Sillicon Allergy

[Sabrina]

Hi!! I think I am allergic to sillicon in the mask, I get acne everytime I dive and it is getting worst. Has any one seen a case like this? is there any solution? are there non-sillicon masks in the market? is there any way to cover sillicon in the mask and regulator? is there any test I can do to make sure this is the origin of my problems.
I will really appreciate any help!.
Regards,
sabrina

 

[fisherdvm]

Acne often grow at point of pressure (cap, mask, collar, purse, chin strap, sport gears, etc). This is not an allergic dermatitis. See a dermatologist if you truely think it is an allergy - they can do patch testing to prove it.

Base on what you have said, your problem is pressure induced acne, and not an allergic reaction.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Sabrina,

How unpleasant.

It is possible to develop a contact allergy to "silicone" products such as those used in making the skirts of most dive masks. However, it is rather rare. As such, your inquiry begs a few questions:

1. Does your "acne" follow the general outline of where the mask contacts the skin?

2. When you go diving, do you apply products on your face that you do not use at other times, e.g., sunscreen, sunblock, moisturizing lotion?

3. Do you have any history of problems with acne, rashes or other dermatological disorders?

4. Are you taking any medications?

5. Do you keep your mask clean and dry when not in use; has it ever been disinfected?

In answer to your question, "Is there any test I can do to make sure this is the origin of my problems?," a dermatologist can perform contact allergy testing to assess for reactivity to silicone and kindred polymers.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[muddiver]

If you really HAVE to dive and you accually have an allergy, Kirby Morgan makes to EXO-26 which has a neoprene face seal. But, you will be corssing over into full face mask diving and you will have to get more training to endure the riggers of being warmer during your dive, being less suseptable to drounding and the danger of opening the possability of using underwater communication. Oh, and it looks really stupid compaired to the standard low volume SCUBA mask and stuff in your mouth regulator.

 

[DocVikingo]

Love your sense of humor, muddiver. Thanks for the laugh.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[Sabrina]

Thanks for the advise, perhaps I will have to do that.... hopefuly not!

 

[Sabrina]

Docvikingo...
Yes, it is very very umpleasent, once in maldivas I felt so ugly that decided not to leave my room during the morning and lose the dive .
Answering your questions:
1. Does your "acne" follow the general outline of where the mask contacts the skin?. NO, not really, the acne is in the forehead, around nose and in the chin (this makes me think is not the mask...and the regulator does not touch it neither....)

2. When you go diving, do you apply products on your face that you do not use at other times, e.g., sunscreen, sunblock, moisturizing lotion? NO.I use sunscreen but as in any other ocassions.

3. Do you have any history of problems with acne, rashes or other dermatological disorders?
NO, not even being a teenager, It all started with diving

4. Are you taking any medications? NO

5. Do you keep your mask clean and dry when not in use; has it ever been disinfected? YES, not disinfected...but It used to happen with any mask, not just my mask.

Yes, I am visiting a dermatologyst next week. Thanks very much for your advise.

 

[Sabrina]

Dear fisherdvm,
I went to see the dermatologyst and she told me it was acne, and that it seemed an alergy...but we do not know to what....
Now that you mention, is it possible that pressure (ATMs over me) can cause this? I think the deeper I dive the worst it gets...I thought it could be because of nitrogene, but some specialist in diving medicine told me that would be very unlikely....
thanks for your comments!, I really appreciate them!

 

[DocVikingo]

I went to see the dermatologyst and she told me it was acne, and that it seemed an alergy...but we do not know to what....
Now that you mention, is it possible that pressure (ATMs over me) can cause this? I think the deeper I dive the worst it gets...I thought it could be because of nitrogene, but some specialist in diving medicine told me that would be very unlikely..../QUOTE]

Hi Sabrina,

This is turning out to be a bit of a puzzler.

However, you can eliminate nitrogen as a cause. There simply is no mechanism whereby the increased partial pressures of nitrogen inherent in recreational scuba could cause acne--it is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and most importantly, an almost entirely inert gas (i.e., not readily reactive with other elements; forming few or no chemical compounds; non-irritative).

Increased ATMs in and of themselves also would be extraordinarily unlikely to cause acne. It would be possible that they might make the mask press more firmly upon the face and contribute to acne mechanica, a form of acne caused or aggravated by prolonged pressure. However, this type of acne is also caused or aggravated by heat, covered skin and repetitive friction against the skin, so these will have to be ruled out.

The dermatologist did not appear to be concerned about a silicone allergy as no sensitivity testing was suggested, and this makes sense as that specific allergy is quite uncommon.

One experiment you may wish to consider is to buy a mask with a non-silicone containing skirt. There used to be plastic ones included in inexpensive Wal-Mart-style snorkeling sets and the like, but I haven't seen any in many years. If your face again breaks out, you know it's not a silicone allergy.

In the meantime, don't use anything on your face, e.g., bronzer, sunscreen, steroid cream, that you don't also use on other occasions without problem. Avoid diving in dirty or polluted water. Keep your hands away from your face until they've been thoroughly washed.

Please keep us posted.

Helpful?

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual and should not be construed as such.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[David Wilson]

It's ironical that silicone masks were first introduced to provide alternative eyewear for divers suffering from rubber allergies. If you don't have the latter, then there are still some ordinary neoprene or natural rubber masks, not just full-face ones, on the market. When I started diving in the 1960s, rubber masks were the norm and I've never seen any reason to change to silicone as I don't suffer from allergies.

Here are some examples of rubber dive masks still available today:

Cressi Pinocchio
http://www.divingdirectshop.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=90&products_id=468

IST Tortuga Black Rubber Mask
http://www.joediveramerica.com/page/JDA/PROD/msk/M27

Oceanways Classic Pacific Mask
http://www.onlinescuba.com/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=4066

There are plenty of other sources. The French diving equipment manufacturer Beuchat, the company that invented the JetFin, still make a range of rubber dive masks.