What Is the Disney Rash?
So-called 'Disney rash' is a condition known as exercise-induced vasculitis (EIV). You can prevent EIV by staying hydrated and avoiding too much sun exposure. If symptoms occur, wet coverings and anti-itch cream may help.
A 'Disney rash' may not be the souvenir you had in mind, but many visitors to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and other amusement parks find that they get it.
The medical name for Disney rash is exercise-induced vasculitis (EIV). This condition is also called golfer's rash, hiker's rash, and golfer's vasculitis.
This condition results from a combination of:
hot weather
sunlight exposure
sudden, prolonged periods of walking or exercising outdoors
That's why people who spend long days strolling at theme parks may be prone to it.
In this article, we take a look at the symptoms, treatment, and prevention strategies.
What are the symptoms of Disney rash?
Although EIV is often called Disney rash, the condition isn't a true rash.
Instead, EIV is a condition in which small blood vessels in the legs are inflamed. Swelling and discoloration can occur on one or both ankles and legs. It often affects the calves or shins, but it may also affect the thighs.
EIV can include large red patches, purple or red dots, and raised welts. It may itch, tingle, burn, or sting. It may also cause no physical sensations.
EIV is typically confined to exposed skin and doesn't occur under socks or stockings.
It's not dangerous or contagious. It usually resolves on its own. You'll typically see it clear up around 10 days after returning home, once you're away from the conditions that brought it on.
What's the best way to treat Disney rash?
Use cool washcloths or ice packs
If you're experiencing this temporary form of vasculitis, using a wet covering, such as a towel, on your legs can help treat it. Keeping your legs cool with ice packs or cold washcloths can also help soothe irritation and reduce swelling.
Apply anti-itch cream
If your rash is itchy, taking over-the-counter antihistamines or using topical corticosteroids may provide relief. You can also try using witch hazel towelettes or an itch-reducing lotion.
Stay hydrated
Don't let yourself get dehydrated. Drinking water and other fluids may help alleviate and prevent EIV.
Elevate your feet
It may be hard to rest while you're out and about on vacation, but try to build in rest breaks with your legs elevated whenever possible.
You may be able to do this while someone holds your place in ride lines and during snack or meal breaks. Ducking into air-conditioned kiosks or restrooms with seated areas can also help.
Check guest services
Disney and other theme parks typically have first aid stations throughout the facility. They may stock anti-itch cooling gel to use on your skin. You can also gear up with some ahead of time.
Soak your feet
When the day is done, treat yourself to a cooling oatmeal bath. Keeping your legs elevated overnight may also help.
How can you prevent Disney rash?
Anyone can get Disney rash, but women over age 50 may be most at risk, according to a 2015 article.
No matter your age or sex, you can take some steps to help prevent this condition during vacation.
Protect your skin from the sun
Research from 2016 indicates that keeping your legs and ankles covered with light clothing, such as socks, stockings, or pants, may help. This will reduce your skin's exposure to both direct and reflected sunlight.
Anecdotally, some people report that using sunscreen has the same effect.
Wear compression clothing
Older research from 2006 indicates that people who have already experienced an episode of EIV may be able to prevent future occurrences by wearing compression socks or stockings. Compression leggings and pants are also available.
However, more research needs to be done on the effectiveness of compression clothing in preventing EIVs.
Massage your legs
That same small study suggests manual lymphatic drainage massage could be of benefit as well.
This gentle massaging technique is geared toward draining lymph (fluid) out of the legs and increasing blood flow in both deep and superficial leg veins. Here's how to do it.
Drink water and go light on salt
Drink lots of fluids and avoid eating salty food. This will help prevent the swelling associated with EIV.
Wear moisture-wicking clothing
If it's hot and sunny, protect your legs from sun exposure by covering them with light-colored fabric or sunscreen.
If it's humid, try wearing moisture-wicking socks for added comfort. Covering your skin will help prevent further irritation.
What does Disney rash look like?
Here are some photos of Disney rash (exercise-induced vasculitis).
What else could it be?
In addition to EIV, here are some other rashes and skin irritations that may occur while you're on vacation:
Heat rash (prickly heat). Heat rash can affect adults or children. It occurs in hot, humid weather and results from skin-on-skin or fabric-on-skin chafing.
