Rash when at the beach

[Morgan31]

In the last couple of years I have seemed to develop an allergy. Every single time I am near or on a beach I develop a rash on my lips and around my mouth. I dont know if its the sand, salt water, or the salt in the air. What is the cause of this and what can i do to prevent it. I love the beach and now I cant go for a fear of developing this ugly rash.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be due to sunburn or allergies. Even solar urticaria may be responsible for this. I sincerely advise you to apply a sunscreen of spf 30 atleast half an hour before going out in the sun. you can also apply lip balms with sunscreen.

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.

[Morgan31]

I doubt its the actual sun but more the beach itself since it ONLY happens when im near or on the beach. This NEVER happens when im simply under the sun. Even when I swim or lay out on the beach the rash only develops on my lips and around the mouth. Almost instantly I can feel my lips as being raw.

Is this something that can be handled with immunotherapy?? I've tried a dermatologist but by the time an appointment is made...the rash is gone and they're not able to help me.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Thanks for the clarification. Since the rash is appearing and disappearing suddenly when you are near the beach, so it looks like hives which can occur due to environmental allergens also. Basically, hives are red, itchy, raised areas of skin that appear in varying shapes and sizes. They have a tendency to change size rapidly and to move around, disappearing in one place and reappearing in other places, often in a matter of hours.
Diagnosis of allergies is done by skin ***** or patch tests and confirmation is done by blood tests like RAST. Please consult a dermatologist/ allergist and discuss this possibility with him. I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[beach77]

Did you ever find out what was causing it? I have the same symptoms.