Dealing w/ open abrasions when wearing a silicone mermaid tail? Warning, kinda gross

[Elodea the Mermaid]

Hi guys!

I know that I have seen a thread about health risks involved in mermaiding which was super informative, but I haven't been able to find advice on this specific issue. I'm sure it's here somewhere, so if someone can link me to a thread, that would be awesome. Otherwise, if you have some advice, I'd love to hear it! Also, this is a little gross, it's about feet, and maybe TMI, so I'm sorry in advance and please feel free to stop reading now, lol.

So here's my problem. I borrowed a monofin at a practice session and it seriously chewed up my feet. My fault for not lubing up or wearing socks, but it is what it is. It left me with blisters and bleeding wounds all around my ankles. This is fine, it happens. However, I am in my silicone tail a lot. Probably three times a week or more for many hours. And because it's winter time, I have a lot of dry, sitting gigs. So, as a result of the moist, closed environment, the wounds didn't heal like normal. I'm fine now, but it took much longer. I actually almost went to the doctor, but they started to improve and have now finally scabbed over. I can tell they are going to scar though. :-/

Does anyone have any advise for dealing with injuries and the grossness that is the inside of a mermaid tail? Injuries happen and I am wondering if I can prevent this in the future. If it happens again, obviously I will just go to my doctor, but if someone has dealt with this I'd love to hear how.

[Mermaid Wesley]

I would probably just bandage as well as I could. That way it won't rub on the rubber. Or you know try to stay out of the tail till they heal if possible.


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[AniaR]

actually there is specific stuff made exactly for this. simple water proof bandages arent enough, You can buy a special sticky film from a pharmacist. It looks like plastic paper and you peel it and it's sticky and thin. Big sheets. you cover your wound and then slap this thing on it. it wont come off and makes 100% sure your wound wont get wet or spread.

[AniaR]

http://www.smith-nephew.com/professional/products/advanced-wound-management/opsite/

[HamptonsMermaid]

This isn't quite the same, but it's my main experience with keeping large gross wounds clean and protected from chlorinated water. It helps that both my parents are doctors so I got good guidance from them. I once took a dive off my skateboard and my hip had a sloppy makeout session with the pavement. I had a huge 4in diameter wound that closely resembled raw bacon. I was also on swim team at the time! I waited a few days before going in the pool, and when I did, I used a type of bandage that was basically a large clear adhesive square. I'd put antibiotic ointment on the wound to keep the adhesive from sticking to the flesh, and carefully sealed the adhesive all around the edges, with at least a 2in border of adhesive sticking to dry skin around the wound. It worked quite well and kept the wound sealed during swim practice. This satisfied the coaches need to protect me, and to keep from contaminating the pool with my grossness. As soon as the wound wasn't raw, I kept it dry on land, and bandaged w ointment in the water. I still have a scar that perfectly matches my illiac crest but it's way smaller than the original hole.

Just looked it up and I think I was using this Tegaderm dressing:
35610

[AniaR]

also these:

http://www.transparentwounddressing.com/sale-4703994-waterproof-transparent-wound-dressing.html

http://www.solmed.com.au/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1077

[Elodea the Mermaid]

Great! I'll pick some up. Thanks for your help, guys!

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[SIF]

I simply use mole-skin or blister bandages for covering wounds. We use the same two things with the forest service to keep boots and tools from rubbing, and to waterproof the moleskin you cover it with one of those clear waterproof patches, or tape ziplock around it with clear medical tape.

[KayNS]

Just a random thought; would it be possible to put something in a tail that would absorb excess moisture for use during a dry event? Like those little silica packets in electronics packaging, but on a much larger scale.

Edited to add: Has anyone tried a mesh baggy of dry rice?

[PearlieMae]

I wear cotton tights. If your skin is against rubber and you sweat, no amount of silica is going to keep you dry.

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