Collars and Breakouts

[Kailey_86]

i wear a thick leather collar when i'm at home. i seem to be breaking out a bit from it. Does anybody else have this problem? Is there anything i can do to prevent the breakouts?

 

[the captians wench]

i wear a thick leather collar when i'm at home. i seem to be breaking out a bit from it. Does anybody else have this problem? Is there anything i can do to prevent the breakouts?

I get that some times when I sleep in my collar. I would end up going to work with what looked like hickies. My subbie friend told me that it some times happens with leather, it just gets worn out. I've thought about trying some leather condistioner, thinking it's like cheap rings and the lining has just worn off. A guy at work said to put vasaline on the inside. But I think my skin just got used to it because it doesn't happen any more.

 

[catalina_francisco]

I get that some times when I sleep in my collar. I would end up going to work with what looked like hickies. My subbie friend told me that it some times happens with leather, it just gets worn out. I've thought about trying some leather condistioner, thinking it's like cheap rings and the lining has just worn off. A guy at work said to put vasaline on the inside. But I think my skin just got used to it because it doesn't happen any more.

Definately don't put Vaseline on leather as it will ruin it!! I have a rash from mine sometimes, usually hot weather or if I am doing lots of sweaty work. The first one I was rashy almost 24/7 because it just had the raw back on the inside, but now I get it with the new one just from the chemical reaction of the leather and sweat, and perhaps I sometimes think, from the dye used. I clean it regularly with a specialised leather conditioner, but that only lasts so long. We have been looking at alternatives which is difficult as I also have allergies to most metals and materials/threads also, but haven't given up as yet.

Catalina

 

[the captians wench]

Definately don't put Vaseline on leather as it will ruin it!! I have a rash from mine sometimes, usually hot weather or if I am doing lots of sweaty work. The first one I was rashy almost 24/7 because it just had the raw back on the inside, but now I get it with the new one just from the chemical reaction of the leather and sweat, and perhaps I sometimes think, from the dye used. I clean it regularly with a specialised leather conditioner, but that only lasts so long. We have been looking at alternatives which is difficult as I also have allergies to most metals and materials/threads also, but haven't given up as yet.

Catalina

I was kind of afraid the vaseline would ruin it, which is why I never took his advice. I was leaning more towards the conditioner, but I guess I'm kind of lazy about it and since it's not bothering me anymore haven't really persued it. Guess that will change here soon when summer hits tho *giggles*

 

[liberatedslave]

Don't take this the wrong way but I did once know this old lady who had a hairless cat! It couldn't tolerate any kind of collar. After trying a few things she got a collar in soft leather & put a quilted iron-on hemming strip in cotton on the inside of it. She got the hemming strip from a haberdashery & it was designed for hemming fabric edges without having to sew. Maybe this could work for Kailey?

 

[the captians wench]

Don't take this the wrong way but I did once know this old lady who had a hairless cat! It couldn't tolerate any kind of collar. After trying a few things she got a collar in soft leather & put a quilted iron-on hemming strip in cotton on the inside of it. She got the hemming strip from a haberdashery & it was designed for hemming fabric edges without having to sew. Maybe this could work for Kailey?

I never thought about ironing on leather. Those strips are usually cotton and I'd imagine that the cotton eventually would obsorb the chemicals used to die the leather. I'm pretty sure that's what causes my reaction most of the time, sweat and those chemicals combining. If this is the case for Kailey then adding a cotton strip would for a short term limit the problem, but once the cotton obsorbed enough it would make the problem worse.

Of course, since I've never tried it these are just my theories

 

[liberatedslave]

I don't know either, except maybe the dye stays in the quilted part which keeps it from irritating the skin. I know it worked for the cat & she even used to wash it regularly with a mild detergent. I guess that would damage leather over time unless treating it with conditioner made it water resistant enough to wash occasionally

 

[trojan_man_co]

well as some of you know i work in the jewelry industry so my suggestion would be switching marital. i dont mean to say you cant have your leather collars for play time, but for everyday wear... a nice choker would do the trick. get something thats durable but your not allergic too. as any one with piercing knows... the most susceptible to infection soreness and rashes is when something goes into your body and back out like a piercing... so when i continually watch women take off a pair of diamond stud earrings that the last time they took them out was 6 months ago for the last cleaning... different metal types can be a good thing. im not saying this would work for every one, but a coller could easily be designed eather custume made or predone that is a metal of somesort... gold sterling silver stainless steel titanium tungston...

