break-out!

scottyrocks · Oct 9, 2009

Im talking about my forehead.

Over the years, I have gotten blemishes (read: pimples) on my forehead from my fedoras. My solution had been to stop wearing them until the pimples healed. But I dont want to stop wearing them.

This seems to happen after Ive been sweating into the sweatband for any appreciable time.

When this would happen from a baseball hat, I would soak it in an oxi-clean solution, and all would be well, but I cant soak a leather sweatband, never mind a whole fedora, in oxi-clean.

So, I guess I need a leather cleaner for my sweatband to use as pimple prevention. Ive heard of lexol, but Id like to know if there are other, maybe simpler, products that would work, maybe something not necessarily meant for leather, but it gentle, yet cleansing on skin, like Noxema.

Does anyone have any knowledge of whether Noxema is harmful to leather? I am hoping that it would clean the sweat off of leather as well as it does my face without drying it out, as it is known for not drying out skin.

Inusuit · Oct 9, 2009

Just my opinion.

Based on no facts or experience whatsoever, I would say Noxema would not harm a leather sweatband. When nothing else was immediately available, I have used hand lotion as a leather dressing to touch up scuffs on boots, belts, watchbands, etc. Moisturizers are intended to replace or supplement the natural oils in human skin. I think products safe to use on your face would be okay for leather, which after all was once skin.

Bruce Wayne · Oct 9, 2009

Does your skin happen to be oily? If so i recomend a deep cleaning astringent such as that made by Clean & Clear.

Dreispitz · Oct 9, 2009

Medical skin antiseptics, desinfectant or other medical germicides used for skin desinfection might be an option for use on the sweatband. They usually also kill lipophilic viruses like HIV and similar stuff. Leather treatment solutions might provoke allergic reactions. Your skin already is sensitive, no?

Ask your GP what he uses or go to a pharmacy.

Do not soak the leather too much once it is already brittle or of a very thin type. Alcoholic solutions dry quickly and may cause the leather to slightly contract.

scottyrocks · Oct 9, 2009

bruce wayne said:
Does your skin happen to be oily? If so i recomend a deep cleaning astringent such as that made by Clean & Clear.

I take care of my face normally - at least 2 washings per day. Soap works, but those bottled clean-n-clear products work better, which is why I use them.

The problem Im having, I believe, is my sweating onto the sweatband, and it remaining there after repeated sweatings and wearings. Over time, that creates a dirty situation. I need something effective and safe to clean the sweatband.

indycop · Oct 9, 2009

Could your hats be a little too tight , so that the pores can not breathe and become clogged? I don't mean too small tight but just a little snug. When I went to jungle school I experienced prickly heat where my rucksack would keep sweat from escaping and eventually clog your pores. Then the sweat could not come out and became quite painful.

scottyrocks · Oct 9, 2009

indycop said:
Could your hats be a little too tight , so that the pores can not breathe and become clogged? I don't mean too small tight but just a little snug. When I went to jungle school I experienced prickly heat where my rucksack would keep sweat from escaping and eventually clog your pores. Then the sweat could not come out and became quite painful.

I thought of that. I am very sensitive to fit. I buy my hats so that if they were any looser, they'd be on my ears. With my skin, I just need to keep the sweatband clean which means free of my own salt, and dirt that accumulates over time.

I see people wearing filthy baseball caps with no apparent problems, but I have to wash mine regularly to keep my forehead clear.

gtdean48 · Oct 9, 2009

You may want to try this to clean the sweatband...

LEATHER NEW®: (FARNAM). The first self-polishing saddle soap, Leather New makes leather look like new with a single application. Just spray it on and rub it in. Leather New cleans, softens and renews leather - then dries to a long-lasting shine. Will not dull or stain, and since there is no oily residue, will not rub off on riding pants. Removes imbedded dirt and grime while replacing natural oils deep down in leather.

Other stuff may be too harmful to the leather.

