Red Noose marks

[Jules]

just come back from 3 days diving and I have a sore red line round my necy from my latex suit seal. Anyone got any suggestions on how to avoid this in future? I t looks like I have been garroted and it's really sore.

jules

[daz]

KY Jelly...

Honest.

[Paul Beal]

Sudacream works very well too (available from any chemist - it is oil based so eventually perishes your neck seal, meaning you have a good excuse to change to a neoprene one

Paul

[Davey Willo]

Julie the biggest cause of noose neck is the build up of salt, try rinsing the latex neck seal with fresh water between dives and I'll guarantee it'll stop happening...

BTW as you developed this during your fantastic trip to Mull while i was stuck at home doing family stuff I'll try to still feel sorry for you..... but it's hard...  

[parahandy]

Everyone who is in a dry suit for a few days suffers from this.
As Daz mentions Lubricating Jelly (KY) or Boot's own brand which is cheaper, applied around the neck seal helps.

Dave says the salt does it I guess some sort of moisturiser cream after the dive will help

[Jules]

now I come to think of it I have got a lot slacker about rinsing my suit of late so maybe that's the cause, and yes it did happen this weekend in Mull. Will try all of the above and see if it stops happening.

[John Gulliver]

I get it too on multiday dive trips unless I use KY jelly – I'm fine on a one-day trip. Apply liberally before every dive, starting before the first dive. Never mind the funny looks and remarks. I don't know whether it's abrasion from dried salt or something else that causes it but whatever the cause, KY jelly DOES work.

[Darren27]

Could be an allergic reaction to the latex.  Lots of people are allergic to it.  Also you can easly become allergic to it by repeated exposure.  One you are allergic there is not much else you can do about it.

Try E45 cream to sooth the skin, if that dosent work try the HC45 from the pharmacist (same but has a bit of hydrocautizone in it).  If they dont work then its a good sign that it is something more than just a bit of irritation from the seal/salt etc.

Hope that helps.

Darren

[KimH]

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I have suffered a lot with this and it actually gets worse if I use KY or anything similar. &nbsp;I actually lose the skin resulting in something that resembles a graze. &nbsp;

Through trial and error I've worked out that it must be a combination of the salt and wet and I need to be very careful on multi day dives - I have had this in freshwater too but not as bad so I suspect perspiration may contribute a bit. &nbsp;

I have found that I need to rinse the seal in between dives and make sure it is absolutely dry before the next dive, powdering if possible, and dry the neck. &nbsp;

I never have a problem with the wrists and I have used KY there without any problem so it doesn't appear to be an allergy just very sensitive skin. &nbsp;Nicking a bit of the wife's nivea cream after diving usually helps as well.

Good luck.

[John Gulliver]

While it is true that latex allergy is fairly common, I don't believe that's the cause of this problem. Like Kim, I don't have any problem with my latex wrist seals. Nor do I have any problem when I use latex gloves for dirty jobs. I believe the problem is simply mechanical, i.e. abrasion. I'm surprised to hear KY jelly doesn't work for you, though, Kim.