 

[the captians wench]

well as some of you know i work in the jewelry industry so my suggestion would be switching marital. i dont mean to say you cant have your leather collars for play time, but for everyday wear... a nice choker would do the trick. get something thats durable but your not allergic too. as any one with piercing knows... the most susceptible to infection soreness and rashes is when something goes into your body and back out like a piercing... so when i continually watch women take off a pair of diamond stud earrings that the last time they took them out was 6 months ago for the last cleaning... different metal types can be a good thing. im not saying this would work for every one, but i coller could easily be designed eather custume made or predone that is a metal of somesort... gold sterling silver stainless steel titanium tungston...

As some one who has worn both leather and metal collars not to mention a number of chokers I can tell you there is something special about the leather. Or at least to me anyway. And I think, much like myself, this is Kaily's first collar, so that tie is something strong as well.

Okay, another example to illistrate my point.

When my ex proposed to me, he wanted to do it on Valentine's day. He bought the diamond he wanted, had it set, and on Valentine's popped the question. I was in love with that ring. It was simple, just a round cut diamond on a gold band and white gold setting. On the following saturday he took me to the mall, and walked me into a jewelry store. There he had the girl at the counter pull out the ring he had set back for me. I didn't care much for the other ring, but it was okay. Then he informed me that they were going to take the diamond out of the ring I had on and put it in this new ring. I promptly told him he wasn't fucking touching MY ring. This was the ring he proposed to me with. This was the ring with the memory attached to it, this was the ring that said to me we were bonded together, not that other one. I think it hurt his feelings, but he understood.

 

[graceanne]

I can't wear much of anything for long without getting hives, leather included. So far I've found I can wear gold, platinum, and sterling silver. Even then I need to be careful to keep them clean, or I get hives from the dirt.

That said, I'm not sure what you can do about the sores you're getting but I'd suggest putting hydrocortisone cream on your rash, and then dusting the inside of your collar with some kind of talcum powder (or corn starch), especially when it's hot. It'll absorb some of your sweat and keep it from causing problems with the leather and it's dye's. You might also consider putting an anti-perspirant on your neck. (Be warned: antiperspirant can cause a different allergic reaction - I can't wear it.)

 

[Kailey_86]

Thanks for all your suggestions. Wenchie is right, this is my first collar and it has a special meaning for me. i will try out some of these ideas and report back.

 

[incubus'_sub]

Well, for me it would be special meaning be damned. If you're having a physical reaction to it, take it off.

Our play collar is leather, but has nickel plated fittings & like cheap jewellery, I'm allergic to it if I wear it longer than a session. My Master bought me a sterling silver collar to wear for longer periods. Who on earth would want their sub to have an itchy, swollen, red rimmed neck?

 

[Chicklet]

Well, for me it would be special meaning be damned. If you're having a physical reaction to it, take it off.

this is just too sensible.

 

[HottieMama]

i wear a thick leather collar when i'm at home. i seem to be breaking out a bit from it. Does anybody else have this problem? Is there anything i can do to prevent the breakouts?

i didn't read all the responses, so forgive me if i am echoing someone else. Is the breakout covering the entire same area the collar is covering? If so, you may be allergic to the dye in the leather. In which case you're pretty much shit out of luck unless you decide to get a different collar. If the breakout is only where the top and bottom edge of the collar is, you may be wearing it too tight and the edges are pressing into and therefore irritating your skin. Either way, Neosporin should help the breakout and will keep any abrqasions from getting infected, but you may need to accept the fact that you need a different style of collar for extended wear.

 

[Life_Noir]

Thanks for all your suggestions. Wenchie is right, this is my first collar and it has a special meaning for me. i will try out some of these ideas and report back.

