After swimming for 10 years with no problem, I recently developed a bad reaction to my goggles. Every time I wear them the skin around my eyes (and other parts of my face) swells and turns red, itchy, and scaly. I went through allergy patch testing at the dermatologist's, and they diagnosed an allergy to two groups of chemicals, Thiuram Mix and Carba Mix. These are rubber accelerators used to turn raw rubber into rubber products. I tried latex-free googles - it didn't help. I also tried Swedes, and I still get a reaction, although not quite as bad (maybe from the strap and nosepiece?) I tried a bungee cord, but it didn't help, probably because the chemicals are found in most elastics. I have tried to contact TYR and Speedo to see if they make any goggles that don't use these chemicals, but so far I've only gotten the email equivalent of a blank stare.
So, has anyone ever heard of or experienced this? Any ideas on what might work? I read older forum discussions from ~2008 where people complained of similar issues, but no one seemed to have a solution. Thanks for your help! For the chemists out there, these are the specific chemicals I'm trying to avoid: tetramethylthiuram monosulfide, tetramethylthiuram disulfide, tetraethylthiuram disulfide, dipentamethylenethiuram disulfide, zinc diethyldithiocarbamate, zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate, and diphenylguanidine.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to this post! After several weeks I think I've found some solutions, and I wanted to record them for posterity, in case anyone else who has these allergies comes looking for information. I tried several Forum suggestions, including going old school and swimming without goggles! That lasted exactly one Masters practice, and I spent the rest of the day looking like I had been crying. The actual swimming without goggles wasn't as bad as you would think, though. It's just the recovery that was tough.
I tried the Barracuda foam-socket goggles that Bobinator mentioned, and while the company didn't answer my email request for information about materials, they haven't seemed to cause a reaction from my skin. Interestingly, though, the package has a warning on it that says the foam from the goggles may cause contact dermatitis; exactly what I wanted to avoid. The fit and feel of these goggles is pretty different, and they take awhile to get used to. I'm still having trouble preventing a tiny leak on one side. The ones I bought are these: www.amazon.com/.../B0024GLP8Y
The best thing I've found is all-silicone goggles made by Zoggs (who also didn't answer my email). These fit and feel like regular goggles, they seal really well on my face, and they're very inexpensive. But best of all, no skin reaction: www.leisurepro.com/.../zoggs-racespex-swim-goggles
I'm going to stock up on a few extra pairs just in case Zoggs changes their materials!
Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to this post! After several weeks I think I've found some solutions, and I wanted to record them for posterity, in case anyone else who has these allergies comes looking for information. I tried several Forum suggestions, including going old school and swimming without goggles! That lasted exactly one Masters practice, and I spent the rest of the day looking like I had been crying. The actual swimming without goggles wasn't as bad as you would think, though. It's just the recovery that was tough.
I tried the Barracuda foam-socket goggles that Bobinator mentioned, and while the company didn't answer my email request for information about materials, they haven't seemed to cause a reaction from my skin. Interestingly, though, the package has a warning on it that says the foam from the goggles may cause contact dermatitis; exactly what I wanted to avoid. The fit and feel of these goggles is pretty different, and they take awhile to get used to. I'm still having trouble preventing a tiny leak on one side. The ones I bought are these: www.amazon.com/.../B0024GLP8Y
The best thing I've found is all-silicone goggles made by Zoggs (who also didn't answer my email). These fit and feel like regular goggles, they seal really well on my face, and they're very inexpensive. But best of all, no skin reaction: www.leisurepro.com/.../zoggs-racespex-swim-goggles
I'm going to stock up on a few extra pairs just in case Zoggs changes their materials!
