To not want to go on a hot holiday again

[CaramelEmporium]

Because what I assume is heat rash has ruined it for me? I have spent just about every night and part of the day scratching myself like some demented chimp. As a result I’m tired and grumpy. It’s not even that hot, probably about 28 degrees. I look round the pool at other smooth glistening tanned folk and I’m so envious. I’m just not made for heat am I? How do others cope with it.

Are you in Spain, OP? If you are, pharmacies here can sell OTC stuff that you’d only normally get on a prescription elsewhere. If you go and show them that and tell them you want topical antihistamine they’ll get you sorted straight away. Or just buy hydrocortisone cream?

This suncream is supposed to be good for people who get allergies.
Pricy but wort it if it stops the rash I'd say!

https://www.greenpeople.co.uk/shop/by-product/organic-sun-lotion?gclid=Cj0KCQjwy97qBRDoARIsAITONTKROGFQbOPIcGqKaDwAhFmTOG8q7m7yPvOkos2u1jck75cSNsovmEaAk0wEALww_wcB

Antihistamines will help, it will take the itch away. I had this in Cape Verde years ago, covered from my toes to my chest.

Can you get to a chemist? Get an antihistamine? And don't sunbathe, put any sun tan cream on for a day or two and just stay in the shade?

My daughter suffered terribly with this to the point where she couldn't go outside when we were on holiday. Two things have now prevented it entirely and she's just enjoyed two weeks in 35 degrees with no issues.
Firstly buy a pack of one a day non drowsy antihistamine tablets,any brand, and take one a day for two weeks leading up to your holiday and every day you are there. We were advised to do this by a doctor.
Secondly she uses Ultrasun sensitive factor 50 or 30 suncream which you apply once a day.
Don't give up, give this a try.

There’s always someone who jumps on about climate change/the environment to derail the thread. I never take them seriously at all because the chances are they’ve contributed towards thousands and thousands of disposable nappies in landfill for several years.

Op, is there a local chemist, you might find some prickly heat powder, works wonders.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday, I feel your pain as I suffer too.

Really does look like prickly heat. Antihisthamines, stay out of the sun (so you won't need sunscreen) cover up with loose cotton. Aloe vera or something soothing but doesn't clog the pores.

Absolutely awful - can take 5 days to go down. It's happened to me twice.

Magicool plus of your friend for future holidays and anti histamine.

You aren't by any chance on any medication are you? I had this sort of reaction to sunshine when I was on antibiotics for a while.

Any chance you're breast-feeding? Rubbing breastmilk into heat rash works wonders

Go to chemist or doctor. They will sort you out immediately. Don't waste your time on here!

Piz buin allergy sun cream works wonders! I get blisters all over from the sun and was sceptical because my reaction is so extreme but it really is amazing.

Anti histamines don’t make a blind bit of difference to my prickly heat ..
I use magicool but it doesn’t actually make a difference in the long run.
I also live in the pool - no way can I lie on a sunbed.
We’re all different and it will be trial and error finding what works for you. Ultrasun Sports sun lotion is the only thing that works or me. As I said before, holidays are now transformed.

I find the barrier sun creams a nightmare for that - don’t use them but instead the regular non barrier ones

I suffered badly with this every time I went abroad from childhood and into adulthood. I started taking antihistamines and it wasn’t until I started taking them 2 weeks before I went away that they really helped. I think they must build up in your system and become more affective. Now when I go away I barely get any heat rash if any it’s just a tiny patch.

This happened to me once. Change your sunscreen to Pizburn allergy and see is that helps? It did for me!

Another vote for PB allergy. I don't go anywhere hot without it

I get this, but only if I use Nivea suncream.

I had this last year. So I went to my GP in advance this year, and she provided a medium strength steroid cream which I used to knock the rash down each time it tried to come up.

She also prescribed an emollient to use in the shower, but that made it worse. Very plain soap and a scrubby flannel are what works for me to get all the sun cream off.

Also, I rarely use sun cream at the pool unless I’m actually swimming - deep shade, sunglasses, hat, cotton ‘hamman’ towel to lie on so I’m not sticky against the sun lounger are better, as no suncream to irritate my skin.

Good point Arsey about Nivea. Unless it’s the kids version. Why, I do not know!

I had this when we were on holiday just a few weeks ago, turned out it was actually an allergy to the spray on sun tan lotion. Try giving your skin a good wash and getting a hypoallergenic sun cream, that should hopefully help. I was also using an aloe vera after sun lotion with menthol in it which helped take the heat out of it.
Hope it gets better soon for you! Xx

Don't moisturise it, talcum powder, dry it out.

This used to be me, until the day I gave up using any kind of sun tan lotion, after sun or moisturiser on my skin. I just cover up instead and now don't have any problem at all....I can only assume all those years of pricky heat were actually being allergic to the products. Good luck.

I was coming onto recommend ultrasun as well. Second trying the local pharmacies. The Cypriot & Greek ones are very good.

Just take an antihistamine every day. Loratidine works for me. Years ago I suffered unnecessarily like you for a week. The n a friend broke it to me that its easily fixed.