Rash after swimming?

[krcit]

My son just got out of our neighbors pool and is covered in a rash. He was in our pool earlier today and had a little bit of a rash but now he has it all over his thighs and back of his knees. I had him shower and I put some powder on. Do you think it's the chlorine? It's only where his suit touches his skin. Weird.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Of course, could be any number of things, but DD had something similar with a rash only where her swimsuit was. I was convinced it was something wonky with the chemicals- turned out to be she is allergic to cold (temperatures-- and getting out of the pool, where are you coldest- where you're wet.)

I guess the allergy typically doesn't start til grade school (she was 7). Hers has since developed to full blown hives all over when she swims in cooler water vs just the rash where her suit is. (Can control somewhat with meds, she mostly doesn't swim if it's not warm water. Yeah, we live in Maine, how often is that? )

Something to keep in the back of your head anyway.

 

[Poohforyou]

My son just got out of our neighbors pool and is covered in a rash. He was in our pool earlier today and had a little bit of a rash but now he has it all over his thighs and back of his knees. I had him shower and I put some powder on. Do you think it's the chlorine? It's only where his suit touches his skin. Weird.

My DD had this happen a few years ago in the friend's pool. I thought it might be from chemicals but I was never sure. They don't use chlorine though and said the stuff they do use is less harsh.

I gave DD a dose of benedryl and just told her to let me know if she started to feel weird in any way. She was fine though and has been in that pool tons of times since then with no reaction.

What is his suit made out of? It could be the suit reacted with the pool chemicals.

 

[StephMK]

Something similar happened to DS last week. DD17 took him & when they got back, DS was covered in a rash & big hives on his back. The rash was the worst under his swim shirt & shorts, which came from a suitcase & a closet & one was clean & one had been in a pool but not washed. I had him shower & gave him Benadryl right away. He had long streaks on his legs for a few days where he scratched at it.

He went swimming this week at a totally different pool and had no issues. Our doc had no ideas but it makes me nervous now!

 

[marcemc]

Both my sons are allergic to chlorine. They break out in a rash & run a fever if they don't shower right after coming out of the pool. They swim almost every day from march till september, we just have to be careful.

Maybe the chlorine or ph level is off in your neighbor's pool.

If it doesn't go away in a day or two, or if he runs a fever, I would give the pediatrician a call.

 

[luvmy3]

What does the rash look like? Is it raised or flat? Could be folliculitis.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

Did the rash go away after he got out of the pool or is it sticking around? I get a rash if I get cold but as soon as I warm up it goes away.


If it is sticking around it might be something like swimmers itch.

 

[LuvMickey36]

What does the rash look like? Is it raised or flat? Could be folliculitis.

This is what I was thinking.

 

[shortbun]

Powder? What kind of powder? Does it have fragrance in it? I think a topical cream, hydrocortizone or benedryl type would have been better. Cool compresses would have been good.

 

[disfan07]

I get a rash in the pool but mine is not where my bathing suit is. It is all over the rest of my body. It is the chlorine for me and mine goes away after a while after I get without any treatment.

However, water can also make me break out in a rash depending on the temp sometimes as well. I break out in a rash in the shower and the rash has to do with the water (my derm. explained eactly what was probably happening but I don't remeber what she said) but it goes away after being out of the shower for a while.

But I also have severe eczema so I break out from things very very easily.

 

[hambirg]

From my experience, rashes under suits are usually bacterial in nature. Was he hanging out in a wet suit for a long time?

 

[Ceila]

From my experience, rashes under suits are usually bacterial in nature. Was he hanging out in a wet suit for a long time?

This is what happened to our son. We ended up having to put him on antibiotics to clear it up. It can happen anywhere, but private pools and hot tubs are particularly problematic.

OP, i would suggest taking your son to the doctor to have him checked out.

 

[Psychodisney]

Another thought.......was he recently on antiobiotics(within the last two weeks)? Sometimes there could be a delayed allergic reaction or sensitivity to the sun.

 

[dngnb8]

Do you think it's the chlorine?

Maybe, but I doubt it. I am allergic to Chlorine. If he was, he would have respiratory issues and the rash would look more like a sun burn

It's only where his suit touches his skin. Weird.

This is why I dont think its the Chlorine. he could be sensitive to Latex (the stuff in his elastic). The Chlorine could just be increasing the sensitivity.

 

[krcit]

Thanks for the answers guys. The rash is pretty much all gone this morning except on one thigh. It's like little red bumps. He says it doesn't hurt or itch. Last night he said it stung.