Hello -
Has anybody experienced a rash from wearing a neoprene wetsuit? I have and would love some ideas if you’ve suffered the same issue. Thank you!
nope but…
– Last Updated: May-31-06 8:15 PM EST –
I wear a rash guard (like underarmor) under wetsuits. Other kayakers I know use body lubricant or vasoline under their wetsuits to prevent chaffing. The stuff is usually available in the endurance sections of sporting goods stores (for marathon runners, cross country skiers, etc).
Possible Allergic Reaction
Just hope you are not allergic to neoprene…or more specially, the carbo-chemicals that go into the production of neoprene. If you are…no permeable barrier such as a rash guard, will protect you from a reaction. The only suitable remedy is to switch to insulating attire that does not incorporate neoprene…not a simple proposition.
To date, the only material I have found that works is Polertec’s AquaShell, often referred to as “fuzzy rubber”. Downsides to this material are that it does not provide the heat-retention capacity of neoprene and it is not as durable…but at least my skin doesn’t break out.
Two outfitters that offer wetsuits and other water-ware of non-offending material, are RapidStyle and Bomber Gear.
Fresh Water Or Salt?
it seems salt water and chafing combine to give me a rash. First it was latex I thought I was allergic too. When I switched to neo, it was the same. Now, I apply 100 percent (food safe) silicone grease around the rub areas and I am good for hours of surfing (repeating dunkings). If you’re not repeatedly going over, then one application should last the whole day. Silicone does not hurt latex or neo. I have not had anyone reaction to it on my skin. I’ve been using the stuff for about 4 years now.
sing
If it was an allergic reaction
you should have had the rash everywhere it touched you and nowhere else. When I first used an NRS Hydroskin paddling shirt with nothing underneath it, I got some localized chaffing around friction points. This is prevented by wearing something underneath it like a rashguard shirt, polypro, coolmax, silk, or other wicking material.
I Spent Most of the Last Month…
I spent most of the last month scratching my back like a bear on every door facing, tree or outside corner I could find. Early in May, I spent 4 days on the Frog Bayou and Mulberry in NW Ark and wore the same Hydroskin FJ every day with either fuzzyrubber under or a polypro rash gaurd. About 24 hours after returning from this trip, I started itching in the center (slight right) of my back and it lasted for about 2 weeks. Not for sure if it was related, just sharing.
Jay
Not Necessarily
Certainly, there may be different kinds of dermatological reactions to neoprene…and not all of them are true allergic responses. The addition of a simple barrier such as a rash guard or a skin cream will, in most cases, reduce or eliminate the problem.
But if the condition is truly an allergic response, a layer of material between your skin and neoprene won’t block the offending carb-chemicals from leaching through. All it takes is a dunking…or even perspiring… and an allergic reaction can be triggered.
Unfortunately, I know way too much about this subject. After wearing traditional wetsuits while surfing for many, many years, my tolerance for neoprene went totally south. I now have to carefully avoid wearing any water-ware with the stuff. Try finding paddling jackets, gloves, booties and the like without neoprene somewhere in the product. Darn near impossible!!
thanks!
Thanks everyone for your feedback! It is definitely a rash - not from chafing. Luckily it’s not really itchy. I began paddling last June and started noticing around August that I was getting the rash on my thighs from neoprene shorts. Had my shortie wetsuit on last week and the rash is everywhere the neoprene was. What a drag! I’ll try all the suggestions and hope for the best, and then look into alternative materials. Has anyone tried a Benadryl type medication after paddling to see if that helps any?
sounds
like a heat rash…what part of the country are you in?
Best Wishes
Roy
heat rash?
well, maybe - I live in Maine and it was over 80 and humid when I paddled on Monday -
Helps
– Last Updated: Jun-01-06 7:34 PM EST –
Benadryl helps relieve the symptoms...but from my experience, not much.
Keep your fingers crossed that you are not actually allergic to neoprene. It took me a couple of years to accept that I was..even after it was confirmed by a dermatologist. Not until the outbreaks became pretty severe did I finally stop wearing neoprene altogether.
My current paddling "wardrobe" consists of all fuzzy rubber gear. Besides the two outfitters I mentioned above, another provider to check out is Mountain Surf
thank you JLK
I’m afraid I’m going to have to come to the same realization you did - but I am going to try a couple of things first. I have already started looking into the fuzzy rubber items. And I just started working as a Maine Guide and will be out on the water a ton this summer!
The iching
could be due to a fungal infection if the suit was not washed and dried everyday.
A+D lotion
used for diaper rash will prevent those nasty chafe spots, I wear a wetsuit up to 10 hours a day at work and preapply a generous supply before suiting up. behind the knees ,under arms, between , well you get the idea, that and washing your suit after use in fresh soapy water definately helps.
Second the rash guard
I wear one most of the time, without it, I sometimes get a rash. I have two, one is a longsleeve “skin” jumpsuit, the other is a loosefitting t-shirt type from O’Neill.
It’s Not That Simple
There is a big difference between irritation caused by “chaffing” and one caused by a true allergic reaction.
The former is fairly easily addressed by reducing or eliminating the friction points with either another layer of material…or the application of a lubricant. Surfers for years have applied Vaseline to the major contact points such as the neck and arm pits.
The elimination of inflammation caused by an allergen is a whole different matter. While the symptoms might be managed with selected medications, the only way to eliminate the problem is to abstain from exposing the skin to the offending agents. Eliminating neoprene from one’s paddling wardrobe is the only way to achieve relief.
I jump in on this one last time because I don’t want folks to think that layering…or washing articles with special soaps, will address the problem, IF the condition is allergy-based… Unfortunately…it’s not that simple.
Sounds like…
– Last Updated: Jun-02-06 11:51 PM EST –
not a common heat rash, at least any I ever had from wearing a wetsuit or neoprene. That kind of rash would appear at expected points like in the middle of my back, or chest, where I would normally be sweating more.
An allover body response sounds more like a reaction to the material itself. If you know someone who has dry or semi dry paddling clothes, maybe borrow them and put a light layer of synthetics between your skin and the outer layer and go paddling in similar temperatures. If you don't end up with a heat rash where you had a rash under the wetsuit, it may point to an allergic response.