I’ve been getting a bad rash around my eyes - not sure if its from swimming as i haven’t changed my goggles (zoggs predators) in a year or so and its never been a problem. Has anyone else had any problems like this and any suggestions? I was prescribed a steroid cream desonide which clears it up but now going to a non-steroidal called Elidel. As soon as i stop using the steroid it comes back with a vengeance. I swim about 3 times a week. Getting patch tested in a couple of weeks to try and find the root of it but anyone else suffered from this? and any other suggestions for goggles?
Possibly it’s a chlorine induced rash? I haven’t had anything similar to that in location, but one of my local pools recently changed the chlorine levels and I got a rash from that. I had to buy some products (DermaSwim lotion, SwimSpray) to fight the chlorine. If you google search chlorine rash you might be able to determine if that is it.
Good luck!
same pair of goggles? try a new pair and see if that helps. I’m wondering if the rubber seal is breaking down causing irritation, or they got contaminated with an irritant somehow.
I just solved this issue myself, although it was only happening to my left eye.
Pull back the rubber seal and take a look at the inside of you goggles. Is there any mold/mildew/buildup there?
If so, a thorough scrub with some soap might remove the cause of the irritation. It worked for me, but I also took that as a sign to order a new pair.
When I was in high school I had something similar, somewhere between a rash and a chemical burn around both eyes. I suspected it was from some bacteria build up in the gasket so I switched to Swedes and it went away.
that’s yet another advantage of swedes…
Happens to me from time to time. I buy a new pair of goggles and presto, once the rash clears up, it doesn’t come back. I’ve tried cleaning the gaskets of the goggles in hopes of extending their life, but that hasn’t worked for me. It is, however, easy enough to plunk down $20 for a new pair of goggles whenever the problem starts up.
I had the same issue that went away once I changed goggles.
that’s yet another advantage of swedes…
+1
.
however, easy enough to plunk down $20 for a new pair of goggles whenever the problem starts up.
Even easier to pay $3 - $5 for some swedes 
.
thanks all. I’m buying some swedes and a pair of vanquish as well which are supposed to be hypoallergenic. I’m getting some of that dermaswim as well to see if that helps out which was a good call out. Getting patch tested in a couple of weeks to try and see if it is anything else.
try dropping the goggles into a bleach diluted solution. That should kill any mold. I have to do that with water bottles often.
I used to have some similar issues around the eyes, turned out it was Seborrhea. Doctor told me not to eat mint, peanuts or cinnamon for a few months and use some special lotion. Never had issues since. Did the same thing steroids would take it away then come back as soon as I stopped the steroid cream.
Go Swedish goggles, seriously.
They have no rubber/latex gasket, and it’s unlikely that the hard plastic rim with give you a dermatitis.
I don’t have any skin problems with reg goggles, but the Swedes are so much superior in terms of leakproofness that I’m never going back.
If you do go swedes, def get a bungee-cord style headstrap - way more adjustable than the stock. Use the stock headband for the nosepiece, as that will become adjustable (whereas the little string they ship it with is not once you put it on.)
I prefer the string on swedes. And yes, it is adjustable after installation, in one direction anyway, to a limited degree. I’ll let you figure out how.
I prefer the string on swedes. And yes, it is adjustable after installation, in one direction anyway, to a limited degree. I’ll let you figure out how.
I never can get the string length right. The headband piece cut with sharp corners to fit in works great though - totally adjustable!
i hate it cuz it’s stretchy… there’s a trick to getting the string right. and if it is slightly long you just put one or more twists in the string.
Patch testing may be a bit overkill. Just get new goggles and it should resolve. If not, get tested.
I had the same thing about a year ago and went away within 1-2 weeks of new goggles.
i hate it cuz it’s stretchy… there’s a trick to getting the string right. and if it is slightly long you just put one or more twists in the string.
I found that even with the twists I never get it quite right! I do hear you on the stretchy bit though - it’s more of an issue when you remove the goggles, and you stretch the rubber nosepiece - mine’s already getting frayed from all the motion. No problem with that with the string.
Did you ever solve this? I’m having a similar issue. I’ve been using the same brand of goggles for many years and just got new ones but the problem is getting worse. Have a dermatologist appt on Monday.
I tried the swedes a while ago but had a hard time getting them to fit properly and gave up. Anything similar to swedes that I can use?