*sigh* Welcome to the downfall of leather....
It could be the sweat etc {not that that isn't bad enough}..... But my guess would be {if this is an immediate reaction} that it is either the dye, or the tanning process chemicals..
IME Reactions to the metal fittings tends to be somewhat localized..Or at least start that way..

If it has that much significance for you.. Put it in a special place {put a good leather conditioner on it first}... Get a stainless ring from Eternity for day to day wear, and save the special collar for special occaisions.

 

[Kailey_86]

i'm breaking out mostly in one area. i haven't worn the collar for the past 2 days and it's clearing up. i think that if i kept wearing it, the breakout would have spread. i'm thinking that it is either an allergic reaction to the dye or irritation from the rubbing and sweat. i will talk to my Dom about getting a metal collar. i really like them. If i get one, i can wear it to work too which would be nice. i would love to get one that has a lock on the back. i'm going to look that up right now actually. Does anyone have any links to websites that have nice metal collars? Preferably that lock?

 

[Kailey_86]

i found some great links for metal collars in the library but i would still be interested in seeing your links.

 

[SweetErika]

We'll likely get one from here, or similar: http://www.bondagecollars.com/index.html

 

[graceanne]

i'm breaking out mostly in one area. i haven't worn the collar for the past 2 days and it's clearing up. i think that if i kept wearing it, the breakout would have spread. i'm thinking that it is either an allergic reaction to the dye or irritation from the rubbing and sweat. i will talk to my Dom about getting a metal collar. i really like them. If i get one, i can wear it to work too which would be nice. i would love to get one that has a lock on the back. i'm going to look that up right now actually. Does anyone have any links to websites that have nice metal collars? Preferably that lock?

Just be careful about the metal content. I'd hate for you to spend a lot of money on something you're allergic to.

 

[Kailey_86]

We'll likely get one from here, or similar: http://www.bondagecollars.com/index.html

Wow, some of those collars are really pretty. They are expensive though. i think this might have to wait a bit.

Just be careful about the metal content. I'd hate for you to spend a lot of money on something you're allergic to.

Yeah, i don't seem to be allergic to metals. At least i haven't had any problems with my jewelry in the past.

 

[graceanne]

Wow, some of those collars are really pretty. They are expensive though. i think this might have to wait a bit.

Yeah, i don't seem to be allergic to metals. At least i haven't had any problems with my jewelry in the past.

You're lucky. It makes jewelry buying really a pain in the ass, not to mention expensive. I can't even wear surgical steel.

 

[trojan_man_co]

You're lucky. It makes jewelry buying really a pain in the ass, not to mention expensive. I can't even wear surgical steel.

with earrings, if you take clear nail polish and paint the back it helps protect your ear for special occasions if you don’t have a high enough gold content. also you may just be allergic to some of the alloys check to see what ones are used in your jewelry. they can use other alloys.

 

[graceanne]

with earrings, if you take clear nail polish and paint the back it helps protect your ear for special occasions if you don’t have a high enough gold content. also you may just be allergic to some of the alloys check to see what ones are used in your jewelry. they can use other alloys.

Hm. Well, I'll try it. I can wear earings for like an hour before I get an infection as long as they're not heavy and I don't do it too often.

 

[trojan_man_co]

Hm. Well, I'll try it. I can wear earings for like an hour before I get an infection as long as they're not heavy and I don't do it too often.

make sure you remove the nail polish after your done though it will corrode the gold backings

 

[lil_slave_rose]

Well, for me it would be special meaning be damned. If you're having a physical reaction to it, take it off.

Our play collar is leather, but has nickel plated fittings & like cheap jewellery, I'm allergic to it if I wear it longer than a session. My Master bought me a sterling silver collar to wear for longer periods. Who on earth would want their sub to have an itchy, swollen, red rimmed neck?

exactly, and this was my first reaction when i started reading this thread. i understand it's important, but sheesh if it's breaking you out, then maybe it's time to look for another that won't do that. doesn't mean you have to throw the old one away or never wear it again, but for everyday wear maybe get something thats not leather. *shrugs*