My first bout of dry suit rash and eczema began last summer, innocently enough: I was super stoked to try my new Level Six Dry Suit in my Advanced Flat Water Instructor Course.
The first time wearing a dry suit makes you feel like a real paddler: learning to burp the air out and fitting my booties into my shoes without strangling my toes off.
It was so fun immersing myself in cold water without any repercussions. As a paddle boarder on white water it’s not if but when I’ll swim. Extending my paddle season in North Central Alberta has been life changing. I paddled in November on the Athabasca River, which made my heart sing!
TINGLY…WHY IS IT TINGLY??
Driving home, my wrists started to tingle. If you get cold sores, it’s like that type of tingle. You’re acutely aware something is “off” in the body.
Over the next few days my wrists turned red, blistered and were so sore. I had to keep Band-aids on them to avoid irritation and allow them to heal. This lasted up to 10 days after paddling.
This was a problem.
ONE TIME WONDER?
Next time I tried my dry suit again I thought maybe it would be okay and I would get used to it. Nope. Worse…
This was becoming a serious problem because now. If I have open sores under my wrist gasket and I paddle for more than one session in a row, how am I going to manage this?
SOLUTIONS TO DRY SUIT GASKET RASH
Here’s some things I’ve tried:
- I’ve tried wearing Band-aids on my wrists under my gaskets, kind of works but sometimes they just peel off.
- Benadryl Cream applied immediately after I get home from paddling, must re-apply for a few days after. Works fairly well.
- Cortisone Cream. This does get the redness and inflammation down, if Benadryl isn’t applied soon enough.
- Gloves In A Bottle!! WHAT! Recommended by a friend after I reached out on Instagram.
Gloves In A Bottle
Click the name to see the science behind it. So far, so good. I’ve paddled with a pre-application of this product and there’s a noticeable difference in reaction.
I only applied it twice the morning of before heading out -- not the usual repeated applications I was doing at home. If it can help with my sensitive skin in winter and while in a hot tub, I’m set!
NO FIX ALL SOLUTION
I’m a month into working with all of these products together. After repeated days on the water using Gloves In A Bottle, it has slowed down the process of triggering any rash, my skin doesn’t tingle immediately after, and I can go a few days before needing Benadryl Cream.
As this journey unfolds, I hope I can figure out more solutions that will help with this problem.
Surely I’m not the only person who struggles with sensitive skin.
Happy paddling!
Sending You Love n SUP,
Lisa Stocking
CSEP-CPT/RYT 200
Advanced Flatwater SUP Instructor
@love_nsup
@paddleathabasca
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