I'm trying to find out the best treatment for holes in feet by footstraps on windsurfer/kites or coral/reef cuts when surfing. When the forecast is good I'm always sailing, rest is not an option, but when back on shore I do all I can to speed up the healing process.
I've been putting a few drops of tea tree oil onto the hole, drying it out, then applying Pawpaw and leaving it uncovered. Works pretty well. If the skin is dry I apply a small amount of Vitamin E oil to it occasionally.
What treatment do you find works the best?
The best thing I have found is waterproof, air permeable wound dressings. You put them on and leave it on for about a week. They are transparent and you can see the skin growing back each day.
The treatment recommendation for wounds has changed in recent years. Rather than nuke the wound with antiseptic and keep it dry you simply wash it thoroughly with sterile water and seal it with a waterproof dressing. The wound stays moist and clean and your body gets to work repairing itself. The antiseptics and the dryness would slow down the healing process.
Super glue is fine for joining torn skin. Not so good for a blister or a worn hole.
For preventing damage I wear thin booties almost all the time. They stop blisters and damage and give much better grip on the board.
Recommend you don't pass out drunk with mates around whilst leaving that gaping wound exposed
I've been on a several years mission to find better footstraps, have made my own etc etc, and have settled on those EVA foam ones you can sometimes find around.
I've tried antiseptic (tea tree etc) and definitely believe they slow the healing down. When I'm desperate I put cortisone cream on - definitely seems to speed up the healing - but also seems to leave a pretty bad scar once healed... this is not medical advice !!
+1 for super glue on reef cuts
If it turns into the sea ulcer thing the best thing to do is fill the hole with Bactroban and cover with fixmul tape. put fresh cream on every 6 hours.
You can only buy Bactroban with a prescription but it works amazingly!
It can turn a red vulcano into what looks like a scratch in just a few hours!
Smear some of this stuff on it...
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/General-Discussion/Chat/So-I-ate-a-chili/
...and HTFU
I used to suffer from sea ulcers on my knees from surfing and went to the doctors numerous times. All they could recommend was to stay out of the water.Which was not going to happen.
After several months of trying out different unsuccessful remedies the best thing i found was to crush up a panadol and put it in the hole. It used to work really quickly.
Good luck 
Select to expand quoteGorgo said..
The best thing I have found is waterproof, air permeable wound dressings. You put them on and leave it on for about a week. They are transparent and you can see the skin growing back each day.
The treatment recommendation for wounds has changed in recent years. Rather than nuke the wound with antiseptic and keep it dry you simply wash it thoroughly with sterile water and seal it with a waterproof dressing. The wound stays moist and clean and your body gets to work repairing itself. The antiseptics and the dryness would slow down the healing process.
Super glue is fine for joining torn skin. Not so good for a blister or a worn hole.
For preventing damage I wear thin booties almost all the time. They stop blisters and damage and give much better grip on the board.
My old man has sworn by this for years. You cover with elastoplast (tape) and leave it on till it falls off. Acts like a scab, scin can grow underneath. works good.
Tobacco wack that in hold 4 5 mins bleeding stops superglue use it all the time on cuts at work heals really fast no infection & no scaring
Select to expand quoteGorgo said..
The best thing I have found is waterproof, air permeable wound dressings. You put them on and leave it on for about a week. They are transparent and you can see the skin growing back each day.
The treatment recommendation for wounds has changed in recent years. Rather than nuke the wound with antiseptic and keep it dry you simply wash it thoroughly with sterile water and seal it with a waterproof dressing. The wound stays moist and clean and your body gets to work repairing itself. The antiseptics and the dryness would slow down the healing process.
Super glue is fine for joining torn skin. Not so good for a blister or a worn hole.
For preventing damage I wear thin booties almost all the time. They stop blisters and damage and give much better grip on the board.
Spot on! Things have changed in wound treatment, the magic stuff is 'Solosite' its a healing gel that helps the skin grow back! Three days of no water or antiseptics on wound, keep covered with tape and presto.
+1 for elastoplast. Put some golden seal on the wound first. Been using it for decades, and it is definitely the fastest way to heal cuts hole and cracks on the feet.
