Help - Recurring rash after diving in cozumel

[Wanna_dive_more_often]

We dove in cozumel in May 2016 and my daughter got a rash from what We thought was fire coral. Now March 2017. First day diving she was fine. Second day we went to the same site as May 2016 where she got the rash the first time and she got the rash again. It's raised bumps that are very itchy and it spreads. She originally just had it on her wrist and then a day later it spread to her abdomen and now 3 days in it has spread to her jawline. anyone know what is causing this and how to treat it?

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Does she remember getting stung by anything? Was she wearing a wetsuit or dive skin? Looks like bather's eruption from the photos.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Does she remember getting stung by anything? Was she wearing a wetsuit or dive skin? Looks like bather's eruption from the photos.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[bamafan]

Chechen tree? Are you sure it happened in the water?

 

[chillyinCanada]

Are the thimble jellyfish about? It is spring. If she had them get into her suit, that can be problematic too.

 

[flyboy08]

Could be a reaction from the neoprene wet suit?

 

[dlofting]

Don't know what it is for sure, but looks and sounds exactly like what I had in Coz two years ago. I thought it was fire coral, but I may be wrong. It took about two weeks to go away completely.

 

[Bubblesong]

Can you recall the name of the dive location that this happened? Also whether the stung area was covered by exposure or bathing suit or open to sea water. Did any other divers report stings?

 

[scubadada]

Looks like Seabather's Eruption to me. I assume they have this in Cozumel, but do not know for sure, it is most common in Florida. You might want to ask knowledgable locals. Some people, like my wife, seem to have more severe cases and recurrences, perhaps due to their degree of reaction to the toxin from the sting. I have had a couple of mild occurrences on my wrists and ankles while wearing a full wetsuit. I treat the rash with 1% hydrocortisone cream, available over the counter. Antihistamines may help if the rash is very pruritic. Important to wash bathing clothes as larvae may be trapped in them. Not much you can do to avoid contact if you want to enjoy the water.
Seabather's Eruption-Topic Overview

 

[lowflyer]

I have found that over-the-counter, topically applied Benadryl Gel can be useful for the itching in these situations.