Skin issues after diving

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InTheDrink

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Location
UK, South Coast
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I've just come back from some diving in a pretty remote part of Africa.

After going diving for 5 days I find myself again with some strange-ish skin symptoms.

1. All the skin on my palms of my hands and soles of my feet fall off like some major ex-foliation. No biggie, just a little strange and I guess from being in the water so much (3 times a day for 5 days and wearing wetsuit from 8am to 7pm)

2. A localised patch of skin (inch-square) area on my elbow falls off and thereafter turns into a smaller but nasty sore.

Both of the above happened after my last trip also (last November; 10 days x4 dives) - any thoughts on what this is and whether can prevent it? I really don't recall this happening after diving prior to my trip last November but it could be I just didn't dwell on it. As a minor point, none of the symptoms happened during the trip, but a couple of days after I finished my last dive.

Since my trip to Africa (got back on Sunday) something else has developed as well - itchiness all over my body. It prevented me from sleeping last night until 5am so it's quite a PITA. Could it be neoprene allergy? Some bug picked up in Africa? Any thoughts on what the best course of action is - I'll leave it a few days anyhow to see if symptoms persist but if they do would be good to know what best course of action is (dermatologist?).

Anyhow, hardly life threatening and not much more than an annoyance but be interesting to at least understand what's happening and why (I know I'm probably asking the impossible).

TIA,
J
 
Seeing a dermatologist seems like the place to start.

Peeling of the palms and soles rings a bell as "diver's hand" which IIRC, was noted with saturation divers. I don't know anything more.

Travel overseas is always a flag to consider exposure to unusual bugs or toxins.
 
Cheers for that. Itching stopped after a couple of days - think it was just sun burn after effects. Not sure about the sore but don't think it's of any concern - think it is cos I favour leaning on my elbow after giving myself a big gash last year on my forearm and diving exacerbates it.

Palms and soles different so will check out diver's hand - thanks for the input.

They should start another sub-forum here: Diving Medicine -> Hypochondria. I know I'd be a regular contributor :)

J
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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