Traveling in the summer is HOT and sweaty. This has been especially true this summer in much of the U.S., where they are equipped to handle it, and in Europe, where they are decidedly not. 90 degrees in Prague and Vienna was hot enough to make me think longingly of the “women’s winter” in the office, or that bracingly cold wave of air conditioning you get when you enter an American fast-food restaurant in August. If you know, you know.
Of course, this doesn’t stop me from walking everywhere, especially when I’m traveling to a new city. And at the end of an especially sweaty day of sightseeing, I noticed that I had a rash on my calves, feet, and starting to spread up my legs to my quads.
Luckily, I didn’t panic. I knew what this was: exercise-induced vasculitis (EIV), also known as Disney rash, hiker’s rash, or golfer rash. Basically, exercise induced vasculitis can occur when you walk, hike, or do other vigorous activity in hot, sweaty environments. So, hiking for many miles in the summer, visiting a theme park, or, apparently, walking around in a hot European city without relief from American A/C.
Outbreaks of EIV started happening to me several years ago after long hikes on the Appalacian Trail. While I do the activity, I usually don’t notice it. But when I stop for the day, I see itchy red patches or bumps all along my legs and the sides of my feet. It generally itches like crazy for a few days afterward until it subsides. I originally thought the bumps were heat rash or allergies, but eventually I linked it to exercise and heat.
So how do you deal with EIV? The good news is that it isn’t contagious and you don’t need to seek medical attention. Its mostly just annoying, and it shouldn’t ruin your trip. Usually my symptoms go away after a few days with some rest, hydration, and care. But what do you do when this happens on your first day of a long trip or a vacation where you plan to be walking a lot?
Usually, the first recommendation I see online is to stop the vigorous exercise and cool down. It may be smart to plan a lighter day after you experience EIV, or break up long travel days with plenty of time to rest somewhere cool. But that isn’t always possible, and it doesn’t necessarily relieve the symptoms after they’re already present.
First, hydrate. Drink lots of water, maybe less of the coffee or beer. Maybe that isn’t the cause of the EIV, but you are probably dehydrated from walking around anyway. And it can’t hurt!
Get some anti-itch/ cooling cream. In my experience, oral antihistamine pills haven’t really helped my EIV rashes, since it isn’t really an allergic reaction. But topical creams can provide relief from the burning and itching. After some trial and error, my favorite is Benadryl Extra Strength Gel. However, if the Benadryl didn’t make it into my suitcase on a trip, I have had success using 100% aloe vera and regular hydrocortisone creams to manage itchiness and burning symptoms as well.
I have also found that cooling down the rash, either with a cold shower or ice packs can help temporarily. Even wet washcloths or towels soaked in cold water works in a pinch.
I also recommend elevating your legs, either with your legs propped up on the arm of a bench/chair or ottoman or doing the yoga pose “legs up a wall.” Yes, it may look weird to do, but something about encouraging blood flow away from the legs helps relieve my symptoms. I think it may also help the rash go away faster.
I’ve heard that compression socks and sleeves can help prevent symptoms. I have some ugly ones I use for long flights, but I haven’t invested in any cute day-to-day compression socks yet. Maybe this is something to consider in the future.
Lastly, although these symptoms tend to appear out of the blue the first time on a vacation, I’ve learned that if this happens to you once, it will probably happen again. So, I recommend adding prevention and treatments to your packing list for your next summer hike or walking-heavy trip.
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