I was very excited when I received my xterra wetsuit (50% off) in the mail yesterday. I tried it on this morning and it fit like a glove. As I was taking it off, I thought, "Hmm, I wonder if it has any latex in it...I should probably find out..." I have a latex allergy- Don't EVEN ask how I found out. I get a rash if I wear a band-aid, I get sores in my mouth when I forget to remind the dentist to use latex-free gloves, and heaven forbid I forget to remind the gynocologist...Anywho, I called xterra and they said most, if not all triathlon specific wetsuits are made with latex, but the only place the latex would touch my body is in the seams and possibly around the neck (the velcro maybe.) The thing is, I borrowed a friend's wetsuit, not even thinking about it this past March, and I didn't have any reaction that I noticed or that I attributed to latex, so what do you think I should do...b/c if I return it, I will still have to borrow/rent a wetsuit for cold (even if that's rare here) swims, so should I just keep it?
How serious are your latex
How serious are your latex reactions? I mean, if we are talking EpiPen and seizures here, then wearing one is probably not a good idea. But if it isn't too serious, just a rash on the contact points and you foresee borrowing a suit in cold water eventuality, then keep the suit. (At least it is [i]your[/i] pee in the suit.) My experience is that wetsuits on long-course swims are usually pretty abrasive around the neck and around the shoulders anyways so you might experience mild skin irritations regardless.
no, just mild reactions,
no, just mild reactions, like a rash from band aids, sores when I forget to remind the dentist....and like I said, I didn't even notice a reaction from my friend's borrowed suit (he gave me permission to pee in it)
jtrimom wrote:I didn't even
[quote=jtrimom]I didn't even notice a reaction from my friend's borrowed suit (he gave me permission to pee in it)[/quote]
Now, that's a true friend! Only Triathlons can bring people closer in "so many" ways!
Too funny, that made my day.
I wonder if the fact that it was a used suit had anything to do with your lack of reaction. I know with most synthetics you get off gassing until they are exposed to air for long enough to expell all the gasses. Off gassing is the reason for the "new car smell," as well as the smell from new carpet/vinyl flooring, adhesives, and many other things around the house.
Also, if you get a reaction, could you put a barrier on the seems/latex contact areas? Like some sort of nonlatex based tape or seam sealer?
Just an idea.
(who knows, peeing in it might actually neutralize the latex reactions. I'd say pee in it right away just to be sure.)
maybe yet another use for
maybe yet another use for duct tape?
jtrimom wrote:no, just mild
[quote=jtrimom]no, just mild reactions, like a rash from band aids, sores when I forget to remind the dentist....and like I said, I didn't even notice a reaction from my friend's borrowed suit (he gave me permission to pee in it)[/quote]
Thanks for the laugh!
Latex allergy is an allergic
Latex allergy is an allergic reaction and known for it's natural latex. Most of peoples are allergic to latex. The most common symptoms are skin reaction such as Itching, redness of the skin and rashes.
http://www.aboutallergy.net/articles/types-of-allergies/skin/latex
Maybe I missed something,
Maybe I missed something, but have you had a reaction to the suit? If not, keep it.
no, it's all good! I've been
no, it's all good! I've been using it for the past 3 years with no issues
I have a latex allergy, so
I have a latex allergy, so dies my mom, but apparently it doesn't seem to cause a rash with everything, some latex seems to have no effect on me, I would try different composition of the materials if available if one sort of them causes a rash.