{"id":8947,"date":"2026-07-28T07:10:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T05:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flipsoc.de\/?p=8947"},"modified":"2026-10-04T14:13:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T12:13:18","slug":"wetsuit-chafing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flipsoc.de\/en\/wetsuit-chafing\/","title":{"rendered":"Wetsuit Chafing? How to Avoid Chafing Spots"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the shower after your first longer open water session: your neck is burning, and there\u2019s a red stripe under your armpits. For many swimmers and triathletes, wetsuit chafing<\/strong> somehow comes with the territory \u2013 but it doesn\u2019t have to. Chafing spots don\u2019t appear at random, but at very specific points and for understandable reasons.<\/p>

The most affected areas are the neck, the armpits and sometimes the inside of the upper arms or the area around the wrists. When swimming front crawl, you turn your head to breathe hundreds of times, and your arms circle in a wide, sweeping movement. Every little friction point adds up over the distance.<\/p>

In this article, we at FlipSoc show you why a wetsuit chafes, how to prevent it with the right fit, technique, careful donning and protection, and what to keep in mind for aftercare in general.<\/p>

In short:<\/strong> A wetsuit usually chafes at the neck and under the armpits, because the collar or material rubs against the skin with every breathing turn and every arm stroke. Common causes are a poor fit, a suit that isn\u2019t sitting right, salt, stubble and unfavourable technique. You can prevent it with a well-fitting wetsuit, careful donning, neoprene-safe skin protection and a fresh-water rinse.<\/p><\/div>

Wetsuit chafing: what are the causes?<\/h2>

A wetsuit chafes because, at certain points, the edge or material of the suit shifts very slightly against the skin with every movement. Over a longer swim, this friction adds up until the top layer of skin is irritated.<\/p>

Neoprene itself isn\u2019t rough. The problem arises where the suit doesn\u2019t move fully with the skin: at edges such as the collar, at creases, at seams or where material bunches up and stretches again during movement. On top of that, there are factors that increase the friction.<\/p>

The most common causes at a glance<\/h3>
Cause<\/th>Typical spot<\/th>What helps<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Collar too tight or too loose<\/td>Neck, nape<\/td>Check the fit, close the collar properly<\/td><\/tr>
Suit sits too low, material missing at the top<\/td>Armpits, shoulders<\/td>Work the material upwards when putting it on<\/td><\/tr>
Creases and rolls<\/td>Armpits, elbows, backs of the knees<\/td>Smooth out creases, check the fit<\/td><\/tr>
A lot of head rotation when breathing<\/td>Nape, side of the neck<\/td>Refine your breathing technique<\/td><\/tr>
Salt water<\/td>All friction points<\/td>Apply protection, rinse well after swimming<\/td><\/tr>
Stubble<\/td>Chin, neck<\/td>Adjust when you shave, apply protection<\/td><\/tr>
Seams and Velcro<\/td>Nape, zip area<\/td>Close the Velcro neatly, smooth the collar<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

How do I stop my wetsuit chafing my neck?<\/h2>

To stop your wetsuit chafing your neck, the collar needs to fit snugly without squeezing, be closed neatly and have no edges sticking out. A collar that\u2019s too loose moves with every breathing turn. One that\u2019s too tight presses and rubs.<\/p>

When closing it, make sure the Velcro or collar tab lies flat. If a corner of the Velcro sticks out, it can rub a real groove into your neck over the distance. Also check that the skin on your neck is completely under the collar and not partly pinched.<\/p>

Beard, shaving and neck<\/h3>

An underestimated factor is stubble. One or two days\u2019 growth acts like fine sandpaper on the collar \u2013 for both skin and neoprene. Some swimmers therefore shave right before a race, others prefer to let their beard grow a bit longer, because longer hair is softer. Try out what works for you, but not on race day.<\/p>

Why does my wetsuit chafe under the armpits?<\/h2>

A wetsuit usually chafes under the armpits because, during front crawl, the arm is stretched far forward and the material stretches strongly and then bunches up again. If the suit sits too low or there\u2019s too little material in the shoulder area, this friction increases.<\/p>

It\u2019s also a question of fit. It\u2019s normal for a wetsuit to have a tiny bit of material at the armpits. But if there are large creases or rolls, they rub against the inside of your upper arm with every stroke. Conversely, if there\u2019s too little material, the suit pulls at the shoulder with every stroke and the edges move across your skin.<\/p>

A lot depends on putting it on correctly: if the material at the legs and hips hasn\u2019t been worked up far enough, it\u2019s missing at the shoulders. The suit then \u201changs\u201d and works against you with every arm stroke.<\/p>

What role does fit play in chafing?<\/h2>

Fit plays the most important role in chafing: a wetsuit that fits like a second skin moves with your body and hardly rubs at all. A suit that\u2019s too loose forms creases, one that\u2019s too tight constricts and presses at the edges.<\/p>

A well-fitting swim wetsuit is snug everywhere, lets you breathe freely and has no water pockets. A bit of material under the armpits is normal. The seals at the neck, hands and feet should be tight without constricting. We\u2019ve described in detail how to find the right size and check the fit in our article on wetsuit size and fit<\/a>.<\/p>

Fit check against chafing<\/h3>