Any ideas on a poison ivy type rash?

[darylb]

Hi,

Diving the Florida Mini Lobster season last week had me spending a lot of time scraping along the bottom, sand & rocks. I didn't wear a dive skin or wet suit and I'm now wishing I had! I got into fire coral a couple of times (ouch!) and something else that felt very similar.

Thing is, the stuff that was similar has turned into an itchy poison ivy type rash. It's itchy as hell!!! The rash is starting to subside, but I'd like to know what it was (or could have been) so I can avoid it next time. Anyone have any clues as to what organism causes this? BTW - I've never reacted to poison ivy...

 

[Web Monkey]

You should call DAN for a referral to a doc in your area who can treat it.

Coral is like beautiful a velvet bag full of broken razor blades - the outside is soft and pretty and the inside is hard and sharp as a razor.

The actual infection could be pretty much anything, so someone needs to look at it.

Also, touching the coral kills it, so the best way for you to not get hurt in the future and to let other people see it, is to not touch it.

Terry

Hi,

Diving the Florida Mini Lobster season last week had me spending a lot of time scraping along the bottom, sand & rocks. I didn't wear a dive skin or wet suit and I'm now wishing I had! I got into fire coral a couple of times (ouch!) and something else that felt very similar.

Thing is, the stuff that was similar has turned into an itchy poison ivy type rash. It's itchy as hell!!! The rash is starting to subside, but I'd like to know what it was (or could have been) so I can avoid it next time. Anyone have any clues as to what organism causes this? BTW - I've never reacted to poison ivy...

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

The rash is, I suspect, a reaction to the coral stings. Coral stings are simliar to other venonous animal stings, with an initial inflammatory reaction and a later hypersensitivity reaction akin to poison ivy, with itching, swelling and eventual sloughing off of skin and implanted coral stings.

The best way to prevent is to a) not touch the coral or anything else you can avoid touching (even rocks, shells and sand get covering with stinging animals); b) wear protection (although many dive sites forbid gloves because it encourages touching) and c) if you do contact coral underwater, immediately rinse the area thoroughly with vinegar on surfacing (most dive boats have a bottle, although I take some of my own) as this tends to neutralize the venom.

Some rashes can also be caused by "sea lice" and can be aggravated by rinsing the area with fresh water,

For the rash now, thinks like caladryl may help, but steroid creams, from what I know (and from personal experience) do not help coral or sea lice reactions.

 

[darylb]

Thanks for the info guys. I know about coral and not touching it - the fire coral was by accident. The rash was caused by something else (sand/rock) while reaching into lobster dens...

I appreciate the advice and will get it looked at.

- Daryl

 

[Charlie99]

I know about coral and not touching it - ....The rash was caused by something else (sand/rock) while reaching into lobster dens...

Hydroids can also cause problems, even though they look like harmless soft plants.

Sand can have little bits of hydroids and fire coral in it, and might account for your forearm rash.
The treatment is pretty much all the same for the stinging stuff.

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=125 is an article on coral cuts and scrapes, but
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=96 , which deals with Jellyfish is probably more relevant to your problem since DAN includes fire coral, hydroids, and anemones in the same category as jellyfishes as far as treatment. Per DAN, topical hydrocortisone ointments help for hydroids/jellyfish/fire coral but may impede healing of coral scrapes and cuts.

 

[DandyDon]

How much are dive skins? $50? This is one of the reasons I hate to see a shop sell shorties - I know, easy to fit easy to sell, etc.

Good luck on your recovery.

 

[tracydr]

Another rash similar to sea lice is swimmer's itch. Difference is that the sea lice are usually under areas of swimsuit or wetsuit, the itch is areas outside of clothes.
Of course, the fire coral is the most likely. When you touch it you actually cause those little polyps to free float in the water and they can get you in places where you didn't touch.

 

[gert7to3]

Thanks DandyDon about the DandyDAN phone numbers.

 

[darylb]

...for your input - I'm getting a skin! And great idea about having DAN in the cell phone!

- Daryl

 

[DandyDon]

You're welcome, guys - and you'll look spiffy in the skin Daryl.