Sun Rash ??

I have never had any of my children have that sort of rash but I do have a friend who gets the same type of thing if she is out in the sun. There may be something to prevent it, but she justs makes sure she is covered. Sunscreen does not seem to make any difference. She doesn't seem to have to be out very long, either.
C. in Iowa

Yes it is a reaction to something form a plant to the sun.
The sun is a rear but uncomfortable allergy.
See a allergist if needed.
D.

My son gets this as well...only on one arm, and only from mid-forearm to his shoulder. It gets very warm to the touch, and nothing helps it other than coming in out of the sun and heat. After some extensive research and a chat with my pediatrician, we realized that he has Dermatographic urticaria (also known as dermographism, dermatographism or "skin writing"). He has the pressure induced version (where you can literally draw a line on the skin and it becomes a raised red welt) as well as the rarer heat/sun induced kind, hence his red rash after being outside on a hot sunny day. There is no real treatment for this condition, especially if it is mild and doesn't bother the sufferer. It isn't caused by sunscreen, but it can be irritated by chemical sunscreens. Try Neutrogena Sensitive Skin sunscreen, since that uses a physical blocker instead of a chemical one. My son is bi-racial (obviously I don't know about your child), but this can sometimes be a factor. My son's rashes usually fade within an hour, unless it is really hot, and then they tend to stick around until he has a cool bath and goes to bed. Although this may not be the case with your daughter, it could be. It can develop out of the clear blue sky, and can also be brought on by various biological/physical changes. Hope this helps!

Is anyone else in the family intolerant to the sun? My son is extremely sensitive to the sun and gets a rash and sores from being in the sun. We knew what it was right away because my father in law and one sister in law are sun sensitive. When they go out they use sunblock and cover all exposed skin otherwise the rash and sores develop anywhere the sun touches them. With my son, the rash is first and then the sores develop a day or so later. We treat the sores with antibiotic cream but so far the best remedy we've found is to prevent the rash in the first place. Amy D.

I myself get a rash from being out in the sun at the beginning of the year. It doesn't last long but it is very annoying. Use suncreen and it usually isn't as bad.

Good luck.

T.

This happened to my son once last summer - he was at daycare so I'm not sure if he had sunscreen on - but it was only one day. Kids are weird. I didn't treat it, and it was gone by the next day and didn't come back. I wouldn't worry unless it happens more often...

Hi K. - our daughter who will be 6 this summer does this every year. It's usually the first or 2nd time she's really out in the sun in spring/summer. (we live in Iowa). I have taken her to the dr. in the past cause we were so worried about the rash when she was 2 but now it happens every years. she might have it a day or two but it goes away quickly! glad to hear her's went away right away!

It's more likely she is allergic to something else in the environment (based on the "blotches")... perhaps it was fresh cut grass, insecticides/herbicides, sunscreen, bug spray, etc.? You might try making an activated charcoal poultice (see www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com for instructions and supplies - you can also get activated charcoal at your local drug or health-food store. Make sure it is 100% charcoal.).

If it shows any signs of blistering it could be wild parsnips. This is when the oils of the plants react to the sun and actually causes a burn type reaction. It would have to be treated like a burn even though it looks like a poison ivy reaction.
~M.

Hi K.,
My brother had this extremely badly as a child. Now he is in his 30's and still has it, but not as intensely.
I know of a few other people who also had this.
In his case, it was an allergy to the sunlight. (sunscreen didn't help, only covering up helped.) He went to the GP and then finally to a dermatologist.
Hope this helps.

Blessings,
G. H

K.,

Starting when I was in my mid twenties I'd break out on my arms & face only in the spring from the sun. I take claritin daily & wear sunscreen everyday until about June 1st. The Dr told me it's fairly common from the angle of the sun in the spring. Try some antihistamine & make sure you put on sunscreen - if that's not it then you should check with a Dr on what to eliminate to find out what she's reacting to.

It happened to me when I was in my late teens or early twenties. It is possible to have an allergic reaction to too much sun. It was probably the worst case of hives I've ever had in my life. With so many things starting to bloom right now it could also be a reaction to something that seems innocent--grasses, trees, etc. Does it itch? You could also try giving her Benadryl tonight if it hasn't cleared up. Aveeno oatmeal baths help too.

The same thing happened to me and it ended up being lymes disease. Another time my daughter came in with a blotchy rash after being in the sun and it was fifths disease which is no big deal. Both times the sun had nothing to do with it - it was just coincidence. Watch for any other symptoms but it's probably nothing.

Perhaps ecema? My daughter has been diagnosed with it. She always gets outbreaks in spring. Usually b/c of the dryness to her skin. We keep skin moisturized to avoid "flare-ups". If the hydrocortisone does not clear it up and it continues, see the derm. for a perscription strength. Perhaps all the chemicals in the lawn cause it too.

Are you sure its not hives? Maybe she ate somthing to make her react.

Hi K.,
I have gotten a rash (what I used to refer to as "sun poisoning") since I was just a little girl. It comes from being out in the strong sun after being out of the sun and cooped up all winter. If your daughter was outside much more than she has been in the past few months, this could have resulted in the rash. In the future, just make sure to apply sun screen prior to strong sun exposure after a long winter and BE SURE to be EXTRA careful if you ever take a winter holiday to a southern state, such as Florida. This sun rash can RUIN a vacation for a kid (believe me, I KNOW). In such a case, it is wise to invest in some of the UV protective clothing available and ALSO continue to apply sun screen under the clothes. If it gets bad, the sun rash can actually last up to a week after strong sun exposure and gets worse and worse with subsequent exposure. It can also itch and burn and be quite awful.
You may want to take your child to the dr. just to be certain that she wasn't exposed to something else and that it is due to the sun, since she has not had this occur in the past.
I hope this helps and I hope she is doing better today!

A.

I actually had this when I was a kid. I eventually grew out of it. My mom just treated the symptoms until it went away. My rash was itchy, so she used anti itch cream. I don't remember my mom using sun screen on me, so I don't know if that would help or not.

It could be heat rash. Not sure about all the details of it, but I know it exists. You should call her doctor, or the nurse line. Did she wear sunscreen or anything? She could be allergic to an ingredient in that. Good luck.

My Son gets this rash every year. Hydrocortisone Cream is good to put on it; you can also get a prescription Cream called Elidel that will clear it up even better. That's pretty much all we've found helpful, other than trying to keep him out of the sun! Good luck!

No my kids never gotten one sun rash. iwould keep usin Hydrocortisone cream until gets worse or something like that then take your daughter to the doctor if you feel its needs to...I never experince that

Hi K.. My Mom was actually allergic to the sun for a long long time...she couldnt' go out EVER without sunscreen on, (even in the winter) or she broke out in a horrible rash. I would monitor it (to see if it happens often) and try to apply sunscreen before letting her out. You could give her some benadryl to see if that clears it up...if it is a histamine response from your body (like an allergic reaction) benadryl will take it away.

Could it be something in the dirt? My mother-in-law can't work in dirt without gloves and long sleeves, because she breaks out in a terrible rash.
It also, could be caused by little bugs in the grass. Hard to believe, but, here in Wisconsin, we already have mosquitos and other little bugs all over the place.
If it persists, I would call your dr.

Did you have any sunscreen on her? My daughter breaks out like this from Sunscreen. Good luck.