Urticaria. This condition is earmarked by hives brought about by raised body temperature. It can occur if you exercise strenuously or sweat profusely.
Sunburn and sun poisoning. Too much sun exposure can cause sunburn or sun poisoning to occur. Also known as sun allergy, this condition can result in a painful, itchy red rash and blisters. You can avoid it by using sunscreen or covering your skin with UV-protective fabric.
Contact dermatitis (allergy). While on vacation, you might be exposed to environmental irritants you're sensitive to or allergic to. These can include hotel soaps and shampoos and the detergent used to wash your bedding.
When to contact a doctor
Disney rash generally clears up independently, but you might need to see a doctor for more severe cases. A doctor can help you manage Disney rash if it:
is very Itchy or painful
lasts longer than 2 weeks
returns with other forms of exercise
A doctor might run tests to confirm that Disney rash is causing your symptoms. You'll likely be tested for allergies and other skin conditions with similar symptoms.
After Disney rash is diagnosed, you could be prescribed an antihistamine or a topical corticosteroid cream to help manage your rash.
Tips for staying cool and comfortable while on vacation
Disney rash may not be the only tourist-related malady you experience while on vacation. Here are some other vacation-related conditions and their fixes.
Preventing aching feet and legs
People claim to clock in anywhere from 5 to 11 miles per day at theme parks like Disney. That amount of walking is bound to take its toll on feet and legs.
Wearing well-fitting, comfortable shoes is a good way to ensure that your feet can handle the challenge. Make sure you choose footwear that allows your feet to breathe and provides ample support.
Choose footwear that's appropriate for hiking in hot weather, and your feet, legs, and back will all be in better shape at the end of the day.
Flip-flops and flimsy sandals may not be your best bet. But they're handy to keep with you for a quick change at the very end of the day.
Avoiding sunburn
Wear sunscreen, whether the sun is bright or you're walking around on a cloudy or hazy day. A hat and sunglasses can help protect your face and eyes. Also, consider opting for light-colored sun-protective clothing.
If you do get a sunburn, treat it with home remedies, such as aloe vera, oatmeal baths, or cool compresses. If your sunburn is blistered or severe, check in with your hotel doctor or stop by a theme park first aid station for treatment.
Staying cool
It can be hard to escape from heat and humidity at a theme park, but there are ways to stay cool on the go. Consider the following:
Carry a battery-operated or paper handheld fan. You can also find battery-operated fans that attach to strollers or can clip onto wheelchairs.
Use a personal, handheld water mister on your face, wrists, and the back of your neck for an instant cooldown.
Keep drinks in a small cooler with an ice pack or frozen bottle of water.
Wear a cooling bandana with activated polymers around your forehead or neck.
Wear a cooling vest. These usually use evaporative cooling or come with a cold-pack system.
Wear moisture-wicking fabrics to keep skin comfortable and dry.
The most important thing is to drink plenty of water or other hydrating drinks. They can be cold or not. Staying hydrated helps your body do what it does best to keep you cool: sweat.
Takeaway
It may be vacation, but a day at a theme park can be grueling, even if you're in excellent physical condition. At the end of the day, try to build in some quiet time when you can rest and recharge.
Getting a great night's sleep will also help rejuvenate you for the next day's fun. Drink lots of fluids, and avoid having too many dehydrating substances like alcohol and caffeine.
