Itchy Legs after diving

[Mel.B]

Hi,

In the past 6 weeks or so, I have noticed that my legs (below the knees) get really really itchy after my first dive. During the first dive they are fine, but the itching starts about 10 - 20min after surfacing and continues until I take my suit off. Having a second dive doesn't relieve the itchiness and today I actually had to cut a dive short because it was driving me absoulutely crazy. After I take my suit off, the itching lasts for about half an hour and then settles down. This has happened after shallow dives (4m) and dives to 18m. I'm wearing a 7mm semi-dry that I've had for almost 12mths and it's never given me any problems until now.

At first, we thought it might be because I was shaving my legs before diving and the salt water was irritating the skin, but I didn't shave before the dives today and it still happened. I can't see any obvious rash on my legs.

Does anyone have any ideas what might be causing this, and what I can do to help stop the itching. Taking my suit off inbetween dives isn't really an option b/c it would be too much hassle to get it back on again. A couple of people have suggested massaging sorbalene cream or tea tree oil into my legs before I put on my suit.

Any help would be greatly appreiciated...I don't want to be stuck doing one dive a day b/c I'm too itchy to dive!!

Mel

 

[Scubaroo]

Errrrrrrrrr are you peeing in your wetsuit?

 

[Firediver]

Are you using any lotions before diving on your legs even a day before??

 

[mwilding]

Errrrrrrrrr are you peeing in your wetsuit?

yes, he is... :54:

 

[pipedope]

It sounds to me like it might be something in the suit.

Try a good cleaning.

You also might try wearing pantyhose under the suit.

The only times I had problems like this were from chemical burns from pumping concrete. We don't want wet concrete in contact with our skin but sometimes we find out after the fact. ouch

 

[Mel.B]

Errrrrrrrrr are you peeing in your wetsuit?

LOL - this was suggested to me yesterday. I know they say there are two types of divers, but no, I'm not peeing in my wetsuit

Also not using any lotions on my legs prior to diving (even the day before).

What would be the best stuff to get to wash out my suit. I normally just give it a good soak/rinse in warm water.

Thanks,
Melissa

 

[pipedope]

Turn the suit inside out and wash it out well and then rinse very well.

Do you let the suit dry inside out or right side out?

If there is any smell to it I would use 'Sink The Stink'.

 

[Mel.B]

Thanks Pipedope, I'll give it a go tonight. I normally dry my suit inside out.

Mel

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Given that you are using a 7mm semi-dry I assume you are diving cold water.

I have a similar problem in cold water (around 45 degrees or colder) in my semidry. But the itching is confined to the area below the leg seal and right next to the ankle zippers where the skin gets colder.

Living in the frozen north, I get the same thing on exposed skin if I run around in knee deep snow for a half hour or snow in just a pair of shoes and the itching can be really hard to bear.

Consequently my personal feeling on this is that the itching is due to the re-warming that is occurring in the skin in the affected area after the dive and the consequent increase in blood flow to capilaries that have been restricted during the dive.

If you are diving cold water this may be the problem. In your case the situation could also have been aggravated recently if the suit is tight and is resticting blood flow to the lower legs during the dive. Your suit may have lost some of it's strech since you bought it or it may have gotten tighter as muscles in your calf have developed.

 

[DandyDon]

What would be the best stuff to get to wash out my suit. I normally just give it a good soak/rinse in warm water.

Water alone will not clean it well, will it PipeDope? I was taught to use mild soap, then rinse and dry.

DA gave you a good suggestion. If that doesn't it it, though...

Either of your parents or any of your siblings have blood sugar problems? I am not medically trained beyond Vet Assist, but I'm thinking outloud here...

don