I'm typing fast here between scratches and praying someone has a solution!

[gizmo]

Scratch, scratch, itch....ARRRGGGHHHH!!!

So we went swimming on Sunday as a healthful family exercise. Ha. Within 12 hours I have developed contact dermatitis everywhere my swimming costume has made contact with my body. Which, of course, itches and burns like hell. Particularly at 2 in the morning.

Presumably it's the chlorine - the toddler pool was very warm and, I imagine, heavily dosed with chlorine as a result. I've had similar (milder) reactions after repeated exposure to water and heat on holiday but never from a single trip like this. Typically in the past it's taken a couple of weeks to disappear entirely but this is far too uncomfortable to leave.

So, first question - is there anything topical I can try? My shortlist includes calomine, E45, Aloe Vera - will any of them have an effect? The bigger question is whether there's anything I can do to prevent it happening again...we don't go swimming as a family very often but I'd hate to not have the option

Antihistamine might help you - Piriton or sommething? It's oral, you could ask the chemist for something like that.

Also Eurax might help but it is a steroid so not sure how much you should use really.

Think it needs a prescription.

Would something like piriton stop you itching?

Oats in a muslin in the bath was temporarily sooting when i had chickenpox. Aloe Vera good ish too.

Hope it stops soon, poor you.

Oh thank you Fliight. Do you know if antihistamines are ok when pregnant? Just compound matters I'm 31 weeks along and look like a large red itchy tomato under my clothes.

It's a glamorous life, ain't it?

Ah, Wowoo, that's an idea, i have some oats at home (along with some weetabix, although I'm sure that's not so efficacious!).

Will go and buy some Aloe Vera, I think.

I'm not sure about piriton and pregnancy but I suspect it is OK.

I think your pharmacist would know. Aloe is also very good.

Hope it stops soon! Sounds really painful.

and yes weetabix is not going to help. You will risk lying in a weird sort of brownish soup

I was presrcibed piriton when pregnant for hayfever, you will be able to get it at chemist, check with pharmacist

Anything that prevents me lying awake tonight, scratching and listening to a world service special on Gambian Drainage....