Drysuit neck seal burn

[90to90]

In the last year I have started to sometimes develop what looks and feels like rope burn around my neck after diving in my drysuit. It definitely doesn't happen everytime, and it just effects my neck, not my wrists. I have one drysuit that has a latex neck seal and it happens almost every dive, and another drysuit with a silicon neck seal that causes the burn about 50% of the time. Neither seal is too tight. Sometimes it happens after the first dive and sometimes only after repeat dives. I am not sure what is happening because I never used to have this problem. Is it an allergic reaction? Is it the salt? Is my neck skin just getting old? Is there anyone else out there experiencing this, and if so, have you found an effective way to prevent it? Sick of people asking if someone tried to strangle me lol.

 

[steinbil]

I had this exact problem for a long time. The only solution that works 100% of the time for me is the Apollo Bio Seal (neck). It's a silicone sleeve that sits between your neck and the neck seal of the dry suit. It keeps me dry (even when turning my head a lot or scootering) and has completely eliminated neck burns. It's easy to get in EU, not sure about US distribution.

 

[chthonicly]

I had this exact problem for a long time. The only solution that works 100% of the time for me is the Apollo Bio Seal (neck). It's a silicone sleeve that sits between your neck and the neck seal of the dry suit. It keeps me dry (even when turning my head a lot or scootering) and has completely eliminated neck burns. It's easy to get in EU, not sure about US distribution.

They are easy to get in the US online. They are also the only thing for me which totally stops this. I have to wear them on my wrists too if I'm not wearing dry gloves.

 

[DANDM]

I just put a bit of lubricant around my neck and it seems to do the trick. Not just on the neck seal, but on my skin directly.

 

[90to90]

I just put a bit of lubricant around my neck and it seems to do the trick. Not just on the neck seal, but on my skin directly.

Ahhh yeah I always lube the seal but haven't tried lubing my neck as well. Will def try that!

 

[Germie]

You dive in salt water I guess. I have it only in salt water. It is from the saltcrystals between seal and skin.

I put after the dive babycream on it. And sometimes lubricant on the seal. Further I do nothing. After a few days it starts to get less painfull. But it will not go away as long as I dive salt water.

The bioseal is no solution as it makes your neck thicker, so the neckseal is not fitting right anymore. So for me no solution.

In fresh water I never have it.

 

[Still Kicking]

This also happens more often as the seal ages. Not sure if the seal becomes slightly abrasive with age or whether is releases irritants (note the stickiness that old latex gets).

Bioseal is one option but it is usually a sign that the seal is getting toward the end of its life.

 

[blatter]

Latex allergy is a thing.

I get a similar rash with latex neck seal after several hours. Latex wrist seals don't cause any problems at all for me, and silicone neck seal also starts to irritate and mark skin so no allergy for me. Have tried looser fit with no success. I find neoprene neck seals are much more comfortable for long term use and warmer as well. Even when the correct size, neo seals do not seem to keep out water as well as either latex or silicone. My current strategy is to use the Waterproof replaceable neo neck seal on Sitech neck rings with Apollo Bioseal. This keeps water out at least as well as silicone or latex (not leaked a drop in a few hundred dives), is warm and remains very comfortable even after 12 hours continuous use. Downsides: Bioseal is another thing to forget/maintain and it is more difficult to put on.

 

[GF99/99]

Not that it helps right now but next time you have to replace your neck seal try and neoprene one. I had this same thing but once I switch to neoprene never had any issues. I also find neoprene to be waaaay more comfortable. But I am one of those people that really likes neoprene. They are a love hate relationship.

 

[Still Kicking]

Not that it helps right now but next time you have to replace your neck seal try and neoprene one. I had this same thing but once I switch to neoprene never had any issues. I also find neoprene to be waaaay more comfortable. But I am one of those people that really likes neoprene. They are a love hate relationship.

I like neoprene. Way more comfortable and much more durable. They do leak a bit sometimes but hey, it's a drysuit (not a DRY SUIT).