Your guide to common holiday itches, rashes and bumps
with Dr Elise Dallas
Dr Elise Dallas, private GP at the London General Practice Harley Street, recently contributed to an article outlining 12 of the most common skin rashes and irritations that can be experienced over the summer season.
1. Tiny, itchy red bumps
Possible cause: Heat rash
Heat rash tends to appear in hot or humid conditions. It shows up as clusters of small red spots or tiny blisters, often forming in areas where sweat builds up such as the neck, chest or back.
2. Itchy red or pink spots, small blisters, or blotchy patches
Possible cause: Sun allergy
Also called polymorphic light eruption (PMLE), this reaction can develop after the first strong sun exposure of the year or during a sunny holiday. It affects around 10–15 per cent of people in the UK, most commonly women. The rash typically appears on areas not regularly exposed to sunlight, such as the arms, legs, chest and ears.
Dr Elise Dallas of the London General Practice advises avoiding further sun exposure while the rash is active and using a high-protection SPF 50 broad-spectrum sunscreen. Moisturisers, calamine lotion, and oral antihistamines can ease symptoms, while more severe cases may require short courses of steroid treatment.
3. Streaky red patches that blister and leave dark marks
Possible cause: Margarita burn (phytophotodermatitis)
This reaction occurs when substances like citrus juice or certain plant saps come into contact with the skin and are then exposed to sunlight, leading to blistering and pigmentation changes.
4. Small red or white spots around hair follicles
Possible cause: Holiday folliculitis
Warm, humid conditions encourage bacterial growth, which can inflame hair follicles. This results in spots appearing anywhere hair grows, including the legs, chest, back, face, armpits and groin.
5. Itchy red bumps beneath swimwear
Possible cause: Seabather’s eruption
This rash can develop shortly after swimming in the sea, sometimes within minutes or up to 24 hours later. It is caused by jellyfish or sea anemone larvae becoming trapped under swimwear and stinging the skin.
Dr Dallas recommends removing swimwear promptly and rinsing the skin. Vinegar may help neutralise any remaining stingers, while mild steroid creams or antihistamines can relieve itching.
6. Itchy, tingling skin with small red pimples after freshwater swimming
Possible cause: Cercarial dermatitis (swimmer’s itch)
This condition is an allergic reaction to microscopic parasites found in water, typically released by infected snails or birds.
6. Itchy, tingling skin with small red pimples after freshwater swimming
Possible cause: Cercarial dermatitis (swimmer’s itch)
This condition is an allergic reaction to microscopic parasites found in water, typically released by infected snails or birds.
7. Small itchy bumps in lines or clusters
Possible cause: Bed bug or flea bites
Bites from bed bugs or fleas often appear in rows or grouped patterns, commonly around the ankles. Horsefly bites differ as they tend to be larger, painful and may bleed.
8. Expanding “bullseye” rash
Possible cause: Tick bite (possible Lyme disease)
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by ticks. It often begins with a slowly enlarging red rash that can develop a characteristic bullseye appearance over days or weeks.
9. White, flat, scaly patches
Possible cause: Pityriasis versicolor
This harmless condition is caused by an overgrowth of yeast naturally present on the skin, leading to pale patches that may become more noticeable after sun exposure.
10. Intensely itchy, winding red lines on the skin
Possible cause: Cutaneous larva migrans
Often picked up from contaminated sand on tropical or subtropical beaches, this infection is caused by hookworm larvae moving under the skin, creating distinctive creeping tracks.
11. Dry, rough, scaly patches
Possible cause: Actinic keratoses
These sun-related patches often feel rough, like sandpaper, and are typically small (around 1–2 cm). They result from long-term sun exposure.
12. Changing moles
Possible cause: Possible skin cancer
Ultraviolet exposure is the leading cause of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. While most moles are benign, any noticeable changes in size, shape or colour should be assessed promptly.
If you have a skin irritation or rash and I concerned, then please don’t hesitate to reach out and make a private appointment with us here at our central Harley Street practice. Our team of specialised doctors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.