Long hot trail ride = heat rash on ankles and shins?

[anon38350891]

Update post 15: solution found!

I recently found a great group of horse ladies who ride in the south Texas summer heat like fiends - they are great fun, and I’ve gone on 2 longer - 3 to 5 hour - midday trail rides with them.

After which, I have had a mad heat rash on my ankles (area under my socks and a bit above, especially inner ankle). Second time worse than first although ride 2 was the shorter and “cooler” (95 degrees F.) ride. It’s not itchy but sort of stiff, and very unsightly. Angry-looking.

Anyone else get this, and know of any prevention?

In appearance it is very similar to the “hiker’s rash” described on this blog, but can’t be caused by the same thing! And mine is worse than his by a long shot. Takes days to fade away.

http://insuremekevin.com/hikers-rash-red-rash-between-knee-and-ankle-after-hiking-for-several-hours/

[tabula_rashah]

I have that problem too- esp with how humid it is where I live. Like yours, mine looks way worse that this guy’s. It kinda looks like big burns. Unfortunately I haven’t found anything to prevent it but I have a tea tree oil soap that I use afterwards that seems to calm it as does the aloe stuff one would normally use after sunburn. Definitely following this thread as I’d love to see if anyone has preventative suggestions !

[anon38350891]

[QUOTE=tabula rashah;8775755]
I have that problem too- esp with how humid it is where I live. Like yours, mine looks way worse that this guy’s. It kinda looks like big burns. Unfortunately I haven’t found anything to prevent it but I have a tea tree oil soap that I use afterwards that seems to calm it as does the aloe stuff one would normally use after sunburn. Definitely following this thread as I’d love to see if anyone has preventative suggestions ![/QUOTE]

On the hiker rash thread, some people reported that compression socks helped them a lot. But I can’t imagine adding another layer of clothing on these hot hot days! This was on the theory that blood is being pounded into the extremities and the heart is unable to pump as efficiently due to the heat.

[chicamux]

Horse sweat seems to be the cause for me.

[Palm_Beach]

LOL sorry OP but thought you were talking about a rash on your horse! Not much to offer other than try a natural fiber like cotton socks??? You might need taller boots or suede/leather leggings.

[Donkaloosa]

Try putting baby powder in your socks — might help. Once you have the rash, put some cortisone cream on it and that should help clear it up.

[dog_amp_horsemom]

be careful of baby powder - have heard of recent ads saying it causes ovarian cancer. Just reporting what I heard, not sure if it causes it if you put it in your socks but warrants some further checking on…

[stb]

i live in the land of heat and humidity, and every summer since I’ve been back into horses I end up with a heat rash on my chest. It is from spending too much time in a wet, sweaty sports bra. I’ve tried Benadryl spray, cortisone cream, powders, but none of them worked. Last week I tried putting aloe on it, and the rash cleared in 2 days. I’ve had it for a good six weeks, so I was thrilled it went away so quickly. I used aloe from a plant, not out of a bottle. Might be worth a try.

[Cuttergal]

For the itchy rash, it could be a yeast, Lotrimin and Miconozole work well together to heal it. I get heat rashes in a few uncomfortable places from all my riding and that’s my go to.

[csaper58]

1. How close to the ride, time wise, do you shave your legs? Assuming you do, this may be similar to razor rash.

2. Some folks have an allergic type of reaction to the rubbery thread that is used to make the upper part of socks stretchy (and in sports bras). It is often much worse in the heat.

Try different materials. Try silk or CoolMax sock liners, or maybe knee high stockings under your socks (I cut off the toe and the heel and make a stirrup foot).

There is a product called Glide. Just before you get dressed, wash legs with mild soap and water, rinse well, and dry. Apply Glide to lower leg, then put on socks.

There are also Zocks, by Ovation. They are specially made boot socks. They don’t seem to cause any problems.

[saddleup]

Try Anti Monkey Butt powder. I get mine at a bike shop. I get rashes after hot, sweaty rides, and love this stuff. My brother is a mountain bike fanatic and told me to try it. I just did a pack trip in Colorado and used it around my ankles, and didn’t get the rash I’d anticipated.

[Kelony]

I am following with great interest. I too get this under the top of my stocks and just above my paddock boot/sock line. Mine is so bad sometimes that it looks like a chemical burn! It typically doesn’t hurt and i have tried cortisone but it still takes a week to fade. Will try the monkey butt powder and i need to get an aloe plant !

[walkers]

To use Aloe properly cut a leaf off the plant, trim the thorns then split in half the long length of leaf. Take your finger nail and gentle scrape the inside of leaf and put that on your skin. It should be thick and gooey. If you don’t use whole leaf put in zip lock bag and then in your frig till you use it again.
Do not ingest aloe, look at FDA site, its a nasty chemical so do not inhale or take internally in any form.
The thing about baby powder related to women using it in the crotch area not on the rest of there body however corn starch powder or gold bond is a better choice for rash. Recently Dermatologist told me to use Sarna lotion. Its OTC
and works great for itchy rashy skin much better than my prescription cortisone cream.
Also nothing is better than vaseline to prevent chafing but of course its messy. Its used to prevent scarring after some surgeries .

[anon38350891]

Tomorrow I am taking all suggestions to heart and testing.

1. I have Monkey-Butt powder.

2. I have mostly cotton knee socks.

3. I have used aloe and cortisone to numb the previous rides’ hot red ankle sock rashes.

4. I plan to wear jeans which have loose lower leg fit and riding sneakers.= so no pressure on my shins.

5. I am hydrating and such.

I shall report back! Predicted temps 104. Predicted ride time 2 hours.

[anon38350891]

[QUOTE=saddleup;8781113]
Try Anti Monkey Butt powder. I get mine at a bike shop. I get rashes after hot, sweaty rides, and love this stuff. My brother is a mountain bike fanatic and told me to try it. I just did a pack trip in Colorado and used it around my ankles, and didn’t get the rash I’d anticipated.[/QUOTE]

Monkey Butt for president! Just kidding but this was indeed a total solution for me today, 102 degrees, 3 hour ride.

I used other suggestions too such as: not shaving legs before riding, avoiding the socks that had tight possibly aggravating elastic at the tops, and more.

I put the powder in light cotton knee socks, and also directly on my shins. Pulled the socks up carefully so as not to dislodge the powder. Shins are pristine! After riding I took off the socks and rolled up my jeans, and also rinsed off the shins with a damp paper towel.

So, even though I very nearly fainted from the heat when I dismounted (actually rested my head on my horse’s neck and blacked out for a second!) I do not have a rash or burn or whatever the heck it is.

I didn’t have the courage to go into a bike shop and say “Monkey Butt” so I ordered it from Amazon.

I also put Gold Bond powder in my sports bra and found that was quite cooling for awhile. Until the point of sweaty no-return.

Anyway, very grateful for all the tips and I am voting for Monkey Butt. If you ride in breeches you would not need the knee socks; maybe in fact I didn’t either but I was afraid the jeans would knock the powder off.

[Lisa_Preston]

Might the cause be bugs, either small insects or actual microbes, like a fungal or protozoal infection? It doesn’t make sense to me that your ankles are the one place on your bod that gets heat rash. The dependent position could back up circulation, but still, isn’t the tushy way hotter? So, if it’s a bug problem, I wonder about, say an alcohol wipe before and after. Might be worth a try.

[Bank_of_Dad]

I got the ankle rashes too. But, get this, I also got it walking around in sandals in really hot weather a few years ago. Several of us did.