Skin problem

Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?

"Dave King" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is there a
decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that I have. I
am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my knees,
where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good
product to help my skin?

DK

wear one of those tight body suit, it suppose to make you swim faster.......

Kenny

"Dave King" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is there a
decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that I have. I
am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my knees,
where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good
product to help my skin?

DK

i used to put alcogel (alcohol-gel) when i was a swimmer. good luck

--
Martin [email hidden]
Té 667-1948

"Dave King" <[email hidden]> a écrit dans le message de
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is there a
decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that I have. I
am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my knees,
where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good
product to help my skin?

DK

I shave because I want better times. If I didn't shave I would have a lot more drag.

Please, I know REAL swimmers like myself, use this board and might have an answer to my problem
which is blemishes and pimples showing up on my upper legs from shaving. Please reply with
ideas. Thanks.

DK

Quoted message said:

Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?

"Dave King" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is there
a decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that I have.
I am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my
knees, where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a
good product to help my skin?

DK

Dave King said:

I am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my knees,
where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good product
to help my skin?

So the question is - has he actually increased his drag in his quest to look like a cool swimmer,
but instead giving his legs lots of bumps from ingrown hairs?

Less steroids, less shaving. Save the latter for the big races. Don't forget to shave above the neck
too. No one was ever intimidated by Carrot Top.

--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com

"Dave King" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I shave because I want better times. If I didn't shave I would have a lot more drag.

BZZT, wrong answer, unless you're freaking Bigfoot.

Quoted message said:

Please, I know REAL swimmers like myself, use this board and might have an answer to my problem
which is blemishes and pimples showing up on my upper legs from shaving. Please reply with
ideas. Thanks.

DK

Ahhh see, REAL swimmers shave, ergo to look likea cool real swimmer...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?

"Dave King" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is
there a decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that
I have. I am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but
above my knees, where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone
recommend a good product to help my skin?

DK

"Dave King" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I shave because I want better times. If I didn't shave I would have a lot more drag.

Please, I know REAL swimmers like myself, use this board and might have an answer to my problem
which is blemishes and pimples showing up on my upper legs from shaving. Please reply with
ideas. Thanks.

DK

while the amount of drag induced by body hair is small, it does still exist. the benefit of shaving
is also psychological, like all the other small rituals that athletes perform in order to do
everything in their power.

firstly, i would ask what kind of razor you're using, and how often you're shaving. i used to only
shave down for championship, or other taper meets. i recommend that my swimmers don't even worry
about it until about 4-5 weeks out from the meet in question, then let it grow out, shaving down the
night before, then daily.

i know a lot of them use women's shaving products, men and women. do you use lotion afterwards? do
you shave in the bath tub or shower? be a bit more explicit in what you're doing and maybe we can
figure it out.

steve

"Jason O'Rourke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dave King said:

I am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my
knees, where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a
good product to help my skin?

So the question is - has he actually increased his drag in his quest to look like a cool
swimmer, but instead giving his legs lots of bumps from ingrown hairs?

LOL... that could be very true! Aside from bing funny.

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 06:03:03 GMT, "Dave King" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

...I am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my
knees, where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good
product to help my skin?

tendskin-distributor.comtendskin-distributor.comOpen ↗

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 06:03:03 GMT, "Dave King" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is there a
decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that I have. I am
having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my knees,
where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good product
to help my skin?

DK

Get some Nair or its generic equivalent for those sensative areas.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?

What did he do to deserve this reaction? Maybe he's shaving because for about 99% of the competitive
swimming population (at least that I've ever come in contact with in 40 some odd years) it results
in faster swims when applied judiciously (regardless of whether the effect was psychological,
physical or both.)

- Al

"Al" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:MPG.1a59fcd3b655450e9896f9@mayonews...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?

What did he do to deserve this reaction? Maybe he's shaving because for about 99% of the
competitive swimming population (at least that I've ever come in contact with in 40 some odd
years) it results in faster swims when applied judiciously (regardless of whether the effect was
psychological, physical or both.)

- Al

He has no decent team or coach. there are a lot more constructive things to do to improve his
swimming than worry about the absolutely minimal effects of drag from hair. There is nothing you can
cite to support that shaving down makes any real difference except at the very highest level were
the miniscule anount of added drag might just make that 1000th of a second difference.

