Wetsuit Allergy- Anyone else out there?? Please help

[Falz24]

Hello,

I recently have discovered that I have a VERY pronounced reaction to my Rip Curl Flash Bomb e4 wetsuit. Wondering if anyone else has found a solution to this and particularly wondering if the new PATAGONIA YULEX has solved the problem for anyone. Here is some background info on what's going on if anyone cares to read:



In the past I have owned rip curl, o'neill, and xcel and have never had a reaction like this. I have had milder reactions and just dealt with it but this is so prounounced that I am really starting to have a hard time.

I have tried washing it with no avail. I did some googling and it turns out that many people are allergic to compounds called rubber accelerators that are used in the neoprene manufacturing process and people are also allergic to the adhesives/glue. I finally went to my allergist and we are in the process of patch testing various chemicals and I am getting samples from different wetsuit manufacturers as well to patch on my skin to see if there is a reaction.

The reaction is awful. The skin raises up and gets extremely raw and itchy for several days after I wear my suit. Mostly on my lower body and legs but also slightly on my armpits and opposite side of my elbow. This is very likely due to the fact that these are areas of the wetsuit that carry the most water and water seems to be medium that the chemicals travel through to my skin. People with similar experiences have tried using a base layer and it does not help for this very reason. Water transmits the checmicals causing the reaction.

I am definitely not the only person experiencing this and am wondering if the new Patagonia Yulex wetsuits have solved the problem for people. They are obviously very new on the market but have been around long enough that hopefully some people here can give feedback on.

Thanks for your help!!

[Jester]

You have an allergist but do you have a doctor or a really good chemist you could see?

[oldmansurfer]

Did you try contacting Ripcurl? Well you can always move to the tropics. You could have a neoprene allergy http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9693703

[Falz24]

Yes I have contacted rip curl and they can't give out info on the materials used in the wetsuit because they are trade secrets. I have read that article in the link in the past and it describes what I have to the T.

[Jester]

With allergies you could try exposing yourself to mild doses of it daily to build up a resistance perhaps? Take a patch and place it on the most likely hot spots for a minute at a time and gradually get longer and longer? Just a thought

[Falz24]

With allergies you could try exposing yourself to mild doses of it daily to build up a resistance perhaps? Take a patch and place it on the most likely hot spots for a minute at a time and gradually get longer and longer? Just a thought

I've never heard of getting rid of an allergy that way. I would imagine the allergist would have recommended I try that. I already surf at least once a week usually 2-3 times so I'm getting plenty of exposure to it

[Jester]

Try a barrier cream on the affected areas when you go. You mentioned a few brands, have you tried billabong? You're on a forum for surfers not health care professionals, this isn't the best place to seek medical advice so your GP is your best port of call beyond that is just well intentioned musings unless someone here has EXACTLY the same symptoms and EXACTLY the same cause who's already found a solution.

Try it, what have you got to lose? If you have complete faith in the allergist ask them about the Patagonia.

[Jester]

Have a look through here:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11950&start=20

Interesting that rip curl do seem to be a bit of a culprit so possible they use something more than other manufacturers.

[oldmansurfer]

Interesting that rip curl do seem to be a bit of a culprit so possible they use something more than other manufacturers.

Yeah neoprene allergy is thought to be due to various additives used in manufacture which apparently the manufacturers don't want to let the public know. Thus patch testing with the various brands is the thing to do I guess.

[Jester]

Check out page 4 of that thread especially falz, there's a stated reply from Patagonia. The whole thread is a good read. I learnt a lot!

[Falz24]

That thread was very helpful. That was my experience when I called rip curl. They wouldn't tell me about the composition of the wetsuit because it's a "trade secret". It's a shame. So I am getting samples from several manufacturers to patch test. It's really awful

[Jester]

Also note what Patagonia said, it may be hard even with patches because each suit is made of diff combinations and each individual may have built up this allergy over time so patch testing may not correctly reveal anything.

Barrier creams were mentioned along with double layers of socks but NO latex as that exacerbates contact dermatitis. Lay off the surfing in a wetsuit for a while and outmeal cream is very good. So OMS is right basically, move somewhere warmer!! Sorry buddy

[billie_morini]

Falz,
am very sorry you are having this problem. You get sympathy and empathy from me. No, I'm not allergic to neoprene, but I have severe allergies to many common things. I hope you find a good solution.
billie

[dmann200]

I too have a wetsuiteallergy. I have been using Oneill Psycho wetsuits for some time. Currently I own a Psycho 3. I have had an allergic reaction for several years. My rash is limited almost exclusively to my belly button region. However, if allowed to expand over time, it will advance as far as my chest. I have found several things that can attenuate/eliminate the reaction.

First, the reaction is accentuated by exposure to sunlight. Therefore, I do not remove my wetsuit at the beach. I wear it on the way home and take it off in the bathroom at home. Then I immediately take a shower and scrub the area with soap. For a while this was successful at knocking the rash out entirely, but recently it has not been enough.

Recently I bought a Rip Curl rash guard made of polyester and spandex. I can easily cover the sensitive areas with this. This has been effective at eliminating the rash altogether.

I appreciate your post because I am thinking of switching away from Oneill and buying a Rip Curl, but it sounds like the reaction you get from Rip Curl is even worse!! No I don't know which brand to go with.

[dmann200]

With allergies you could try exposing yourself to mild doses of it daily to build up a resistance perhaps? Take a patch and place it on the most likely hot spots for a minute at a time and gradually get longer and longer? Just a thought

Hi Jester, allergies don't work that way. Quite the opposite. Once your cells identify a threatening chemical, they notify other cells to be on guard for this substance. Therefore the second time you are exposed the reaction is more intense. Your body does not "acclimate" but rather builds up more and more defenses.

[oldmansurfer]

Actually allergies do work like that. The mainstay of allergy therapy is desensitization which is slowly increasing the amount of allergens a person is exposed to in an attempt to normalize the reaction to the allergen.

[AngusBrown]

I also have the same exact problem. Did you ever manage to find a solution?

[ralu]

Hello there!
Glad to find this topic.
I have exactly the same problem cased by a Rip Curl Dawn Patrol 5/3 mm. I'm sure it's the glue in the GBS stitches since all my rashes appear only where the stiches are. I have also a 1mm Bomb Shell (no glue on the stitches) and no problem with it so far. I tried taping the stiches , wearing an Under Armour base layer, wearing the 1mm neoprene under the 5mm one... this last one seemed to give the best results, but at the price of confort.
I have a Roxy 3/2 mm - no GBS stitches - and I love it. Is there any 5 mm without glue? If not, I will probably try a different brand's glue ... If you happen to do this before I do, leg me know who the winner is. Good luck!

[fourzerowinks]

I think I've contracted the same thing. It started as a small splotch on my wrist but gradually has taken over my entire body. The rash gets worse and flares up when I surf. I've shared an image of what it looks like. Can someone let me know if there's is similar? Pretty much my symptoms last for over a week and the areas that are rashed get hot and itch really bad. Thanks

[jaffa1949]

First question I would ask, Is it a second hand wetsuit? If so think possible tinea ( jock itch type fungal infection).
If new or secondhand could be an allergic reaction to the neoprene rubber, some people are sensitive to it.
Hot and itchy certainly describe the symptoms of allergic contact Dermatitis . Buy a rash vest and wear it under the wetsuit, until you get one, a cotton T shirt might help.
If this doesn't work you need to talk to your GP and see a skin specialist. Good luck!