Bruce Wayne · Oct 9, 2009

NOW I understand. Michaelson over at COW recommended using a cotton ball with some rubbing alcohol on it to clean a sweatband on a fedora. Just a few swipes will do. No so much that you are pulling the colour out of the band.

jpbales · Oct 9, 2009

quite a conundrum

maybe if you tried to wipe the sweat down with a baby wipe or a oxy pad or something before or after you use it, it will remove the sweat/oil/skin cells off the band for the next time you wear it.
I bet switching to grosgrains ribbon as your sweatbands would help too, but I suggest this as only a last resort. Grosgrain is REALLY comfy on the head, conforms like magic, and allows your skin to breath better. I've only used it in a couple of hats that I've re-blocked, and it's nice!

scottyrocks · Oct 9, 2009

Im gonna try some saddle soap and baby wipes, but not at the same time. Baby wipes have got to be gentle, being for babies, ya? Thanks for the info, gt and jp.

If anyone has any other suggestions, Im always happy to hear them.

avedwards · Oct 9, 2009

jpbales said:
maybe if you tried to wipe the sweat down with a baby wipe or a oxy pad or something before or after you use it, it will remove the sweat/oil/skin cells off the band for the next time you wear it.
I bet switching to grosgrains ribbon as your sweatbands would help too, but I suggest this as only a last resort. Grosgrain is REALLY comfy on the head, conforms like magic, and allows your skin to breath better. I've only used it in a couple of hats that I've re-blocked, and it's nice!

Just an aside from the original topic, why don't all makers use grosgrain sweat bands if they're so much better? I personally am only able to wear leather sweatband because they don't actually touch my forehead but my hair. I have quite a problem with leather personally. I can wear lined leather jackets and gloves, but when leather touches my skin I get very clammy (for instance when carrying my briefcase). I always wonder whether I should ask Art to fit a grosgrain sweatband on a fedora, should I accumilate the money for one.

As for the original question, I'd suggest always wiping it with a damp tissue/hankerchief after wearing it. I do that with my hats whenever I wear them in warm weather and I find I'm OK. That way they won't need cleaning as often anyway and when they do you can use saddle soap as suggested.

scottyrocks · Oct 9, 2009

Cleaning sweat with just plain water gives me the willies. Thats kind of like sweating, and then going into a shower to 'rinse off' - iow, no soap. Cant do it. =op

I also found, when I had hair lol , that if it laid on my forehead during those sweaty and gritty days, I would, you guessed it, break out.

avedwards · Oct 9, 2009

I also have the advantage of unabsorbant sweat bands. While they absort nothing and can be uncomfortable they are very easy to clean. It doesn't help that you probably live somewhere hotter than where I do. At least here in the UK it's rarely higher than mid 20s (celcius).

scottyrocks · Oct 9, 2009

Thats a good point. But Im not ready to start ripping apart my hats to replace the leather sweats with grosgrains.

But then again, I have a Dobbs that Ive been in the middle of rebuilding for a while. Maybe I could try a grosgrain sweat in that one. The hat is a little too small, anyway, with a leather sweat.

NY_Confidential · Oct 9, 2009

scottyrocks said:
Thats a good point. But Im not ready to start ripping apart my hats to replace the leather sweats with grosgrains.

But then again, I have a Dobbs that Ive been in the middle of rebuilding for a while. Maybe I could try a grosgrain sweat in that one. The hat is a little too small, anyway, with a leather sweat.

I wouldn't recommend it to you but.. I used to wash my forehead with a rag dipped in gasoline after working on cars all day...

Not-Bogart13 · Oct 9, 2009

I get those pimples sometimes, too. However, a day-to-day way of minimizing the sweaty sweatband is this; keep a clean handkerchief or rag in your pocket (nothing big). Wipe off your forehead and the sweatband from time time, and always wipe off the sweatband when you take the hat off. It won't fix everything, but it should slow the process down a bit.

Bruce Wayne · Oct 9, 2009

NY_Confidential said:
I wouldn't recommend it to you but.. I used to wash my forehead with a rag dipped in gasoline after working on cars all day...

That is a good way to get forehead cancer.

suitedcboy · Oct 9, 2009

Originally Posted by NY_Confidential
I wouldn't recommend it to you but.. I used to wash my forehead with a rag dipped in gasoline after working on cars all day...

I wonder if this practice over a period of time leads to spontaneous combustion that you occasionally read about on the cover of the Enquirer and its competitors?

Bruce Wayne · Oct 10, 2009

suitedcboy said:
I wonder if this practice over a period of time leads to spontaneous combustion that you occasionally read about on the cover of the Enquirer and its competitors?

I thought they only talked about the Batboy & Bigfoot being a poligamist with all the people who have married him...:eusa_doh:

fftopic:

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