I cut my big toe today while swimming. There was a rough spot where the different color tile for the cross on the wall and the lighter tile meet. Somehow my toe hit just the wrong spot on a turn and I gashed a big chunk out of my toe. It was bleeding a lot so I was forced to end my workout. :mad:
Anyway, my question is what can I do to cover the toe so I can swim tomorrow? I don't want to reopen the wound, but I don't want to stay out of the water, either. I know anytime I've tried to swim with a Band-Aid it never makes it through an entire workout. Is there anything that will make it through a workout without falling off?
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...
Former Member
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.
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!
Former Member
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.
Former Member
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.
Former Member
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
