Help with DS's skin

[Throughabushbackwards]

Hope some knowledgeable mumsnetters can help - the GP is not able to see him at the moment as it's not serious enough to prioritise an appointment.

We thought it was simply a heat rash but it's been bothering him two weeks now. The only time he's had a similar rash before was two summers ago when we think he had a severe reaction to nettles. That rash moved about his body in patches, though, and was gone in about 36hrs.

This rash came on the first day of the heatwave (it was 33 degrees here) so we assumed it was heat rash and would go away in time. It's becoming worse if anything, so we're starting to wonder if it's an allergy rather than heat rash, or perhaps some sort of eczema? We've been giving him antihistamine every day to stop the itching and treating it alternately with calamine and E45.

Has anyone seen anything similar? He's 10yo.

Have you changed your laundry detergent? It looks like one my DD got when I switched.

Or soap? Shower gel? Got any new ones?

If you can't get to your GP, can you ask your local pharmacist for advice?

I'd stop using the E45 and get some hydrocortisone.

Wash daily in cool water and try a cold compress for the itch too.

If you've not changed your laundry detergent, has anything changed in his diet? Has he been playing in the garden? Some plants have toxic sap.

Disclaimer. I am not a medical professional.

Thank you both! We've been to the pharmacist who suggests a GP appointment and an allergy test.