If you develop a Disney rash, plan to take a cool bath or shower, followed by an application of skin-cooling gel or ointment. Remember to elevate your feet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Experts issue warning over dangerous new insect species spreading across US: 'Managing them is not easy'
An invasive tick species from Asia is quickly multiplying across the eastern United States, and according to Patch, it's prompting concern from environmental officials. The Asian longhorned tick, first identified in the U.S. in 2017, has now been found in at least 17 states and is spreading particularly fast in southeastern Pennsylvania, where cases have surged by 150% over the last five years. Unlike most ticks, the Asian longhorned tick doesn't need a mate to reproduce. One female can lay up to 3,000 eggs, resulting in infestations so dense that wildlife officials have found hundreds of ticks on a single animal. "Managing them is not easy because of how numerous they are and how easily they can come back," Risa Pesapane, a preventive medicine professor at Ohio State University, said, per Patch. Luckily, there's no strong evidence linking these ticks to Lyme disease. However, their ability to transmit other illnesses, including a cattle disease called Theileria orientalis that causes severe anemia and fever, poses an urgent threat to food supply chains and native animal populations. Their rapid spread also puts pressure on local ecosystems. Asian longhorned ticks feed on a wide range of animals, from deer and raccoons to dogs, cats, cattle, and even squirrels and skunks. With their capacity for rapid growth and adaptability to mild, humid conditions, experts warn that they could eventually populate much of the eastern U.S. and parts of the West Coast. Invasions like this destroy biodiversity by outcompeting native tick species and disrupting predator-prey relationships that keep nature in balance. In a world already struggling with rising temperatures and shrinking habitats, the introduction of yet another aggressive species threatens to worsen existing issues. According to Patch, experts say prevention and early action are key. Pesticides can work, but only when applied directly. Even then, ticks often bounce back. The best approach is to keep pastures mowed, regularly check pets and livestock, and report sightings to local health officials. If you find a tick on you, store it in rubbing alcohol and contact your doctor or county health office. For pets and livestock, get in touch with your vet immediately. Perhaps most importantly, support efforts to protect native ecosystems. The more resilient our local wildlife and natural habitats are, the harder it is for invasive species to take hold. Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Community collaboration crucial in addressing homelessness in Abilene
ABILENE, Texas () – Young professionals gathered at the Community Foundation of Abilene for an 'Abi Chat' during the Abilene Young Professionals luncheon. Networking took a purposeful turn to address homelessness through collaboration with the West Texas Homeless Network. The West Texas Homeless Network (WTHN) is a coalition of organizations dedicated to advocating for action that realigns systems and resources to end homelessness in Abilene, rather than merely managing it. The WTHN is neither a non-profit nor a for-profit organization; instead, it focuses on helping communities prevent and eliminate homelessness through collaboration and strategic planning. The Executive Director of Abilene Hope Haven shared why events like this are important in keeping the conversation with the public and continuing to address the needs of the Big Country Homeless community. 'We have a great network of people. We always are going to need to fill different gaps, depending on what's going on in the climate of our community. But we have a wealth of providers in the network that are really good at doing a holistic approach to those experiencing homelessness,' Horton shared. Horton says the Abilene community's wealth of resources and willingness to work together are its strengths. Whether a person needs help with mental health, food insecurity, substance abuse, or any number of issues that homeless neighbors face, the network is ready and willing to step in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Forget 'biological age' tests — longevity experts are using an $800 under-the-radar blood test to measure aging in real-time
Doctors and scientists are using a blood plasma test to study longevity. The test measures proteins and can tell you about your organ health. This field of proteomics could one day help detect diseases like cancer before they start. Should you have that second cup of coffee? How about a little wine with dinner? And, is yogurt really your superfood? Scientists are getting closer to offering consumers a blood test that could help people make daily decisions about how to eat, drink, and sleep that are more perfectly tailored to their unique biology. The forthcoming tests could also help shape what are arguably far more important health decisions, assessing whether your brain is aging too fast, if your kidneys are OK, or if that supplement or drug you're taking is actually doing any good. It's called an organ age test, more officially (and scientifically) known as "proteomics" — and it's the next hot "biological age" marker that researchers are arguing could be better than all the rest. "If I could just get one clock right now, I'd want to get that clock, and I'd like to see it clinically available in older adults," cardiologist Eric Topol, author of the recent bestseller "Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity," told Business Insider. Topol said armed with organ age test results, people could become more proactive stewards of their own health, before it's too late. "When we have all these layers of data, it's a whole new day for preventing the disease," Topol said. "You see the relationship with women's hormones. You see the