are we talking about a wearlink transmitter or the old style?
It’s so funny you mention this. I’ve been getting the same thing myself, though I don’t use any conductivty lotion. I take similar measures as you: washing the strap with warm water and soap, and even putting a little antifungal cream on the quater-size spot near the center of mty chest. Nothing really helps as long as I wear the strap, which I do, daily, though I’ve taken a few days here and there where I don’t wear it.
I’d be interested to hear what others have to say about this and whether or not there are any remedies that i’m overlooking.
I think it’s the older style, hard and plastic.
I will typically use a conductive gel when it’s cold out also (I think the bottle I bought 4yr ago and am still using is from performance bike). Once it warms up it’s back to spit.
But both of you guys make mention of using a lotion that isn’t nessesarily designed as a HR conductive gel. it may in fact work but it is probably also causnig the rash.
You can also try spinning the transmitter onto your back; the elstic strap on your chest. it will still work and should give your rash a chance to heal up. I’m also assuming here that the strap is tight enough that its movement isn’t the main cause of rash
Bottomline: try not using the lotion you currently using, if spit ain’t workin’ try an actual conductive medium.
I have the same problem and stopped using HRMs. Prior to this I used HRM straps for fifteen years without problems. A couple of years ago I started getting a rash under my shorts from the fanny pack I wore over the shorts. A couple of doctors said it was an undiagnosable rash.
I never washed the HRM strap before and used multiple straps.
I had this problem with the older style Polar strap and used athletic tape on my skin to prevent the chafing. It never seemed to interfere with the reading. The newer, more flexible strap doesn’t chafe as much.
Over the past few months I’ve developed a mild, red, itchy rash which I believe is from my Garmin HRM chest strap. The rash has little red dots (no not the measles). I always use a hypoallergenic conductivity gel. I wash the strap after every use w/ soapy water. The rash is at the HRM level, mostly on the front, but also on my back. I thought it might be fungas, but an anitfungal cream made no difference. It goes away w/ time if I don’t swim or use the monitor; swimming seems to aggravate the situation. FWIW I use a non-scented detergent and no dryer sheets/fabric softeners in the laundry.
Any docs out there?
I went through the same thing. I had a Timex strap (One that came with the bodylink w/GPS) that I had no issues with for 2 years. Then one day I do a stress test at the track with a buddy’s Polar HRM and footpod. BAM! -next day I have two huge patches of red on my chest…took a week to go away. After some research… it was most likely from the Latex used in the contacts on that particular strap. Well, now… then every time go back to use the old standby Timex one now… Yup, Red Patches!
Not a plug for a particular mfgr, but I’ve been using the CycleOps HRM since April of last year and this strap doesn’t give me any irritation at all. (BTW:Either does my friend’s newer polar that seems to have cloth contacts.) If you ask these companies who the manufacturers are, you might be albe to figure out if other companies are using these straps (I’m told there are only a few strap manufacturers out there)
Side note: I’ve since confirmed that I have developed a mild dermatological latex allergy that only comes up after prolonged exposure. But swim caps seem to be ok for some reason…
Hope this helps a bit.
Chris
I get something similar but its due to my ipod holder, not my HRM strap. I tend to get a little rash in spots like behind me knees oron the insides of my elbows due to overly dry skin and it looks the same. I’ve just used a cream that the dermatologist gave me and that always takes care of it.
Most companies (be it Garmin, Timex, Polar…) state it could also be a built up allergy to the latex in some of the straps (or another material in the transmitters…which I can’t remember at this time). Flip the strap upside down and turn to your back and wear it there for a while and see if you get that mark. If you do, it could be an allergy…if you don’t, then perhaps it’s chafing/rubbing or something similar…just an idea.
By the end of the season I have scars from my HR monitor strap, regardless of who makes the monitor. I think it is just a standard heat rash and chafing. I use the spit method. It doesn’t generally happen in cooler weather. I just deal with it because I haven’t figured out how to fix it. I’ll try the gel everyone is mentioning.
There is also this product (shirt/top), which is a compression top that builds in the chest strap within the material and you just snap the Wearlink peanut onto it. Of course, you have to “like” this top to wear it, but it’s good to know it exists (and female’s can get bra’s and tops with same idea built in). I’ve also seen people wet their shirt and put the strap over it…but that has to be very “clingy”…not sure I could handle that. The Wearlink tends to be worn without moving and rashing, but everyone is different.
I’m using Timex so unfortunately those won’t work. I’ll keep looking for a solution. Maybe this will be the year I don’t suffer!