Rash on holidays in tropics

[templar112]

My wife has always battled with various allergies like dust, mites, cats and so forth.

Whenever we go on holidays where the humidity and temperature is high we swim mostly in the pool and use sunscreen. After a few days she gets a red very itchy rash on her thighs, abdomen and some parts of her arms. The strange thing is that her skin is perfectly normal exactly where her bathers are covering her.

Is it possible that the sun has something to do with this? It usually itches the most in the evening.

Do you think it is the sun? Maybe combined with chlorine?

We use extra sensitive sun screen.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be due to photodermatitis. Ask your wife to apply sun screens or sunblock at least half and hour before going out in the sun and take some antihistaminics like Benadryl or Claritin if the rash appears. She can also apply calamine lotion on the effected skin.

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.

[maatson]

With the localization to the exposed parts of the body a 'photodermatitis' is likely. This can get precipitated including chemicals in sunscreens in the susceptible.A sunblock could be of great help in these few.
Best wishes.