dry suit

[jeffb78]

i find that when i dive in a dry suit in salt water, the latex seal chafes the skin on my neck and leaves what looks like some enormous hickys. it's quite uncomfortable, especially the next few days after diving. anyone ever experience this too? i dont get it in fresh water, only salt, and only on my neck (wrists are fine). was wondering if anyone had a good home remedy for this pre or post dive.
jeff

[zdiver]

I get that when I dive one lake around here. It is a salty, soda lake. I did that last Saturday and have the marks right now. I have never had it in ocean salt water. I am sure it is a combination of a chemical burn/ friction of the neck seal moving.

zdiver

[Dan Thoms]

KY-jelly stuff or load up on the powder both sides of the seals, as your storing it away for some time.

[Me]

I spent a week on the Nautilus Explorer in British Columbia a few years back and had the exact same problem. The crew recommended "bag balm". You can get it any drug store.

Be sure you're done diving for the day as you don't want this stuff on your latex seals.

[Webmaster]

Wouldn't just putting some silicone gel or something similar on your neck (that wouldn't harm the latex) beforehand prevent it in the first place?

[jjsteffen]

Many of the guys diving salt in our Newfoundland trip ended up like that. The problem is the salt crystals in the latex seal after it dries. Need to soap and rinse this areaas a simple rinse may not get it all out. For the dives, prefer KY on the seal as it eases putting it on. If you end up with the burns, found neosporin/bacitracin/etc. worked far better than aloe/talc/lotions.

[ocalamm]

I get salt water hickies too.... dry suit or not.... must be all those scuba-babes hanging around my neck!!! At least I can "splain' them to my wife as dry-suit induced. Thanks, Guys!