relationship with food and alcohol. You don't ever get that with genes." A test like this isn't available to consumers just yet, but it's already being used by researchers at elite universities and high-end longevity clinics. They hope it can become a tool any doctor could use to assess patient health in the next few years. A startup called Vero, which was spun out of some foundational proteomics research at Stanford University, is hoping to beta test a proteomics product for consumers this year. "Knowing your oldest organ isn't the point; changing the trajectory is," Vero co-founder and CEO Paul Coletta told a crowd gathered at the Near Future Summit in Malibu, California, last month. Coletta told Business Insider Vero's not interested in doing "wealthcare." The company plans to make its test available to consumers for around $200 a pop, at scale. Their draw only requires one vial of blood. The big promise of proteomics is that it could be a more precise real-time tool for tracking important but subtle changes that emerge inside each of us as we age. Genetic testing can measure how our bodies are built, spotting vulnerabilities in a person's DNA that might predispose them to health issues. Standard clinical measurements like a person's weight, blood pressure, or cholesterol readings are a useful proxy for potential health issues. Then there are the increasingly popular "biological age" tests available to consumers at home. Most of those look at "epigenetic changes" — how environmental factors affect our gene expression. Proteomics does something different and new. It measures the product that our bodies make based on all those genetic and environmental inputs: proteins. It offers a live assessment of how your body is running, not just how it's programmed. If validated in the next few years, these tests could become key in early disease detection and prevention. They could help influence all kinds of medical decisions, from big ones like "What drugs should I take?" to little ones like "How does my body respond to caffeine or alcohol?" Some high-end longevity clinics are already forging ahead using proteomics to guide clinical recommendations, albeit cautiously. Dr. Evelyne Bischof, a longevity physician who treats patients worldwide, said she uses proteomic information to guide some of the lifestyle interventions she recommends to her patients. She may suggest a more polyphenol-rich diet to someone who seems to have high inflammation and neuroinflammation based on proteomic test results, or may even suggest they do a little more cognitive training, based on what proteomics says about how their brain is aging. Dr. Andrea Maier, a professor of medicine and functional aging at the National University of Singapore, told BI she uses this measurement all the time in her longevity clinics. For her, it's just a research tool, but if the results of her ongoing studies are decent, she hopes to be able to use it clinically in a few years' time. "We want to know what kind of 'ageotype' a person is, so what type of aging personality are you, not from a mental perspective, but from a physical perspective," Maier said. "It's really discovery at this moment in time, and at the edge of being clinically meaningful." "Once we have that validated tool, we will just add it to our routine testing and we can just tick the box and say, 'I also want to know if this person is a cardiac ager, or a brain ager, or a muscle ager' because now we have a sensitive parameter — protein — which can be added," Maier said. The two big-name proteomics tests are Olink and SOMAscan. For now, their high-end screening costs around $400-$800 per patient. "I'm losing lots of money at the moment because of proteomics for clinical research!" Maier said. Top aging researchers at Stanford and Harvard are pushing the field forward, racing to publish more novel insights about the human proteome. The latest findings from Harvard aging researcher Vadim Gladyshev's lab, published earlier this year, suggest that as we age, each person may even stand to benefit from a slightly different antiaging grocery list. To research this idea, Gladyshev looked at proteins in the blood of more than 50,000 people in the UK, all participants in the UK Biobank who are being regularly tested and studied to learn more about their long-term health. He tracked their daily habits and self-reported routines like diet, occupation, and prescriptions, comparing those details to how each patient's organs were aging. He discovered some surprising connections. Yogurt eating, generally speaking, tended to be associated with better intestinal aging but had relatively no benefit to the arteries. White wine drinking, on the other hand, seemed to potentially confer some small benefit to the arteries while wreaking havoc on the gut. "The main point is that people age in different ways in different organs, and therefore we need to find personalized interventions that would fit that particular person," Gladyshev told BI. "Through measuring proteins, you assess the age of different organs and you say, 'OK, this person is old in this artery.'" For now, there's too much noise in the data to do more. Dr. Pal Pacher, a senior investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism who studies organ aging and injuries, told BI that proteomics is simply not ready for clinical use yet. There's just too much noise in the data. But he imagines a future where a more sophisticated protein clock could help link up which people may be most vulnerable to diseases like early cancer, kidney disease, and more. (A California-based proteomics company called Seer announced last weekend that it is partnering with Korea University to study whether proteomics can help more quickly diagnose cancer in young people in their 20s and 30s.) "How beautiful could it be in the future?" Maier said. "Instead of three hours of clinical investigation, I would have a tool which guides me much, much better, with more validity towards interventions." Read the original article on Business Insider
