Itchy bumpy rash - please help!

[namechangedforthis000]

I have an angry-looking, itchy rash on my arm that appeared about five days ago. It's all red with lots of small bumps. I've tried putting moisturiser and also Germolene on it, but this seems to make it more angry and itchy. The only thing that stops the itching is holding an ice cube directly onto the rash.

Does anyone know what it could be and is it anything serious? I'm a bit worried

Yes it's a bugger. I use Eucerin 50 Sun allergy cream which after years of trial and error, is the best thing for me. I wear a big hat and stay in the shade.
It flares up for a couple of days even so, and then subsides...up to 100 pustules.

I started getting this about 8 years ago. My first horrific experience happened on holiday in Santorini. I was burnt, itchy, flaky, and prickly shudder Fun holiday but my skin spoiled most of the enjoyment. It's really frustrating as even though I live in England I was brought up in S.A. so had been in the sun most of my life. All of a sudden in my late twenties this happens!

I now find I can manage it by exposing my limbs to UV little and often in the Spring. Antihistamine helps and I use aloe-vera gel. Don't use any oil-based products as that makes it worse.

I got a similar rash recently but over my stomach but spread to the top of my inner arms. No idea what it was but it eventually went away - got better with Eumovate (steroid cream) and cleared completely when I arrived on holiday and exposed it to sun light. Although it's left white patches where my skin has tanned there's no longer a rash or itch

Can I look forward to getting this every time I go in the sun from now on then?

Just take the antihistamine and it'll more than likely clear it up. People get all sorts of random rashes,no reason to think you'll get it again. I had horrendous prickly heat one year,never had it again.

Thanks Loaf. Off to the chemist later!

I had a sudden onset of this 10 years ago, in my late 20's.

I'm sorry to say it has come back every year since..: and it was hell the last time, sat in shade for two weeks in Caribbean holiday of a lifetime.