IS IT THE POOL OR THE OCEAN?

[mbailey41832]

Every year when we go to the beach (Jacksonville, Florida) my son develops a rash on his inner thighs.  Sometimes the rash extends down his legs or onto his buttocks but rarely goes anywhere else.  What I am calling a rash, is raised bumps.  They itch and burn and his clothes irritate them.  They are sometimes reddish, sometimes flesh colored.  Since we get in both the pool and the ocean we have no idea what causes it.  The pool is at a private residence and definitely cleaned well.  After getting in the ocean we always try to wash off the salt.  Our hottub which is treated with bromine also causes this sometimes.  We've tried cortisone creams and anti-itch creams but nothing works.  How can we prevent and treat this rash when we dont even know what causes it?  Ive heard to take claritin or benadryl beforehand and spray down with a vinegar-water solution after being in the ocean.  Any suggestions?

[margypops]

Sometimes it is the Ocean a couple of years ago in Forida there was a warning to bathers,on TV of a Bacteria and the effects wre of a Rash, go to the search engine and put in,Rash , Ocean ,Florida  I am also going to check it out as the same thing happened in CA .

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

At this point, we can not be very sure what causes the skin reaction. I would however think that it may be the pool. You ave noted also that the rash usually affects the lower part of the body which tells us that this is most probably a hypersensitivity reaction rather than a generalized skin condition. An infectious process may be ruled out here. For allergic reactions, the best way to prevent this is to avoid the triggers. I know this is easier said than done but if it is possible, then do prevent your child from spending much time in swimming pools. I would not suggest oral antihistamines prior to swimming as this has the tendency to make one drowsy.

Is there a strong history of allergies in the family?

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

At this point, we can not be very sure what causes the skin reaction. I would however think that it may be the pool. You ave noted also that the rash usually affects the lower part of the body which tells us that this is most probably a hypersensitivity reaction rather than a generalized skin condition. An infectious process may be ruled out here. For allergic reactions, the best way to prevent this is to avoid the triggers. I know this is easier said than done but if it is possible, then do prevent your child from spending much time in swimming pools. I would not suggest oral antihistamines prior to swimming as this has the tendency to make one drowsy.

Is there a strong history of allergies in the family?