Itching lower legs after diving ?

[SVTwilight]

Originally Posted by Jd1

We get 10C in the middle of summer I would guess at 8C now.
I think I will try and reduce my dive time to 30 minutes or less and see how that affects things.

If you are that shallow it is not the bends (deconpression Illness or DCI).

Nor should you worry about nefarious irritating critters in water that cold.

What you are experiencing is CHILBLAINS (pernio). Very common in cold water or ice diving, esp. with a wetsuit. ( I wrote the Ice Diving Program for PADI, so I know what I am talking about.)

Chilblains Overview - Mayo Clinic

Just try to stay warmer and dryer. Get a drysuit, or find some kid to do it... :-)

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Jd1

We get 10C in the middle of summer I would guess at 8C now.
I think I will try and reduce my dive time to 30 minutes or less and see how that affects things.

If you were only cleaning the bottom I doubt it has anything with the dive time.
Had you considered a circulation problem and the pressure from the suit on the lower legs is causing a form of neuropathy? I would consult a Dr..

[Rigdaddy]

Originally Posted by Jd1

I have thought about one additional possibility - the water is fairly cold and the sections of leg that itch are fairly skinny. It could be that the legs are just getting too cold and warming them up causes the itching just like warming up frozen hands in winter. I am not sure how to test that theory yet but it's something else to try.
Thanks for all the replies - I was stumped ....

If the wet suit is two piece, you could dive with just the top, to see if it is wet suit specific. Likewise, you could make your next full-suit dive without cleaning the bottom, to eliminate that possibility.

"Summitfun
Re: Itching lower legs after diving ?

You solved the mystery in one of your replies. In cleaning the bottom, you displaced hundreds of critters that found a new home under your wetsuit. Wash your wetsuit well, have a beer, & quit worrying!
Cheers,
Mike "
I agree that the critters will join you in your suit, but I've never had them only congregate in the lower leg area.

[Tkeeth]

Originally Posted by SVTwilight

If you are that shallow it is not the bends (deconpression Illness or DCI).

Nor should you worry about nefarious irritating critters in water that cold.

What you are experiencing is CHILBLAINS (pernio). Very common in cold water or ice diving, esp. with a wetsuit. ( I wrote the Ice Diving Program for PADI, so I know what I am talking about.)

Chilblains Overview - Mayo Clinic

Just try to stay warmer and dryer. Get a drysuit, or find some kid to do it... :-)

here it is

[foufou]

I've gotten itching not so specific an area and after reading up on subject thought it might be dinoflagellates. Sp? Not certain this is relevant as I was in wan water

[rickmcdonald]

I work in a dive shop here in central oregon we have enzyme sollution we soak all the wetsuits in after every dive class you might call a dive shop and see what they have, not sure were your diving but I've had same type of red bites when diving in Roatan honduras, over there its sand flee's

[nwdiver]

Wear a dry suit

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Cadence

If you were only cleaning the bottom I doubt it has anything with the dive time.
Had you considered a circulation problem and the pressure from the suit on the lower legs is causing a form of neuropathy? I would consult a Dr..

PS, I went back and read you are diabetic. Find a professional answer, to many diabetics are walking around of a prosthetic leg.

[bruce v]

I read about your diabetes and chemo. I too was insulin dependent typeII diabetic and had chemo for a tumor in my calf. I did not dive but experienced some post chemo reaction to certain tapes and latex bandaging. I had no previous reaction and am still not sure wether it is diabetes related or resultant from chemo. Regardless, I am still cautious about what type of rubberized or latex products I wear/use. If you are lucky, it could just be an allergy to either the cleaner used on your suit or the non use of same. Either way continue to research the cause. As I have been told, "you are never cured of diabetes (since my first cancer, chemo and 140 lb weight loss, I no longer have any diabetic symptoms - no insulin or any other med but I am still listed as diabetic). At first I found it annoying but realized it always bears attention as I have no desire to loose limbs or my life thinking I am "cured".

[Jd1]

Originally Posted by nwdiver

Wear a dry suit

I would love to ... alas my body was not made for a dry suit. As it is, I can barely lift my weight belt. Must be around 40 lbs ... I have a lot of built in flotation to compensate for. I doubt I can get my ass up out of the water if I carry more weights

[Jd1]

Originally Posted by bruce v

"you are never cured of diabetes (since my first cancer, chemo and 140 lb weight loss, I no longer have any diabetic symptoms - no insulin or any other med but I am still listed as diabetic).

Congratulations on loosing 140 lbs !!!!! VERY impressive !
I should loose about 60 lbs but have an addiction to food and little will power

[UNCIVILIZED]

Originally Posted by Jd1

I would love to ... alas my body was not made for a dry suit. As it is, I can barely lift my weight belt. Must be around 40 lbs ... I have a lot of built in flotation to compensate for. I doubt I can get my ass up out of the water if I carry more weights

For general hull cleaning you don't need nearly as much weight as you do when diving, unless we're talking about cleaning a very large vessel. And BTW, you take off your weight belt BEFORE you get out of the water.
I just have a regular sailing drysuit, but when it's bottom cleaning time, I surely do love it.

What thickness of wetsuit are you wearing that requires 40lbs of weights? That seems like a huge amount.

[theerwagen]

Retired Navy Diver here, itching skin is a symptom of type 1 decompression sickness. Bring that up with your doctor / hospital and give them your dive profile!
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/h...ymptoms-of-DCS

[Jd1]

Originally Posted by UNCIVILIZED

For general hull cleaning you don't need nearly as much weight as you do when diving, unless we're talking about cleaning a very large vessel. And BTW, you take off your weight belt BEFORE you get out of the water.
I just have a regular sailing drysuit, but when it's bottom cleaning time, I surely do love it.

What thickness of wetsuit are you wearing that requires 40lbs of weights? That seems like a huge amount.

I measured the sample I have and it measures 5 mm but the suit is a combination of two thicknesses either 5 mm and 7 mm or 3 mm and 5 mm. I do not recall.
I wear the weight for more or less neutral buoyancy. I don't like getting pushed against a slimy hull too much. There is no way that I can take the weight belt off in the water and get it into the boat and yes, I was very surprised about the amount of weight required!

What is a 'sailing drysuit' ?

Edit: googled the drysuit but am amazed that this could be used for diving .... more research is required

[john2445]

Talk to the experts, not us.

Scuba Diving Medical Safety Advice — DAN | Divers Alert Network

Don't jump off the boat without them.