jwalko
Contributor
Hay all:
A couple of questions regarding my mask.
1. When Doing multiple dives over multiple days (basically wearing my mask for a long time), I get what I can only describe as a red rash where the mask touches my face...particular on my nose. I've noticed it more in salt water than fresh...but I am only wondering if that is because my dives in salt water tend to be longer than in fresh water. My question is...could this be an allergy to the silicon in the mask skirt? How could I be sure and what could i do about it? It is red and slightly painful and clears up usually within a day. Or could it just be irritation from the salt?
Secondly, my mask is a full window, because when I bought it I only tried standard masks (not low volume) and I didn't like the split between the eye pieces. Now I am considering going with a low volume mask and would like some advice on what brands to check out. My thinking is that with the lenses being closer to my eyes, I won't mind the split between the lenses as much. With the full lens mask, I have trouble looking down, because the field of vision is restricted.
As an aside, I might also be considering prescription lenses...my eyesight isn't that bad...but is bad enough so that I notice a difference when diving/not wearing glasses. Is there a mask that you'd recommend if prescription lenses is a consideration.
Thanks;
John
A couple of questions regarding my mask.
1. When Doing multiple dives over multiple days (basically wearing my mask for a long time), I get what I can only describe as a red rash where the mask touches my face...particular on my nose. I've noticed it more in salt water than fresh...but I am only wondering if that is because my dives in salt water tend to be longer than in fresh water. My question is...could this be an allergy to the silicon in the mask skirt? How could I be sure and what could i do about it? It is red and slightly painful and clears up usually within a day. Or could it just be irritation from the salt?
Secondly, my mask is a full window, because when I bought it I only tried standard masks (not low volume) and I didn't like the split between the eye pieces. Now I am considering going with a low volume mask and would like some advice on what brands to check out. My thinking is that with the lenses being closer to my eyes, I won't mind the split between the lenses as much. With the full lens mask, I have trouble looking down, because the field of vision is restricted.
As an aside, I might also be considering prescription lenses...my eyesight isn't that bad...but is bad enough so that I notice a difference when diving/not wearing glasses. Is there a mask that you'd recommend if prescription lenses is a consideration.
Thanks;
John
, but it sounds like this may be a latex allergy. Symptoms of Type IV latex allergy reportedly can include red itchy scaly rash. In the usual case of latex gloves (ie, health workers) it is normally localised to the area of use, i.e. wrists and forearms with glove use, but it can spread to other areas. I think that most masks have latex. I suggest you do a search on the Dive Medicine forum here on SB and also take a look at Scuba Doc's Dive Medicine site. 
