Ok to dive with burns?

[Blu DL]

I'm no doc but I would definitely NOT dive with an open wound - even if inside drysuit. I had an insect bite that got infected and I reckon that was because of the pressure pushing in, or just nasties that live in the drysuit. It's hardly a clean environment. Took a while to clear and that was just a bite. It's not worth getting a large burn infected mate - there will always be dives in a month or so...

[Adrian Kelland]

You say the burn is deep Gav, how do you know?

If you thought it was deep, you realy should have saught hospital treatment.

Adrian

[finbar.taylor]

I burnt my lower left arm with boiling oil about 8 years back probably 180x70mm and very deep. Doc said to keep it dry and it would take about 6 weeks to healso in my infanate wisdon I wrapped it in cling film and dove in a semidry 2 days later. It's hurt like mad but within 5 days it had almost completely healed. When I went back to the doc a week later he was amased it had healed so well.

One thing to rember is depending on where you are the water quality may vary, I was on the lizard where the water quality is exceptionaly good so I guess less chance of infection.


Of the down side......

I still have slight scaring and I get a strange amount of "spots" and "scabs" in that area when they are not exposed to sunlight and aired alot. I do not know if this would still have been the case had I "followed doctors orders" or if the burn was sufficient that no matter what had happened I'd have had permanant damage.


Fin

PS usual caveat - Listen to a doctor and I sure as hell ain't a doctor

[Kev]

The inside of my drysuit is the most hygenic environment I can imagine.

[John63]

The inside of my drysuit is the most unhygenic environment I can imagine.

Hi Kev,

corrected your typo mate.

John

[Kev]

Hi Kev,

corrected your typo mate.

John

You don't know the half of it mate. My missus makes me put the drysuit outside when people come round to stay.

[infernalzen]

didnt doctors examine why ww2 pilots with burns healed better after bobbing around in the channel?
as others have said, if its clean +not irritated by suit rubbing on it, why not dive?

[StuartC]

Personally, I don't think it's wise to consider it as you're talking about risk of infecting an open wound, even in your drysuit this is full of nasties unless you Milton it before diving...

Combine this with the hyperbaric effects of breathing compressed gas at depth and you're into the realms of seeking advice from a hyperbaric specialist

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used for burn treatment, which may be why finbar's burn healed quickly.

But common sense suggests you either need to stay dry and enjoy the sun, or if you're desperate not to skip the dives then get professional advice regarding the state of the burn, and possibly also from the chamber people about what risks you're running for the deep tissue healing and DCS issues.

[JamieG]

Hyperbaric treatment can sometimes aid in the healing of tissue damage.

However infection can be one of the major factors to consider with a burn.

Personally I would wait until its healed and also see a GP.

[Gav6280]

Did the dives after all but just drenched it tcp before and gave it a good clean after and applied a fresh dressing, all was very well.

Actually it's healing much, much quicker than normal, strange eh?

Thanks for your advice, case closed.