About this rash on my son

[TootYourOwnHorn]

It's starting to really bug me. He's totally fine in himself, been to the GP (school said it might be scarlet fever so needed to be seen before returning to school, it was not) who said not to worry about it as it goes away, but I really want to know what it is. They didn't give any answers and said just to monitor.

He came up all on his arms and legs a week and a half ago. I thought he'd had a reaction to suncream and the heat was making it worse. It was on and off for about 4-5 days then all clear.

We've just had sports day and now he's come up with this on his hands and behind his ears. He didn't have suncream on as we'd put it down to reaction, we kept him covered instead and it's not been sunny at all today, but here we are with a rash again.

I've attached some pictures of the first reaction and now behind his ears. He said this time it is a bit itchy but previously has said it's not itchy at all. I don't think it's heat rash as it's not popped up underneath where his clothes would be.

Grass allergy? Reaction? Something else? Should he go back to the GP? Please help

Looks like the slapped cheek rash my two have just had, one didn't have anything on cheeks at all just on the body and looked very similar to those photos.
Does it feel warm to touch??

It just looks like an urticaria/allergy like rash. In 50% of cases no cause can be identified, unless there's anything particularly concerning in the consultation there's often no further work up indicated. GP will have likely said when/if you should be unwell - i.e. if he's unwell with rash/affecting breathing etc.

If it's bothering him have a talk with pharmacist/can advise on an antihistamine.

Looks like my son's rash when he has a reaction to high pollen, he's got a confirmed rye grass allergy. Antihistamine, vaseline around the eyes, nose. Quick shower at the end of every day and moisturise.
Might be worth tracking the pollen and the different types as it has been very high last week, and what your child's reaction is. Then you'll start to see a pattern if it is pollen related.

Also looks like how my sons slap cheek rash started a few weeks ago, he ended up with it all over his body. We've had a letter from achool about it going around.

Would slapped cheek go away for 4ish days and come back though? He hasn't been unwell at all either.
I'll start tracking pollen, thank you. Keeping him on the antihistamines going forward so fingers crossed that does it. It seems to be the most likely culprit.
Absolutely with regard to the GP, just thought I'd mention it in case anyone thought I hadn't taken him.
It's just so frustrating not knowing for sure

Sun cream?

My daughter came up in a rash after using sun cream, though it wasn't red like your DS

@FirstNameSecondName well I initially thought that because I'd used a different one just before his arms and legs came up, but now over a week later it's come up behind his ears so second guessing it. I'm at a loss

A grass or pollen allergy perhaps. DS gets this too when they do P.E. on the field at school, and when he plays football rolls around on grass with his mates.
A good wash to get any pollen out of his hair, and some antihistamine cream should help. Wash the clothes he was wearing too

I agree with the other posters about slapped cheek. My daughter didn't have much of a rash on her face but her entire body was covered. Dr said it was a post viral rash from the slapped cheek. It also comes and goes like your sons. I've found after PE days it's definitely worse which could explain why it came up after sports day. Running definitely triggers it. Was recommended antihistamines and also I bought a gel cream from boots which really helped calm it down but 3 wks later and it's still vaguely there. If he's ok in himself I'm sure he'll be fine.
This was my daughters arm with it

Slapped cheek! It's doing the rounds big time at the moment.

A really unusual rash!

Looks like my child's slapped cheek. It came and went. It can come up again after a warm bath or exercise. I managed to catch it and it was awful joint pain

Check it fades though just in case

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polymorphic-light-eruption/

a friend’s sons had this a few years ago- similar rash

It does fade, it was the first thing I checked. Always a worry!
So perhaps it is slapped cheek then, I thought he'd have been unwell with it but maybe not. So just a case of riding it out for 3 weeks. A few other children at school have been unwell so maybe that's what's going around.
I'll keep giving the piriton anyway as it won't do any harm, and a cool shower should help either way.
Just had an email from the school saying it's flared up again as he's got hot and sweaty but not to worry or collect early as he's fine in himself.
Thanks all