidity (red), while mine showed alkalinity (blue). I have never suffered from rash on the golf course or anywhere else. This suggests that there may well be a correlation between high acidic levels and golfers' vasculitis. If this is true, then a regular dose of bicarbonate of soda is precisely "what the Doctor ordered!" Good luck and greetings from South Africa.

[HJane]

I do not believe this is due to anything spread on the ground. I got it first time in Paris where I was walking solely on pavement. I got it on a grand tour of Italy. I got it on 2 tours of New Orleans. I got it on a tour in Key West. And I got it especially bad hiking at Yosemite.

I did NOT get it on our trip to Bar Harbor Maine, because the weather was cooler there.

I have an autoimmune disease known as limited systemic scleroderma. This condition is known to be able to obliterate the eccrine sweat glands, resulting in overheating with exercise.

[joshlie]

So glad to find this forum.  I've got my initial "cayenne pepper" rash at age 38 when I spent a day roaming Washington DC.  Back then it would take many miles before the rash occurred and it would disappear in a day or two once I got off my feet.  As I get older it takes fewer and fewer miles to instigate the rash and it takes longer to clear up.  My lower calfs are permanently discolored (but they are  muscular and shapely lol).  Maybe someday they'll be a laser treatment that'll remove the discoloration
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24196329

I'll look into the Zyflamend because bad breakouts get uncomfortable and hold me back. I don't play golf but I am something of a hiker.  Hiker's call it Hiker's rash.

[Moonflower666]

Dear Austin7875978759

It has been 3 years and I would very much like to know if you are still taking the Zyflamend and whether the vasculitis returned at all despite taking the Zyflamend. I am also interested to know what dosage you take.

Mine started when I was around 48 years old and has gotten progressively worse in the last 11 years to the point that it is rare to not have a rash after golfing or hiking.

And for all of you hot climate people note this happens in cold weather too. The first time I noticed it was after snowshoeing an 11 km trail (7 miles?)  in deep snow. The temperature was around or below the freezing point for water (zero Celsius or 32 Fahrenheit). I was wearing heavy knee socks, vortex boots and gaiters to my knees so it is probable that my legs got too hot.

The next time it happened was while,golfing and I was golfing a lot so and only got it while golfing. So I thought, like some on this forum, that it was an allergic reaction to something they put on the grass.

The first time I left it but it did not go away and after a few days it started to itch and I had to apply Calamine lotion to get rid of it. Eventually I started applying Calamine lotion immediately after getting home. But it takes longer and longer to go away despite the calamine and often leaves dark stains that last for months or years.

I am an overweight white female with pale complexion and scots / Danish / german ancestry.

[airbix]

I to suffer from golfer's vasculitis.  I am 58 and half Scottish/English.  I had my first outbreak on a Baltic Cruise about 10 years ago.  I took pictures in to my doctor after we returned home to Indiana.  He did not have a clue what it was.  Typically my outbreaks are after walking/standing for long periods and always in high heat/humidity (i.e cruises, vacations, amusement parks).  I have only had about 6-7 major outbreaks and the remaining outbreaks are minor and always between sock line and knees.  I am glad to found this forum.