Hello everyone,

The last few nice, hot summery weekends that we have had here in the northeast I have spent outside in my yard. And where I have gotten sunburned I have also gotten a terrible itchy, bumpy rash - it's just awful. I also get it on my head (under my hair!), neck, stomach and back. I scratch it so much that I make myself bleed. The rash looks like hives.

I'm pretty sure I had a reaction right after my last block from my Lidocaine patches, so I switched to the other ones for a while (forget what they are called - brain *art). My neck, chest, stomach and back looked just like they do after I am in the sun - all red and blotchy with hives and it ITCHED like crazy.

I did find a good short term solution for the itch - a hair dryer. I aim the heat on high right where I itch for as long as I can stand it, and it draws all the itch out for a while. And then I put some Voltaren on. A hot shower helps too.

It wasn't even 80 degrees in RI and I broke out, which means that this summer could really be a nightmare for me. I currenty take an allergy pill every day with an antihistamine in it because our oak trees are dropping tons of pollen. I haven't tried to take Benadryl because I don't want to go to sleep, I want to work.

Does anyone have any ideas for how to deal with this?? Do the rest of you that have had RSD for a long time have issues with hives in the summertime? I love the beach. I really hope now that my RSD is full blown I'm not going to be able to enjoy it anymore.

Sandy

I don't have this though I am not outside for long periods. Once I did lay out for awhile and just at that time rsd area got burnt so now I do keep covered there. Do you use sun screen? I do have the itchy skin. I hate lotion but was suggested this by my derm called vanicream. You can get it at walgreens and is cheap but for super sensitive skin. It has really helped me. I would tell your doctor though about this or possibly make an apt. It could be a dermatology issue too. I developed sebborehic dermitits since my rsd. It is hard to know what is rsd and what is something else. Feel better

Hi Sandy,
I too have that same red bumpy red rash that itches, if I'm in the sun. I use a very high screening lotion spf 70 Neutogena Age Shield Face Sunblock. My Dr. says it's really important not to get burned. I use a light long sleeved shirt and hat. I've had the bumps in my hair too. I swim almost dailey now in the summer and wait till sun goes down. I've always loved the sun, beach, water skiing, snow skiing, but it is not our friend now. I thought too, it was hives, but my Dr. said no- it's RSD. I used a clear lotion for poison oak and it helped with the itch.
I love working with flowers in the yard. Maybe you could wait till the evening to take a walk on the beach. Our family took beach vacations every year usually to the Hawaiian Islands, Oregon Coast, 10 day water ski trip every summer. I'm just grateful that I have all those memories. Our married daughter just got back from Maui yesterday-I am so happy they can go over and enjoy it. We may try next year and I'll just wear the light long sleeve shirt and long light pants or wait till the sun goes down. Those itchy red bumps just aren't worth the exposure. Hope this helps. I've had RSD 13 years, and I didn't have the rash in the beginning, but do now and have full body. Take care, loretta
I have the little bumps in my ears, which are painful and nose, just try my best to stay away from the sun.

Just a thought because this happened to me recently. But perhaps it is an HSV-1 infection. It can be trigered by the sun.

I just went through a couple of months of this (on my scalp) and my doc put me on an anti-viral med that helped tremendously.

I can't be out in the sun for long. I start itching more then I usually do and my scalp breaks out. One thing I use for my hair and skin when it breaks out is Selsun Blue for dry hair. I wash my hair in it and I wash my skin in it. It will heal the sores or rashes. I have used it for years. I am allergic to the sun anyway and try to stay out of it as much as I can. It causes me not to be an outdoor person.

I just spent the evening pulling weeds out of my yard and the sun was hot. I came in itching all over.

Summers are a nightmare for me too. I am in more pain in the summer months. I have already started dealing with increased pelvic pain and leg pain due to the heat. I am learning I can handle the winters better.

I swear by the Selsun blue. It has to be the one for dry hair and use it more then once. It's something that I have shared with other people and they still use it to this day for itching and dry skin.

Hope you feel better soon.

Ada

Hey Sandy,

The third year into my RSD I would itch all over. It was awful nothing seemed to help. My PM doctor sent me to an allergist he put me on periactin. I can go in the sun with sunblock I get the rash but it doesn't itch (because of the periactin). I love sunny days outside but the sun is no longer my friend. So I go out early in the morning or late evening.
Take care,
Sherrie