Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:34:16 GMT

I'm not sure how watertight it is, but gaffer's tape would be easier to take off (leaving your good skin intact) than duct tape.

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 09:24:25 GMT

I was thinking that after you had been in the water for 4+ miles swimming, that maybe the tape might come off easily. I would recommend slowly removing it, rather than doing the quick "clean and jerk" approach.

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 09:12:32 GMT

Donna, I'm wondering if might want to try using duct tape to cover the tender spots during your swims, while they are healing. You would have to cover the spots with something so the duct tape wouldn't stick, but then you would be protected from further abrasion. I know some folks use it on their feet to prevent blisters. Well now that's a thought; I do have a lot of it here because we now fix things the Honduran way: temporary fixes :rofl:. I guess the primary downside is taking the duct tape off!!!

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 06:33:27 GMT

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 14:03:16 GMT

A&D Ointment. You should be able to find it near the baby stuff in any drugstore in Texas. We called it butt bondo because it sticks to everything. I've never seen anything clear up a diaper rash so quickly.

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 13:56:20 GMT

Barb, what's AD ointment? Plz remember I live in Honduras so I don't know what this means. Am taking any and all suggestions for skin/swim suit chafing products that will counteract this most awful problem. But I did like your term: Butt Bondo or was it Bondo Butt? dd

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 13:43:45 GMT

The Desitin suggestion reminded me of what we affectionately called "Butt Bondo" around the house at diaper changing time. It worked wonders for both healing and preventing chafing of delicate baby tush: take 1/2 tube of Desitin and mix it with a full tube of AD ointment. It smells potent and you can't get it off you hands (does give the nails a lovely French look), but it works. It may not help when you are swimming, but it may be good as a comfort measure after.

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:25:52 GMT

Gosh, thanks everyone. I have written down all your suggestions and when I go home to Texas for a visit later this month, I'll see what I can find. I am changing suit tops shortly; have ordered from pureblueswim.com the TYR two-piece suit that has no underwires and is closest to a racing suit. The big problem is my neck, both sides, have scabs now from neck rubbing on shoulder; started changing my stroke at about 3 miles yesterday to try to prevent this, but I need products to stop skin chafing. I had no idea you all have had this problem, too!!! But at least you have already found some pretty good solutions...thanks so much!! dd

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 13:18:14 GMT

Donna- Sorry to hear about your problem. Someone else already mentioned it, but Body Glide is a great product. Comes in a stick like deoderant, so it's easy to apply. I love to use it before ocean swims because the sandy water really starts to rub the bra-line area under the arms if I don't. Also, what kind of two piece? Is is a halter like top that hooks or ties behind your neck? Most of the major swim suit manufacturers (Speedo, TYR, and Dolphin for sure) make a two piece workout bikini. The top has thin or thick straps more like a racing suit, so that could help with the neck chafing issue--if it's suit related to begin with. Dana

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

poolraat — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 12:45:12 GMT

Lanolin can often be found at farm supply stores. Another product that works well is for cows (I kid you not) called "Udder cream". Another product which I have used for chafing and raw hands is called Bag Balm, a product which is probably similiar to the above. Most farm supply stores carry it. It is intended for use on dairy cows, but is great for the hands (and other areas too I'm sure).

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 12:36:50 GMT

Another product which I have used for chafing and raw hands is called Bag Balm, a product which is probably similiar to the above. Most farm supply stores carry it. It is intended for use on dairy cows, but is great for the hands (and other areas too I'm sure). Bag balm is a mixture of vaseline, lanolin and an antiseptic. It works very well. However, keep in mind that vaseline is pretty good at eating through many synthetic fabrics. Another possible source of lanolin is zinc oxide cream. Often it is a mixture of zinc oxide and lanolin. It has the added benefit of being a sunblock as well. -LBJ

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:45:30 GMT

Its the am swim ritual, insert ear plugs (getting grease on them makes for a mess), lay out goggles and cap, check suit is on under sweats, remove sweats add cap & goggles, grease chafe spots and injuries (I always have some healing bit somewhere), I see many others applying aquaphore or vaseline or bodyglide too. Don't forget to warm-up a bit (and did you put on sunscreen) then you're off. Bodyglide costs the most/application, store brand vaseline the least, you'll want to wash your suit out with some sort of soap from time to time as the grease makes it sticky and stiff. I won a 20 mile kayak race once and as I got out my friend asked when I changed to a red shirt...it was a flesh eating sports bra under my shirt that did it, last week I wore fins and got out leaking red from my feet. OUCH, OUCH, and one more OUCH! When people talk to me about my 18 mile swim in the future, they always ask about sharks, jellyfish, the regular stuff; my problems are more serious than those: skin chafing, strong currents, and completing the darn thing!!!

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:30:36 GMT

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 10:17:40 GMT

SDswimmer, my new long lost sister, It sounds as if you have run the gammet on trying to find anti-chafing products. I have been wearing only two piece suits that have straps over the shoulders, no halters (don't need a rope around my neck), but have ordered that TYR workout bikini that has no wires in it; this should help my front side. The neck is the worst of the worst. I've written down the products you suggested and everyone else's, so I may just have to experiment with them all. I really don't care if the swimsuits get trashed from any of these products because they only last about 2 months anyway in the saltwater/sun. And if Body Glide only lasts around 4 or 5 miles, that would be ok because then I would be assured of an additional 4 more miles without reapplying, or I can carry it with me. I had no idea what a problem this would be; I thought covering lots of miles would be the problem and so far it just isn't. Guess I need to surf the web and shop when I am home the end of April!!! Thanks for all the input!!!

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 08:59:47 GMT

suspect you are in fact my long lost sister. I am told my skin chafes more easily than most. I swim in a speedo workout bikini most of the time. It still rubs in a few spots particularly the neck, I rotate through several of them and a nike one that has a different pattern. On long swims I take the top off, the fish don't care, most female ow swimmers seem to do the same, I joke I may drown wrestling my top back on I tried putting on a rashguard once when I had kayak support. Anyway for chafing I have a variety of products. Bodyglide & the dimethicone products will stay on for swims in the 5 miles range after that they wear off. There is a product called aquaphore which is Vaseline and lanolin (found in the drugstore) it stays on longer, it gets grease on your suit which is hard to remove it does not seem to eat my suits, bag balm and the like are similar but contain some kind of menthol or camphor which can irritate if your skin is already raw. My dermatologist recommends the aquaphore for healing the chafing too. For treating really bad chafed areas he suggested superglue/new skin. English channel grease is a mixture of Vaseline and a non-liquid lanolin. Others use a liquid lanolin (one is hydrous one anhydrous but I don't remember which). The liquid lanolin feels awful and stays on for days, I use it on major chafe points for swims past the 10 mile mark. I am warned that lanolin can clog you pores and reduce your ability to sweat so don't use it all over. Also any grease applied under the band of your suit will cause it to slide around & make things worse and if you drip too much lanolin on your suit it will become a sea anchor. i hear Boots compounds channel grease, maybe swim stud's mother can get some?

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 07:59:04 GMT

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:

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 07:14:04 GMT

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

slowfish — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 06:42:34 GMT

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.

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Muppet — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 04:55:53 GMT

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!

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:05:02 GMT

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!

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:54:12 GMT

SS: if she can :bow:, if she can't :frustrated:. Sounds stupid but have you tried natural yoghurt? as an after treatment, works great on sunburn...

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:43:43 GMT

SS: if she can :bow:, if she can't :frustrated:.

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:41:41 GMT

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.

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:36:57 GMT

RE: Swim Suit Chafing....OUCH

Former Member — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:19:03 GMT

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 ;)