December 17, 2004

• Ok. This is a somewhat unplesant yet proven remedy. I used to row competitively in an eight crew during high school. Blisters and lost skin due to oar friction on the hands was a serious issue. The solution? Methylated spirits! Ideally, you apply this before the wounds develop, as it rapidly hardens up the skin, however afterwards it works too (however painfully). It is however, the best solution I know to form hard and calloused invincible flesh ;)
• Why are you using fins? That's not gonna help you learn to swim properly, or quicker. Should do it without flippers. Your technique will be better in the long run. Sorry for the snark.
• Try this before you work out.
• If you're supposed to wear a band-aid, then 3M makes some nice waterproof ones that seal around the wound. But I'm no wound care expert.
• I wondered how your swimming was going - good stuff. Flippers are fun (save for your injuries), you can cruise through the water like a horny dolphin. Nice one. /slightly off-topic
• Nostrildamus, according to the swim coach, my main obstacle to being a swimmer (and a very common one) is head position and arm movement - once confident with those two things *then* worry about the legs. He said (quite sensibly) that trying to learn all the movements at once doesn't work too well. A quick browse around the web after he suggested this seemed to indicate that the actual benefits of kicking may not be substantial. My coach said as much at the next lesson, where he commented that kicking should probably just be a natural progression of your body balancing itself as you twist and move in the water, and not specifically as a thrust-generating exercise (at least at my level of expertise). Thoth, no metho in the house. And it does sound painful. Argh, thanks for that link. I've heard the urine thing before (from some rowers). That article seems to confirm that its not really a proven remedy. Although I am keen to hear any apocryphal tales of the wonders of pee-therapy.
• I'll be happy to pee on your toes in the name of the scientific method.
• I know it sounds pedestrian compared to the pee treatment, but a little Neosporin usually helps.
• There are several ointments made for clearing up diaper rash which also contain vitamin E. Try applying one of these to your injuries -- this can be worn in the water.
• I cut and scrap myself all the time, because I'm a nincompoop. I have to second Fes nomination of Neosporin.
• That's probably just oozing serum, not pus. Spenco makes a product called 2nd Skin that'll make it heal faster. Clean it, dry it, apply the moist dressing, cover the dressing, and stay out of the pool until it heals.
• It's overkill, but I thought this was cool: a waterproof foot protector with a patented vacuum seal.
• I'll be happy to pee on your toes in the name of the scientific method. Just when you think the world is a heartless and cruel place, you get to see the warmth and goodness which fills the internets. It's just so beautiful I'm going to cry.
• Def. the neosporin, the same thing happened to me in soccer season (new cleats). Get the good 3M waterproof bandages and make sure theyre on tight, use athletic tape to keep them there if needed. When you aren't swimming, just neosporin and sandals if you can, more bandage if you have to wear shoes. But letting them get some time with just neosporin on them will help, maybe in the evenings at home?
• Will any kind of alcohol - rubbing alcohol or drinking - work to toughen skin? You could always try a little rum or vodka on it, to see if it helps. Anyone who has ever worn glasses knows you must toughen the skin behind your ears.
• Seriously, jb? I've been wearing glasses since age 9 or 10, and my skin behind the ear is still kind of sensitive and easy to hurt. Maybe I should try pouring some vodka back there, or at least dab it with rubbing alcohol.
• Rubbing alcohol will definitely help. Every new pair of glasses I get, I have to re-do it. Sometimes hair caught under the glasses still irritates my ears, but perhaps alcohol would help that too. (Did your parents wear glasses? Most people on both sides of my family do, so this was just something we always did.)
• Curious George: Skin rubbed raw Help me heal! I totally thought this was going to be a moneyjane post! I was looking forward to the NSFW story to go with it.
• Since I've got derma graphis, big time, I'm forever working with healing my skin. I suggest you clean the pus out after a quick punture from a sterilised needle and wipe clean with a disinfectent cleaner. Then keep it covered with neosporin and open to the air as much as possible. If wearing something over it then look for the waterproof banages and apply the neosporin directly on the bandage - not the skin, when applying. I urge you to avoid the Second Skin system because it seals the skin and if there's any infection still inside then it will fester and get worse. p.s. remember, I asked you whyever you'd want to swim. The mighty Neptune may be trying to tell you something. /I'd want a floater belt. To hell with fins.
• That's hilarious, Darshon. One uses the neosporin. Same theory of healing.
• You could always go Rambo III and cauterize it with a plasma torch. On second thought... don't listen to me. I'm crazy.
• (Yes, both parents wear glasses, though I think they got them later in life.)