Cut on Toe: what to do?

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

Former Member — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:59:05 GMT

I was going to mention the glue too. Trouble with the glue I have found is that when the skin softens from the water and chemicals the glue starts to peel or otherwise break down. The term I was searching for last night is finger cot. These are made for fingers, but there is no reason you can't put them on your toes too, especially since they come in different sizes. You can bandage or glue the wound then cover it with a finger cot. They are fairly tight, but if you like you can add some additional adhesive to the end of the finger cot, or tape with some waterproof first aid (duct) tape. You might want to put on more than one to protect in case you rip one on a turn. I will do ANYTHING to avoid missing a workout, as I am not nice to be around when I haven't been to the pool. Example: www.amazon.com/.../B001BAFJN6

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

Former Member — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:10:24 GMT

Someone told me if I needed to tape up my toe, to make sure that you press the tape on your toe nail first, it sticks to it better - then tape what you need to. If tape keeps falling off or liquid bandage doesn't work (it always comes off in the water for me)... I would try this combo: bandaid, finsox and zoomers/fins for the entire practice - that way the bandaid won't float off and your toe is protected. Sorry you cut your toe, that had to hurt.

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

Former Member — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:28:48 GMT

Depends on how badly cut it is, but gauze, waterproof tape, and more waterproof tape. It will feel extremely different, but at least you will be able to swim.

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

Redbird Alum — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:42:29 GMT

Kirk - Liquid Bandaid or superglue has worked for me. By the way, did you report the tile issue to the pool manager. Would hate to see you rip open another toe after you spent so much time protecting the first one!

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

Former Member — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:34:28 GMT

I have never found a bandage solution that works in the water. Instead, I use CA glue (aka superglue) when this happens. If you are concerned with possible toxicity with modeling CA glue, you can use the more expensive products marketed for wound repair like those put out by companies like Bandaid. Look for Liquid Bandage. Hospitals use a similar product called dermabond.

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

aquaFeisty — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:54:18 GMT

I second the liquid Bandaid stuff. I use it in the winter on my fingers when the skin splits along the fingerprint ridges. Great for places where geometry just doesn't allow a bandaid to stick. It says on the bottle it's good for a week, but I find it lasts for only about 1-2 days. It peels up from around the edges first, so just make sure you extend the paint job a decent ways onto healthy skin from the cut and you'll be fine for a swim practice. Oh, and use 2-3 coats. FYI, letsrace, I think this stuff is really just glorified clear nail polish based on the smell, but a bottle lasts me forever so oh well...

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

swimshark — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:26:09 GMT

Waterproof tape over a band aid would work well. I swam for almost a year with my wrist taped and it always came out dry after and the tape stayed on, even through long meets.

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

knelson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:05:03 GMT

By the way, did you report the tile issue to the pool manager. I did. The lifeguards are required to fill out a report whenever someone is injured. Since I got out and asked for a Band-Aid they had to take down my name and what caused the injury. I think I'll just stay out of the water today and see how it looks tomorrow. I really wanted to swim all five days this week. Oh well!

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

Former Member — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:51:05 GMT

There are these little finger/toe "condoms." I know it sounds odd, but it's no joke. You'll have to go to a pharmacy and they will probably be with the first aid stuff, or the footcare stuff. First you clean, then antibiotic ointment, then bandage, and top it all off with the tiny "condom." hopefully, you can find them without having to ask, but it's really worth it. Keeps the wound good and dry. Good luck! ;)

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

Former Member — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 14:03:26 GMT

Band aids are not the answer. Clean it out good. Put alcohol and peroxide in it. Ouch.. I know , Then iodine ouch again which you have to really look for in a drug store. Keep your feet off the pool floors with flipflops, I would give it a day to heal up, stay out of any hot tubs till it heals also. Infection is much worse then any other issue.

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

Former Member — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 13:28:20 GMT

Cut the toe off and keep going. No, seriously, use some of the white water proof tape, wrapped several times. That usually does the trick..

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

Former Member — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 12:59:10 GMT

One of the guys I swim with had a bad cut on his hand. For swimming, he put a latex glove on that hand and taped it around the wrist. (I assume he had some sort of band-aid over the cut, underneath the glove.) He said it worked pretty well.

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

Former Member — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 12:12:04 GMT

I can empathize with you. Done exactly the same thing. I am really wary of broken tiles now! My cut wasn't as bad as yours sounds, though. Haven't found an effective way of waterproofing wounds, either. Even if you do succeed it would get very moist and wet from being covered up like that: not really conducive to the healing process. My advice would be to let it dry out and heal for a day or two. I know that might be hard to do.

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

Former Member — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 12:07:56 GMT

Duct tape over dry skin should stick pretty well. Try that over the band aid. Electrical tape has strong adhesion too.

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

knelson — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:57:40 GMT

but I probably wouldn't follow my own advice and would keep swimming and push off walls with the outside of my foot I hear ya, Kurt. I've been thinking about that technique!

RE: Cut on Toe: what to do?

Kurt Dickson — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 08:58:44 GMT

Nothing sticks in water (people keep trying as evidenced by all the band-aids on the bottom of the pool:eeew:). I would say take a week off and let it heal (but I probably wouldn't follow my own advice and would keep swimming and push off walls with the outside of my foot--most wounds heal and all bleeding stops).