Tips on preventing foot skin problems?

[alaity47]

Whenever I do repetitive diving, I get seriously irritated skin all over my feet.

I noticed it last year on a week-long liveaboard in Australia - by day 2, I could barely walk, the skin on the bottoms of my feet was so red and tender. I started making a point to rinse off my feet with fresh water and dry them immediately after diving, and by day 4 they were fine.

However, the immediate rinse and dry isn't always an option. Last weekend I spent two days out on a dive boat in Hawaii, where they didn't allow shoes (therefore, not really any good way to dry one's feet between dives). By the evening of the first day, my feet were painfully red.

Anyone have any ideas for preventive treatment? Some kind of lotion or something? Is this even a common problem? My husband never has this issue (even though he DOES suffer from recurrent athlete's foot).

Any ideas welcome - I have a week in Bonaire coming up in May, and I'm not looking forward to dealing with this there.

 

[drbill]

Yikes, Anastasia. Wish I had a solution for you. I've noticed that my toenails get really wierd after days of diving, but at least my skin doesn't seem to be bothered by it.

 

[Hank49]

Go barefoot around your house and yard for a month and toughen them up? That's a weird thing being on the soles of your feet.

 

[Scubakevdm]

I'm not as bad off as you are, but my feet get pretty well hydro'd in the summer time, and stay wet for 10 or 12 hours every day.

Do you think your problem could be an allergic reaction? Maybe try wearing socks one time under your booties. You may ask your doctor about oral anti-fungus medications.

 

[Teamcasa]

Crocs. Try the cayman. Best diving shoe I have found. I've been on several Hawaiian dive boats with them. No problem.

 

[gert7to3]

I use lycra or polpro liner socks inside my boots. These cut down on the friction of the boot, compressed by the fin straps, grinding against my water logged skin. Also make sure your boots and fins fit properly.

Rinsing you feet with rubbing alcohol will get some of the water out of your skin, then use lotion to soothe them.

The socks also decrease the amount of skin and toe cheese sluffing into your boots, so TSA won't declare a chemical attack emergency when they encounter your boots in your baggage.

The socks wash easily and dry quickly.

Here's a link to a model offered by LeisurePro (I am not posting this as an advertisement, just as an example).

Finis "Lycra skin Socks" from LeisurePro.com

 

[alaity47]

Thanks for all the tips - I will try the sock thing, and maybe check with a dermatologist before my next trip just in case.

I do already use crocs on dive trips - LOVE THEM! But they made me put them in the shoe tub before getting on the boat in Hawaii. Not really liking that new policy, I have to say - next time I'll just show that I have no rocks stuck in the soles, and beg to have them along!

 

[DandyDon]

Thanks for all the tips - I will try the sock thing, and maybe check with a dermatologist before my next trip just in case.

I do already use crocs on dive trips - LOVE THEM! But they made me put them in the shoe tub before getting on the boat in Hawaii. Not really liking that new policy, I have to say - next time I'll just show that I have no rocks stuck in the soles, and beg to have them along!

The last liveaboard I was one had everyone put their shoes in a tub. I politely said: "Nope. This was not in the contract, I'll wear mine, TY." Goes over easier if you add that your doc said not to.

 

[offroaddiver]

I've gotten the same thing after a long time hiking. two things that i do to stop it... toughen my feet up before trips and lycra material sock liners (go to a hiking store). only other thing that i can suggest is make sure you take your booties off between dives. i know that's not always an option and i know it's a pain to get wet booties on in a timely fashion.

 

[ClayJar]

I do already use crocs on dive trips - LOVE THEM! But they made me put them in the shoe tub before getting on the boat in Hawaii. Not really liking that new policy, I have to say - next time I'll just show that I have no rocks stuck in the soles, and beg to have them along!

Buy an extra light-colored pair and keep them in your dive bag. Use a big, ugly marker to write "BOAT USE ONLY" on each of them. Then when you get on the boat, put your "street shoes" in the shoe tub, get your "boat shoes" out, and there you go. (Just *don't* jump off to get something while still wearing the boat shoes. :biggrin

That's basically what we do in Japan in places with traditional tatami mat flooring. If it's good enough for tatami, it's *certainly* workable on the *much* more durable boat surfaces. (J.'s apartment is just wood floors, but we used house shoes anyway.)