Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Have a chat about any general surfing related topics.

Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby icetime » Sun Sep 25, 2016 11:40 am

Hey guys I need a little help here, during a 4 hour session yesterday on the 3rd hour I started to feel really bad pain on my back from my wetsuit so I pulled off the top and tied it behind my back and finished my session then got a nipple rash and went home with both back and nipple pain :lol:
The rash on my back is pretty bad, it bleeds very slightly after a session then it hurts for 2 days before healing
Is there anything I can sow/attach to my wetsuit to stop it from rashing me, I get rashes in the follow places:
Shoulder near arm, side of biceps (close to the arm pit) and side of my pec muscles (close to the arm pit) <- all the rashes happen specifically around the arm pits
PS: Vaseline and bandages did not work
Was the $170 wetsuit a terrible investment and I should go buy something else or is there any way I can make it not hurt me anymore
Quiver: Victory epoxy fish shortboard 6'6", KaiShapes Custom Shortboard 5'10"
Tech savvy guy, don't hesitate to PM for help as long as you return the favour with surfing advice ;)
User avatar
icetime
Local Hero
 
Posts: 369
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2016 11:28 am
Location: Phoenix Arizona

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby oldmansurfer » Sun Sep 25, 2016 5:05 pm

Move to Hawaii?
So what is worse.... dying or regretting it for the rest of my life? Obviously I chose not regretting it.
User avatar
oldmansurfer
Surf God
 
Posts: 8192
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:10 pm
Location: Kauai

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby DreamSurf » Sun Sep 25, 2016 5:34 pm

oldmansurfer wrote:Move to Hawaii?


u mean it has to do with sea?
It totally takes my brain and puts it on hold… it just smooths out the static.” – Katrina Del Mar
User avatar
DreamSurf
Local Hero
 
Posts: 219
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2016 7:32 pm
Location: Morocco Asilah

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby Lebowski » Sun Sep 25, 2016 6:25 pm

He means you don't need a wetsuit in Hawaii.
Lebowski
Local Hero
 
Posts: 409
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sun May 13, 2012 9:21 am

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby icetime » Sun Sep 25, 2016 7:10 pm

oldmansurfer wrote:Move to Hawaii?


I wish.
Can't afford going to Hawaii, costs way too much to get there let alone live there, plus it's hot all year round so there goes half of my closet :lol:
Quiver: Victory epoxy fish shortboard 6'6", KaiShapes Custom Shortboard 5'10"
Tech savvy guy, don't hesitate to PM for help as long as you return the favour with surfing advice ;)
User avatar
icetime
Local Hero
 
Posts: 369
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2016 11:28 am
Location: Phoenix Arizona

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby oldmansurfer » Sun Sep 25, 2016 7:16 pm

DreamSurf wrote:
oldmansurfer wrote:Move to Hawaii?


u mean it has to do with sea?

Yeah, the water temperature is high enough that you don't need to wear a wetsuit. I have used a wetsuit scuba diving but those are kind of optional also for me. Back when I paipo boarded I used a wetsuit but I didn't get it for helping me stay warm, I got it to help keep me from being injured by my paipo board. I used to go out in fairly big surf and would get slammed in the chest or abdomen by my wooden paipo board and get small injuries that would hamper my paipo boarding. The old style beaver tail wetsuit was the only one I could find on the island but it worked well then it was only my legs getting injured once in a while but that I could handle.
So what is worse.... dying or regretting it for the rest of my life? Obviously I chose not regretting it.
User avatar
oldmansurfer
Surf God
 
Posts: 8192
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:10 pm
Location: Kauai

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby billie_morini » Sun Sep 25, 2016 8:06 pm

icetime,
I wish I could suggest a solution for you. Many members in my family are allergic to common materials. The worst is my sister's allergy to latex. Latex tubing left a scare on her face following a dental procedure. Therefore, you have my deepest empathy. In the meantime, I'll try to think of something.
billie
User avatar
billie_morini
Surf God
 
Posts: 3467
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:07 am
Location: Santa Barbara

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby waikikikichan » Sun Sep 25, 2016 9:43 pm

One thing not so obvious, is a wetsuit needs to be wet. It needs a thin layer of water trapped between your body and neoprene to keep you warm. ALSO that water keeps the material from chaffing your skin. I used to get bad neck rash, so now the first thing I do is splash water on my neck as I paddle out. Notice all the rash is happening on the upper body not lower, so it shouldn't be allergy. I think it's just basic friction. So you can :
1) Get a inner rash guard
2) wipe out more to flush and lubricate the inside of the wetsuit.
Question: what type of seams ?
FL - flat lock
GBS - glued and blind stitched
Overlock - I hope you don't have that type
User avatar
waikikikichan
Surf God
 
Posts: 4783
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2014 11:35 pm
Location: Tokyo, Japan

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby dtc » Sun Sep 25, 2016 11:16 pm

I also suggest an inner rash guard. A tight rash vest or 'skins'. Like hikers, runners and the army know, two pairs of socks can help prevent blisters.