Most psychological benefit is more of a team camaradarie thing, i.e. all the guys shaving down (just
like they saw on TV!), and this guy said that wasn't part of the equation.

Instead, he's concerned with looking like a "swimmer"...merely a poseur.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

"Al" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:MPG.1a59fcd3b655450e9896f9@mayonews...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?

What did he do to deserve this reaction? Maybe he's shaving because for about 99% of the
competitive swimming population (at least that I've ever come in contact with in 40 some odd
years) it results in faster swims when applied judiciously (regardless of whether the effect was
psychological, physical or both.)

- Al

He has no decent team or coach. there are a lot more constructive things to do to improve his
swimming than worry about the absolutely minimal effects of drag from hair. There is nothing you
can cite to support that shaving down makes any real difference except at the very highest level
were the miniscule anount of added drag might just make that 1000th of a second difference.

I'll grant you that there might be more constructive things to be accomplished (during that 15
minutes it will take him to shave down,) but I'd need more information than the fact that he doesn't
have a good coach to take that any further. No argument, either, with the fact that I have no
statistics at my disposal to support the idea that shaving down makes a difference. I really have no
idea if any studies have been done to that end - I'm happy to take your word for it if you're aware
of any. But based on my own reasonably extensive experience (AAU,USS,High School/NCAA/Masters) the
idea that shaving down did not have a substantial effect on the vast majority of swimmers that used
the technique sparingly doesn't jive with reality.

Quoted message said:

Most psychological benefit is more of a team camaradarie thing, i.e. all the guys shaving down
(just like they saw on TV!), and this guy said that wasn't part of the equation.

We're also in agreement that the effect is about 99% psychological (a hunch on my part since I'm not
a scientist.) But for me (and most of the people I swam with) it was more a function of how it made
me feel in the water rather than any team effect (although I'm sure that's a player with some
folks.) I've gone to several meets by myself or with one or two other people (who might or might not
have been shaving) where the effect was undiminished.

Quoted message said:

Instead, he's concerned with looking like a "swimmer"...merely a poseur.

Why the deragatory assumption? Even in the absence of any evidence (statistical, anecdotal or
whatever) that shaving helps, can you not provide for the possibility that he might really think it
will improve his swimming? That's a far cry from doing it to look cool, falacious reasoning or not.
Putting him at the bottom of the food chain just because he's pursuing a strategy that, in your
opinion, is ineffective is uncalled for.

- Al

"Al" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:MPG.1a5a4ea199ad6d699896fa@mayonews...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

"Al" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:MPG.1a59fcd3b655450e9896f9@mayonews...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
> Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?

What did he do to deserve this reaction? Maybe he's shaving because

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

about 99% of the competitive swimming population (at least that I've ever come in contact with
in 40 some odd years) it results in faster swims when applied judiciously (regardless of
whether the effect was psychological, physical or both.)

- Al

He has no decent team or coach. there are a lot more constructive

things to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

do to improve his swimming than worry about the absolutely minimal

effects

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of drag from hair. There is nothing you can cite to support that

shaving

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

down makes any real difference except at the very highest level were the miniscule anount of
added drag might just make that 1000th of a second difference.

I'll grant you that there might be more constructive things to be accomplished (during that 15
minutes it will take him to shave down,) but I'd need more information than the fact that he
doesn't have a good coach to take that any further. No argument, either, with the fact that I have
no statistics at my disposal to support the idea that shaving down makes a difference. I really
have no idea if any studies have been done to that end - I'm happy to take your word for it if
you're aware of any. But based on my own reasonably extensive experience (AAU,USS,High
School/NCAA/Masters) the idea that shaving down did not have a substantial effect on the vast
majority of swimmers that used the technique sparingly doesn't jive with reality.

Quoted message said:

Most psychological benefit is more of a team camaradarie thing, i.e. all

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

guys shaving down (just like they saw on TV!), and this guy said that

wasn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

part of the equation.

We're also in agreement that the effect is about 99% psychological (a hunch on my part since I'm
not a scientist.) But for me (and most of the people I swam with) it was more a function of how it
made me feel in the water rather than any team effect (although I'm sure that's a player with some
folks.) I've gone to several meets by myself or with one or two other people (who might or might
not have been shaving) where the effect was undiminished.

