I hope some of you can help with this, especially those who swim lots of yardage. I am now swimming 4 miles non-stop daily with 1 day off a week and so far, so good; the body is happy as a bird singing. But I am having a terrible time with swim suit chafing. I wear a 2-piece (don't laugh) because of the freedom, but the swim suit top is giving me blisters in places I won't describe. Also, my neck, both sides, are getting blisters and then scabbing. I've been using vaseline on my neck and that helps, but it is so bad I am going to have to take a day or two off for them to heal because salt water and blisters is OUCH big time.
Does anyone know about lanolin and where I can get it? And would it help? Any other suggestions as to products to reduce this? I guess I could always just take my top off, shove it in my bottoms, and continue on my way, but I don't want to frighten the beautiful fish. And then the blistering neck problem needs to be solved.
ANY recommendations would be appreciated because training is going so well and I don't want downtime for this stupid problem!!! Any doctors here with suggestions? Any 1500 freestylers here? Any mega-yardage people here with similar problems? If this continues and I don't find a fix, I will be a candidate for plastic surgery right after my 18 mile swim to get rid of the scars!!
:help:
Donna
Former Member
Does anyone know about lanolin and where I can get it? And would it help? Any other suggestions as to products to reduce this? I guess I could always just take my top off, shove it in my bottoms, and continue on my way, but I don't want to frighten the beautiful fish. And then the blistering neck problem needs to be solved.
Donna
I know you can get Lanolin in the UK (is it available in the US? silly FDA regs etc, you never know) If My mother can get some, I'll have her bring it and mail it to you...or would you prefer a hand applying it ;)
Please have your mom send a ton of it; I have cash. No hand applications needed at this time because I have my own hands. I don't know if I can get it in the USA; guess those Channel Swimmers in England need it a lot so they stock it. I need something and quick. Would maybe paint work? (couldn't help myself with that one).
dd
Please have your mom send a ton of it; I have cash. No hand applications needed at this time because I have my own hands. I don't know if I can get it in the USA; guess those Channel Swimmers in England need it a lot so they stock it. I need something and quick. Would maybe paint work? (couldn't help myself with that one).
dd
Ok Mother is arriving next week...so I'll talk to her tomorrow and see if she can grab a tube or 2.
Chafing ... I feel your pain.
Lanolin can often be found at farm supply stores. Another product that works well is for cows (I kid you not) called "Udder cream".
Have you tried the tri-athlete anti-chafing products like "Body glide"? I use it around my neck under my wetsuit and find it works quite well.
I wonder why you are chafing. Is it because of the seams? You might try ditching the swim suit top and wearing a "rash guard" - a shirt surfers wear under their wetsuits to avoid chafing.
You might also try "blister pack" bandaids over your nipples if that's wear you're chafing. It happens to runners all the time.
Good luck, and BTW, congratulations on your mileage!
I've used the body glide stuff. It works ok for short distances, but despite piling on, I always end up with a neck rash when swimming the 4.4 mi bay. However, it is thankfully small and the only one I have gotten in two years of doing that swim. No underarms, belly, chest...
Does smell rank, though. Make sure you soap it off good!
To ease the sting of chafing I use Desitine...that stuff you use on diaper rash. It's mostly zinc oxide and is tough to get off of your hands without baby oil, but that is about the only stuff that really takes the burn out of the chafing.
I have been using a product called Charfing Relief Powder Gel (made by the Monistat folks) for a similar problem with the flesh eating sports bra I wear running. The primary ingredient is dimethicone, so it shouldn't be water soluble. I ran a 3 hour run in the pouring rain a couple weeks ago, and didn't have a rash afterwards, so it may work for swimming too.
I have been using a product called Charfing Relief Powder Gel (made by the Monistat folks) for a similar problem with the flesh eating sports bra I wear running. The primary ingredient is dimethicone, so it shouldn't be water soluble. I ran a 3 hour run in the pouring rain a couple weeks ago, and didn't have a rash afterwards, so it may work for swimming too.
I wonder if the same company that makes your sports bra also makes a flesh eating belt or undershirt? I can use all the help I can get you know! :joker:
Newmastersswimmer :banana: :banana: :groovy: :banana: :banana: :groovy:
