neoprene allergy

[sam1]

A few hours after wearing my wetsuit in a swimming pool (with chlorinated water) I developed a rash over large areas of my body (which were covered by the wetsuit). Previously, the same wetsuit worn in salt water produced no symptoms over several dives. Since swimming in chlorinated water without the wetsuit also produced no symptoms, I concluded that it was the combination of the neoprene and the chlorine that caused the allergic reaction. Has anyone else experienced this reaction (neoprene O.K. except in the presence of chlorine)? What do you do about it (other than stay out of chlorinated water in a wetsuit!)?

Thanks.

Steve

 

[Footslogger]

Actually it's not me ...it's my wife and she gets a rash around her neck and wrists. It appears that some wetsuits use a different type of neoprene in those areas as a sealing surface. That "coated" neoprene is apparently irritative to some people, my wife being one of them. Some lotions and powder seem to lessen the effect but in the end the solution may be to cut away the material causing the problem.

First thing you might want to consider is a lycra suit. My wife got a lycra hood to wear under her wetsuit and the problem pretty much went away.

'Slogger