Got rash on my feet after visiting Olympic peninsula - wonder, what can cause it?

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by grouse789

Chiggers??

Maybe sand fleas bites?

[Nodpete]

It's called the 'West coast liberal rash' very contagious and it eats your brain and you lose the ability to think for yourself!

[musicfamly5]

Originally Posted by BusyMeAK

Two weeks ago I went to Olympic peninsula, did a bit of walking on the beach and on trails, and came home with a red rash on my feet - slightly itching, but nothing really bad. Then feet become swollen. A week or so later swelling ended, but rash spots are still present, - not red anymore, but like drying blisters. No pain at all, just ugly. Does anybody know about some plants or, worse, microscopic bugs that can cause it? I didn't walk barefoot, just sneakers with crew socks.

It's honestly hard to tell without seeing the spots and having a clear idea of how the rash came to be. I know that I've gone to the peninsula every summer since I was a child and never had something you've described even when walking on the beach, even without anything covering my legs or feet. Then again anything can happen in one instance so who knows.

Did you come with anyone else and do they have similar issues? If no one else has it then there is a good chance you walked through something you're allergic to or a different medical problem going on with you rather then a problem picked up from the beach. I haven't heard of any problems on the peninsula about people getting infected, having prolonged rashes, or bug problems so it's not an ongoing issue here or something that others have encountered.

I know you said you don't want or trust going to a medical professional, but I really don't see who else can help you get to the bottom of it. If it's still a problem I would say it's most likely not from your visit, and you should seek professional medical help despite your insistence that they won't help; trust me, any doctor can help much more then random strangers on the internet who don't even know what the issue looks like, let alone know how your past/current health and body issues may contribute to this issue.

[rantiquity]

Originally Posted by Nodpete

It's called the 'West coast liberal rash' very contagious and it eats your brain and you lose the ability to think for yourself!

Eh...Clallam county and Sequim supported Trump in the 2016 election.

[happygrrrl]

I’ve been on those beaches at all times of the year and never experienced this.

In the woods I always wear boots and socks.

I’ve experienced chiggers, they itch and burn like mad, but that was during August in the Arkansas Ozarks, during heat and high humidity, which is the kind of climate that chiggers thrive in, to my understanding. I don’t think Western Washington is the right environment for chiggers.

Did you stay in a short-term rental? Could it be bed bugs?

It sounds like you should see a medical professional

[Drew8888]

Supposedly, chiggers are not found in WA state. But I have seen them (the actual tiny red mite) several times. And I'm pretty sure I have been bitten up pretty well by them on a couple of occasions. I've also been bitten by sand fleas. They itch about the same!


You can determine which one bit you by looking at the bite:


https://chiggersbite.com/chigger-bites-vs-flea-bites/

[BusyMeAK]

Thanks everybody!
I'd go dee a medical help if there were any more or less serious symptoms like fatigue, fever, severe itch etc., but after spending a day with these bites and no major problems, I thought I'd rather wait.

No, it's not a liberal rash - I'm immune to it
Yes, my DH also had same issue, only lighter - he wore thicker socks, I think. Bedbugs aren't likely - they usually prefer plump body areas, not skinny feet ) And you can see if there were bugs in the morning - on the bed sheets.

Skin is getting better, no other symptoms have manifested since, so whatever it was I hope I'm fine now, and our local Drs, even if I did go to them, have no idea about WA bugs or plants. Anyway, totally late to visit doctors now )
Drew8888, mine looked even smaller than both these options, just very small bright red dots.
But lesson learned - will use some repellent next time I wonder into beautiful rainforests!