Really, stupid to dive with it then?
Ok to dive when it has scabbed though right?
Just stay out until it scabs over? Like two or three days?
I have betadine.
I can put that on it.
> I am not a medical doctor <
This wound is an especially difficult spot …not only is it difficult to bandage up effectively, but there’s not a whole lot of blood circulation in that area. A lot of very thick skin so healing will be a prolonged slog.
With the increased likelihood of an infection in this area, you will rue the day that you went scuba diving -it isn’t worth it a deep infection here which could easily cause the loss of toes
In a humid tropical environment, the healing of skin is delayed quite a bit versus if you were standing in Canada or someplace it was reasonably dry. If you’re in the tropics, you will not see sufficient scabbing in any near term. Immersion thereafter will simply cause the scab to slough off. This continued exposure will likely cause a permanent loss of regrown tissue, if not worse.
In many tropical countries, you can walk into the Farmacia and obtain powdered antibiotics like sulfa powder- ask their advice, but to keep that thing dry is key.
The ocean look might look bright and clear, but remember what WC Fields said about water …you’re basically swimming in a sewer.
I have self medicated on other areas of the body, like a shin or an arm, and nothing can be easier to fix. If you have a roll of duct tape (you should), some triple anabiotic ointment (you should), and some gauze padding (paper towels work) you could make a waterproof bandage pretty easily.
Protocol is to re-bandage it after every dive, keep it slathered in antibiotic ointment and get North and dry as fast as you can.
Never had a failure, but that’s my experience
As far as toes and things that are difficult to bandage? It ain’t gonna happen.
Go sit at the bar, i would keep it covered and slathered in antibiotic ointment, drink furiously until you get on the plane to go home.
YMMV