Also getting rashes near the armpit sounds like the suit it's either too tight or too loose in that area and is rubbing. An inner vest will help there as well
dtc
Surf God
 
Posts: 3833
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon May 21, 2012 4:58 am

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby saltydog » Mon Sep 26, 2016 4:19 am

Have you switched to a different wetsuit? Have you changed the way you wash it (or not washing it)? Has the ocean water quality change recently (pollutant, microscopic orgasms, etc.) Identifying the cause would help figure out the plan of action. Meanwhile assuming it wasn't the water quality I'd suggest a tight fitting rashie as well.
"For the rest of your life, you can't look at a wave without thinking about riding it."
User avatar
saltydog
SW Pro
 
Posts: 501
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2016 5:29 am
Location: So Cal

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby BaNZ » Mon Sep 26, 2016 4:02 pm

I always ALWAYS, wear a rash vest underneath it no matter what. Sometimes I also wear a rash pants (tights) lol. It makes life so much easier to get in and out of the wetsuit.
BaNZ
SW Pro
 
Posts: 1418
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 3:15 pm

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby icetime » Mon Sep 26, 2016 4:16 pm

Hey billie, the rash isn't caused by an allergy though I am allergic to wool , it's specifically from the movement of the suit on my back.
Everyone seems to be suggesting a rash guard underneath my westuit, only surf shop nearby is ripcurl, anything you guys would suggest specifically (how tight etc)?
Quiver: Victory epoxy fish shortboard 6'6", KaiShapes Custom Shortboard 5'10"
Tech savvy guy, don't hesitate to PM for help as long as you return the favour with surfing advice ;)
User avatar
icetime
Local Hero
 
Posts: 369
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2016 11:28 am
Location: Phoenix Arizona

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby BaNZ » Mon Sep 26, 2016 4:28 pm

It's always nice to have it "tight".

Actually I don't think it matters so much. If the wetsuit is slightly bigger, you will find that you're sliding inside the wetsuit! Can be annoying but you get used to it after 5-10 minutes.
BaNZ
SW Pro
 
Posts: 1418
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 3:15 pm

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby icetime » Mon Sep 26, 2016 4:40 pm

waikikikichan wrote:One thing not so obvious, is a wetsuit needs to be wet. It needs a thin layer of water trapped between your body and neoprene to keep you warm. ALSO that water keeps the material from chaffing your skin. I used to get bad neck rash, so now the first thing I do is splash water on my neck as I paddle out. Notice all the rash is happening on the upper body not lower, so it shouldn't be allergy. I think it's just basic friction. So you can :
1) Get a inner rash guard
2) wipe out more to flush and lubricate the inside of the wetsuit.
Question: what type of seams ?
FL - flat lock
GBS - glued and blind stitched
Overlock - I hope you don't have that type


Glue and stitches from what I can tell, definitely not overlock, I'm going to head to te surf shop and get my self a nicely fitting rashguard, I'll update you guys when I'm back
Quiver: Victory epoxy fish shortboard 6'6", KaiShapes Custom Shortboard 5'10"
Tech savvy guy, don't hesitate to PM for help as long as you return the favour with surfing advice ;)
User avatar
icetime
Local Hero
 
Posts: 369
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2016 11:28 am
Location: Phoenix Arizona

Re: Nasty and Painful wetsuit rash

Postby icetime » Mon Sep 26, 2016 5:23 pm

Got the rashguard and some wax, hopefully this is the end of the rashing, I also hope this thing won't make me overheat inside my wetsuit and have to fill it with water regularly
Banz, my wesuit is a perfect fit so the rashguard should be glud to me and not move that much
Quiver: Victory epoxy fish shortboard 6'6", KaiShapes Custom Shortboard 5'10"
Tech savvy guy, don't hesitate to PM for help as long as you return the favour with surfing advice ;)
User avatar
icetime
Local Hero
 
Posts: 369
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2016 11:28 am
Location: Phoenix Arizona


Similar topics

Return to Surf Chat