Quoted message said:

Instead, he's concerned with looking like a "swimmer"...merely a poseur.

Why the deragatory assumption? Even in the absence of any evidence (statistical, anecdotal or
whatever) that shaving helps, can you not provide for the possibility that he might really think
it will improve his swimming? That's a far cry from doing it to look cool, falacious reasoning or
not. Putting him at the bottom of the food chain just because he's pursuing a strategy that, in
your opinion, is ineffective is uncalled for.

- Al

He told us he has neither a good team nor coach. When I asked why shave, besides to look like a cool
swimmer, his response was to say I knew nothing and to ask "real swimmers."

Maybe I deal with far too many high school poseurs who think that looking like something makes them
that thing...and shaving when it causes problems is basically a waste of time. Long hair and tats
don't make them rock and roll stars, and shaving and a speedo don't make them swimmers, either...

I see kids at meets shaving heads, etc, where it is a team camaraderie thing...and while I may smile
at the goofiness, it's a team thing. OP wasn't talking about it as a team thing, and it's effect on
his times will be non-existent, so I'm left to believe it's a "look at me, I'm a 'real swimmer'"
thing. Ick.

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

He told us he has neither a good team nor coach. When I asked why shave, besides to look like a
cool swimmer, his response was to say I knew nothing and to ask "real swimmers."

Maybe I deal with far too many high school poseurs who think that looking like something makes
them that thing...and shaving when it causes problems is basically a waste of time. Long hair and
tats don't make them rock and roll stars, and shaving and a speedo don't make them swimmers,
either...

I see kids at meets shaving heads, etc, where it is a team camaraderie thing...and while I may
smile at the goofiness, it's a team thing. OP wasn't talking about it as a team thing, and it's
effect on his times will be non-existent, so I'm left to believe it's a "look at me, I'm a 'real
swimmer'" thing. Ick.

Thanks for elaborating, I can see where you're coming from - it's just that your opening salvo
assumed the worst and was pretty prevocative, although I could be overreacting to something that was
intended to be more tongue in cheek that I percieved it to be.

Interesting how things have come along - back in my high school shaving down days, we did so at the
risk of getting beaten up (even though our team was on something like a 10 year unbeaten streak.)
Now that it's "cool" it probably wouldn't be so appealing to me. :-)

- Al

"Count Scrofula" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

There is nothing you can cite to support that shaving

Quoted message said:

down makes any real difference except at the very highest level were the miniscule anount of added
drag might just make that 1000th of a second difference.

Most psychological benefit is more of a team camaradarie thing, i.e. all

the

Quoted message said:

guys shaving down (just like they saw on TV!), and this guy said that

wasn't

Quoted message said:

part of the equation.

I think it'd do a little more than shave 1000th/sec off. its a small amount, but not that small.
While i don't have access to the literature you'd require at this minute (let me get home, and i'll
be able to do this), i'd point you to the following reference to keep you busy:

Houmard, J. A., & Johns, R. A. (1994). Effects of taper on swim performance: practical implications.
Sports Medicine, 17, 224-232

Psychological benefits go further than simple 'cameraderie' also. there's no ergogenic benefit in
listening to the same cd before a race, or wearing the same socks, or any other of the more
individualised factors many swimmers incorporate into their routines - yet to rubbish one so
institutionalised within our sport is a bit harsh. it has value - the very fact he's worrying about
it shows it has value to him, and thats what matters, not what you or I think.

steve

Remind me never to ask a question in this newsgroup again. I assumed that this would be the only
newsgroup that would not criticize a guy who shaves his legs before swimming. I was wrong.

No, I'm not on a club team. No, I'm don't have a school team to be a part of. However I do love
swimming and hope to continue to get better. I have asked fellow swimmers at the pools that I swim
at for advice and have bought/checked out many swimming books and magazines that have helped. I do
hope to eventually find a club team, as there is no hope for my school to produce a swim team.

I do like the smooth look of a swimmer. I freely admit to that. Am I the only swimmer that likes the
look? Sure, I know I don't have to shave, but I do anyways. Does that make me some sort of a sick
person? No, it doesn't.

