Hi

I'm new to the club & so far have only done a couple of open water swimming sessions.

Although I'm enjoying the swimming itself, I find that the skin on my face & neck comes up in sore, red irritated blotches afterwards which stay for a day or so. Can anyone shed light on why this could be & what I can do about it - I'm presuming its some sort of reaction to the cold water.

Would a barrier cream, or vaseline help?

Thanks in advance

Lynda

Thanks for the response Andy - it affects where the wetsuit hasn't been, rather than where it is, so worse on my face.

The closest description I've found online is a thing called cold urtcaria - although many of the symptoms seem quite extreme to what I experience the hives part appears to fit & I did have a dizzy/ lightheaded and short of breath episode on Tuesday, but put it down to an uncomfortably tight new wetsuit & exertion.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cold...

I'll try an antihistamine on Saturday & see if that makes any difference

Hi Lynda

I got the blotches on my face after swimming last year and only at the start of the season when the water was cooler, although at the time I didn't make this connection so thanks for posting that article, which could well be what it is. This weekend was my first swim this year, so the water was much warmer and I had no problems at all, although I did take a face cloth and cleanser with me to wash any possible blotch-making nasties away! So it wasn't a true test but I'm not prepared to risk it again; I wasn't happy with the blotchy look which lasted for a good couple of days :-(

Was it any better this week for you?

Khara