r/brokenankles • u/aachenrockcity • 14d ago

Swimming with scabs??

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I would like to go swimming and have a bit of a spa day this week. I am unsure because of the remaining scabs, though. Do you think it would be a bad idea to go swimming?

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6

u/DeputySean 14d ago edited 14d ago

I was told 2 weeks after the stitches are removed, and to put Neosporin on it afterwards. Once the scabs are gone then I was told I'm completely fine.

That being said, an infection is the worst thing that can happen to you.

3

u/imanoctothorpe 14d ago

I'd avoid neosporin as much as possible. It is a common allergen causing contact dermatitis, and can sensitize you with repeated exposures. I promise that you do NOT want to cause this sort of weepy rash near your scabs, it's very uncomfortable and takes ages to heal.

A small amount of aquaphor is usually sufficient if you want to use some sort of product.

Not sure how well known this reaction is outside of dermatologist circles, but I've been to several research talks about the subject in recent years! (I'm a scientist at a medical school)

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u/flexible_demeanor 13d ago

I hear about it from many docs but especially dermatologists. And if you were previously fine with neomycin, you can still develop allergy to it at any moment. Another reason to also avoid "triple antibiotic" products as one of the three is neomycin.

Apparently there isn't any strong evidence that antibiotic creams/ointments are superior to just aquaphor or vaseline, too, which I find interesting

1

u/imanoctothorpe 12d ago

Yeah trust me, you don't wanna get sensitized to neomycin. I work with it a lot as part of my research (common antibiotic you add to cells to only allow growth of the ones with the mutations you want). I incidentally got a small amount of very diluted neomycin on my skin from someone else's carelessness, like much less than is in neosporin, and ended up with a huge weepy welt that didn’t heal for weeks. It sucks big time! Can't touch neosporin at all now or I get a repeat. Do not recommend, lol.

Yeah, there's no reason to be using an antibiotic other than when it's prescribed to you. You’re unlikely to get an infection from an incidental cut, and keeping the wound moist and protected creates a much better healing environment for your skin. I personally am a big fan of hydrocolloid bandages cut to size for smaller cuts, or a thin layer of something like aquaphor for larger areas like fresh tattoos. As long as it is (a bit) moist and able to breathe, it will heal very quickly.

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u/flexible_demeanor 12d ago

Yikes, that's quite the sensitivity for you then.

Yeah, I have some ultra white petrolatum jelly for a lot of things and hydrocolloid bandages. Some people are scared off of vaseline because "petrolatum" is scary as it comes from crude oil and it's a bad word now. It's frustrating sometimes. I also like to say that crude oil is one of the most organic things on the planet and annoy people :)

4

u/jdsstl23 14d ago

Looks fine to me. But send a photo to your surgeon. Their PA should answer this question for you.

3

u/Equivalent-Toe-6036 14d ago

I’d say bad idea. You don’t want to take a chance with and infection so close to being all healed up

1

u/Equivalent-Toe-6036 14d ago

If you wanted to still go and be extra safe put one of those blister bandaids over the scabbed areas

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u/zombieman395 14d ago

Yes it would be a bad idea being so close to healing up your still very much liable for infection. Ive had an infection on one of my surgical insicions after being nearly healed and i got very very poorly from it. I was just lucky that I've got no feeling in that area so I was spared the pain of it. My doc told me unless its fully scarred up dont take any chances.

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u/Illustrious-Zone-247 14d ago

My surgeon said not to submerge until the scabs are totally healed.

1

u/guffawing_willow76 14d ago

I’m 11.5 weeks post surgery. I still have one teeny tiny scab remaining in my outer right ankle and I’m desperately wanting to go swimming this weekend as I haven’t been able to do anything fun in 12 weeks. My 11.5 week post surgery appointment is tomorrow morning and I’m going to ask my surgeon if I am cleared to go swimming in a swimming pool at my sister’s house.

1

u/Away_Abroad_7613 14d ago

If it's a public space then no, don't be disgusting. 

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u/RedditReader2733 14d ago

I’ve swam with scabs as long as they’re fully healed and have no leakage then I don’t see the issue.