With regards to my expression 'real swimmers', it was referring to people who love to swim and who
give a positive outlook on swimming to others, sharing the knowledge they have learned with others
to promote and advance the sport.

For those of you would like to know the what the original question that started this mess, it was:
What product would help a guy swimmer that has developed some blemishes/pimples on his upper legs
due to shaving?

For those of you who feel I should not have asked this swimming-related question, I apologize for
posting it in rec.sport.swimming. I guess I was in the wrong newsgroup.

DK

Keep swimming. However, hairy guys are real men, despite the smooth hairless look favored on TV and
Gq these days...

Getting on a club and getting some coaching will do infinitely more than shaving your fuzz. You want
to be a swimmer, find a place to swim and don't fret about whether you look like some freaking
pretty boy swimmer on TV.

As far as your skin, seems a bit thin...this is usenet, smartass remarks are part of the
territory. As far as the skin problem, first, you're a teen. Pimples/blemishes happen. Second,
shaving isn't something your body likes...sharp steel blades ripping off the top layers of skin
aren't a natural thing.

Next, you're ISP is roadrunner out of austin, that's austin, aka the "swimming capital of texas."
(that's what it says at realtime.net~dhbrownOpen ↗ )

Sure, you may be out of town, roaming the hill country or something...than check out your LSC
...wow, even a map that shows you where all the USA clubs in the area are!
stswim.orgtteams.htmOpen ↗

There are some pretty good year-round YMCA teams as well. If you're north of the map, go to
ntswim.org, I know the Waco Y does both YMCA and USA swimming. A bit east of the map? Go to the gulf
lsc for houston, etc.

You can even check out meet results and the Texas Swimming Assoc.database to see how your times
stack up compared to other kids your age...it may be either encoraging or discouraging, depending on
your times, but at least it let's you see whether you're legitimately competitive usmd.edutsaOpen ↗
ws/ ....although winning meets is certainly not the be all and end all, it will let you know if
you're shaving to be a hardcore swimmer or because you want people to think you're one.

"Dave King" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Remind me never to ask a question in this newsgroup again. I assumed that this would be the only
newsgroup that would not criticize a guy who shaves his legs before swimming. I was wrong.

No, I'm not on a club team. No, I'm don't have a school team to be a part of. However I do love
swimming and hope to continue to get better. I have asked fellow swimmers at the pools that I swim
at for advice and have bought/checked out many swimming books and magazines that have helped. I do
hope to eventually find a club team, as there is no hope for my school to produce a swim team.

I do like the smooth look of a swimmer. I freely admit to that. Am I the only swimmer that likes
the look? Sure, I know I don't have to shave, but I do anyways. Does that make me some sort of a
sick person? No, it doesn't.

With regards to my expression 'real swimmers', it was referring to people who love to swim and who
give a positive outlook on swimming to others, sharing the knowledge they have learned with others
to promote and advance the sport.

For those of you would like to know the what the original question that started this mess, it was:
What product would help a guy swimmer that has developed some blemishes/pimples on his upper legs
due to shaving?

For those of you who feel I should not have asked this swimming-related question, I apologize for
posting it in rec.sport.swimming. I guess I was in the wrong newsgroup.

DK

Dave King said:

I do like the smooth look of a swimmer. I freely admit to that. Am I the only swimmer that likes
the look? Sure, I know I don't have to shave, but I do anyways. Does that make me some sort of a
sick person? No, it doesn't.

It marks you as a bit strange. Since you are doing it for "th look," why didn't you just go to a
dermatologist in the first place?

Quoted message said:

With regards to my expression 'real swimmers', it was referring to people who love to swim and who
give a positive outlook on swimming to others, sharing the knowledge they have learned with others
to promote and advance the sport.

Your question has nothing to do with promoting and advancing the sport. You aren't even shaving for
performance; you are shaving for "the look" which has nothing to do with the sport.

Quoted message said:

For those of you would like to know the what the original question that started this mess, it was:
What product would help a guy swimmer that has developed some blemishes/pimples on his upper legs
due to shaving?

For those of you who feel I should not have asked this swimming-related question, I apologize for
posting it in rec.sport.swimming. I guess I was in the wrong newsgroup.

I'm sure you are just trolling, but see a dermatologist. A shrink is optional.

martin