How to prevent rash from latex neck seal.

[yabbadabba]

I usually have a Neoprene neck seal on my cag but as my cag has started to leak I borrowed one which has a latex neck seal for the weekend.
As I need to buy a new cag and would prefer to go for a latex neck seal is there any way of preventing a rash that I get round the neck?
Any ideas welcome.

[tg]

Stay cleanshaven and use talc.

Tim

[elvistheking]

Try using barrier cream, whatever you do don't use Vaseline it'll rot the latex.
You could also try these: http://www.aberdeenwatersports.com/shop ... geJump=1#0 Although they will degrade the latex seal faster but new seals are cheap.

[PlymouthDamo]

I used to get this really badly from my diving dry-suit. I tried everything: talc, vaseline, various veterinary ointments(!) and all to no avail. As a temporary fix, I bought some Apollo Bio Seals. These are (very expensive) synthetic sleeves you wear under your wrist and neck seals to prevent rash and leakages. They work perfectly, however you probably don't want to shell out all that cash for a borrowed cag.

I then switched to a neoprene neck seal, which cured the problem, and sold my bio-seals. However, I then bought a dry-suit for kayaking which had a latex neck seal, so I was back to square one. Luckily, my mate works fitting artificial limbs for patients at the hospital, and he gave me a piece of the silicone tube they put on people's stumps to stop irritation. Wearing this under my neckseal works fine for kayaking, although wouldn't be sufficiently watertight for diving.

So... in the unlikely event you can get hold of a silicone tube from somewhere, try that. Failing that, here are two easier options which also worked for me:

1. Fold the latex neck seal in on itself (the same as you do with a neoprene neck seal) as it seems to only be the very lip of the neck-seal that gives you the irritation.

2. Wear a polo-neck or rash-vest under the neck-seal (which will make it less water-tight, but good enough for kayaking.)

[PhilAyr]

Fitting the neck seal on to a suitably sized form for a few days before you paddle also helps.

Phil

[immunogirl]

Try bodyglide:

http://www.rei.com/product/769120/bodyg ... tant-25-oz

[chris d]

Don't shave

[seylan]

Interesting - and hopefully useful - replies but I have to say its not all about shaving or otherwise. I don't shave that area and I get an uncomfortable rash / irritation / rub whenever I'm out for any length of time in salt water. Not life threatening but enough to make your weekend/week a good bit less pleasant.

[Fulmar]

I am also a qualified diver.We all used to use Baby Oil,and it certainly didn't appear to degrade the latex. Just purchased a Lomo Renegade Drysuit and I will be purchasing Baby Oil for the same reason.

[OGB]

The RAF use a thin tubular bandage (known as "Stockinette" I believe) which is cut from a roll and pulled over the head to form a collar. The latex seal of the immersion suit - similar to a dry suit - sits on top of this and is very comfortable. It ought to be available from your local A&E Dept....It will let a little water in if immersed for a while, but unless you want to go snokelling it's fine. Obviously not a solution for diving.

[rockhopper]

I have just purchased one of the Reed cags. Wore it for the first time yesterday in quite testing conditions and it was fantastic. The seals around the wrists and neck were brilliant. Practically no water ingress and my paddle included a bit of rolling practise. The seals also did not feel at all uncomfortably and the cag itself was so light and flexible that I hardly noticed wearing it. Probably my best bit of kayaking clothing.. definitely much, much more comfortable than my previous latex seal cag.

http://www.chillcheater.com/aqshop/cata ... 2042&page=

Rog.

[nickcrowhurst]

Try bodyglide: http://www.rei.com/product/769120/bodyg ... tant-25-oz

I bought some of this off ebay.uk, used it today during 4 hours at sea, and it stopped the painful chafing, so many thanks for the tip, immunogirl. It came as a roll-on stick, with active ingredient allantoin.
Nick.

[Bazza S]

Get someone to buy you some KY jelly.

[janet brown]

Get someone to buy you some KY jelly.

Or buy it yourself?
Doubt KY will be much good: it is water based.

Janet

[Bazza S]

Doubt KY will be much good: it is water based.

It does work.

[EK Sydney]

Try a product called Gurney Goo, from NZ. Developed by a top adventure racer, we swear by the stuff to prevent chaffing anywhere, even blisters on your hands. Might be a bit tough to get in the UK, but it's magic.
http://www.gurneygears.com/gear/gurney_goo/

[TechnoEngineer]

I believe I've seen someone using this (or something very much like it)
http://www.apollo-europe.com/bioseals.html