Swimming in the Ocean

[MermaidSaku]

Alright I admit alot of mers might have the ocean swimming fear but for me it's a bit more about my allergies. I went on a trip to a private beach in Galveston a few months back and it was beautiful and i never really swam in the ocean since i was very little and decided to go in for a bit of a dip. Problem number one : i am so used to pool water that ocean water burned my eyes horribly i have no idea how to fix it because i like seeing while i swim. The water on this beach was sooo clear, i could see my toes and shells in the sand and i was so made i could see in the water as i swam :/ . Problem number 2: recently i went back just to walk in the waves and take pictures i came back with hives from an allergy i have no idea what : ( but thanks to medication they are fading. So now that i can focus less on itching lol. how can i possibly see underwater at the beach : ( without the stinging or burning eyes. And what do u think i was allergic too i still can't figure it out.

[Echidna]

Ocean water is a problem for most people if they're not used to it.
Usually, if you grew up at the sea, you won't find it so bad swimming with open eyes in the sea.
So you can try it again and again, and see if it gets more tolerable :)
you can also try putting eyedrops or an eye salve in first (similar to what you do before swimming in heavily chlorinated water).

as to that allergic reaction, I'm not sure since you were a little vague.
normally, one cannot be allergic to salt water alone.
you might have encountered some jellyfish.
also, there is an allergic reaction to a certain anemone larva which is too tiny to be seen.
the larvae float in the water and cause a stinging itch all over in the persons allergic to it.

Hope that helps.

[Aziara]

I can remember going to the beach for several days in a row... First day, the water is extremely painful in my eyes and nose-- second day is slightly less-- until eventually it is tolerable. Certainly not comfortable like freshwater or brackish (tears are brackish, lol) but about the same as chlorine for me.
As for the rash... Not a clue. Hope you figure out what caused it, that sounds awful.

[AptaMer]

what do u think i was allergic too i still can't figure it out.

As soon as you said you got hives, it made me think of "swimmer's itch" or "sea lice."

These are both reactions of your skin to tiny little organisms, and both result in itchy red welts that go away after a day or 2. The allergy medicines might not have actually had anything to with the welts clearing up- they do that on their own anyhow.

Swimmer's itch is cause by little parasites called cercaria that bite into your skin, but are killed off by your skin immune response (hence the inflammation welts, or hives)

Sea lice is not caused by real sea lice, it's usually caused by baby jellyfish stinging you.

Both cause hives, or really itchy welts, but folklore has it that people usually get swimmer's itch on exposed pieces of skin, while sea lice usually happens on areas you had covered, like under your bathing costume.

Wikipedia has a pretty good page on swimmer's itch http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimmer%27s_itch , also http://boondocsmedicine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=105:swimmers-itch-and-seabathers-eruption&catid=42:water-and-marine-medicine&Itemid=61

also, http://www.surviveoutdoors.com/emergency/sea-lice.asp , (http://www.surviveoutdoors.com/emergency/sea-lice.asp) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabather%27s_eruption

Since vinegar or calcium solutions are supposed to be good at stopping jellyfish stings from releasing, I wonder if applying those as fast as possible if someone starts to get sore from sea lice might be protective? Might be worth a try?

Also, FWIW, I've never gotten swimmer's itch, even when other people have gone in the same water and gotten it. Maybe some people are literally more thick skinned than others?

[MerEmma]

I've gotten sealice mostly from seaweed or being in the sandy water. Cover yourself in sand to solve it, and see if it helps!