Can coral polyps grow in your skin?

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Dude...

The "tree man" does not have a parasite or a coral, he has a chronic HPV infection related to a genetic mutation. Medscape: Medscape Access

You do not have coral growing in your body. You may have retained coral fragments that are causing infection, however. The abrasion may also have been seeded with an organism while you were under water or on your hike. Bleach will probably not help, nor will topical antibiotics. You do need definitive treatment, though; I suggest you see a physician who is familiar with tropical and undersea medicine. You may require an xray and systemic antibiotics.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Cacia]

I went the whole route when I thought my finger tips might fall off.

I can't recall his name, I tried to search Maurice Auchman MD, marine toxicology from memory, to no avail.

Anyway, the super-specialist called me via phone (NoCal, I can't recall) and basically seemed to know the sponge fire coral species I had touched, but basically told me there was no real treatment other than waiting it out. It sloughed from very deep, like a spider bite.

My spouse at that time was practicing at the regional toxicology center for snake bite treatment, so I think I was steered in the generally correct direction.

The sponge coral looked like bubbly pancake batter, I do recall that.

 

[Lois-sez]

Newbie here, so my apologies if I make a mistake, but this thread's still active & I think the coral under my skin I thought I killed is BACK! Seven or eight years ago I received the little alien, found out a few months later why the itching didn't mean it was healing. Read online & somehow killed it, but still have the slight discoloration.

Now I'm noticing hot tub heat seems to have reactivated it slightly to the right of the discoloration. I recognize the itch, but don't know how to get rid of it this much later.

Please help!

I'm not a diver. This was my one time snorkeling & it wasn't really for me. Just want to get rid of this.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Lois,
You may have a retained fragment that got re-infected somehow. I recommend seeing your primary care doc, who may order an x-ray to check.

 

[Cacia]

Question: what actionable information would you get from an x-ray?

do they not want to prescribe antibiotics unless they see a fragment?

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Question: what actionable information would you get from an x-ray?

do they not want to prescribe antibiotics unless they see a fragment?

No, they may still prescribe antibiotics, but a retained fragment that's causing problems and is big enough to be seen on x-ray may be worth surgically removing.

Best,
DDM

 

[Lois-sez]

Thank you so much, DDM. It's eased off again, but the fact that it started again says the fragment is probably quite small and often dormant. It surprised the heck out of me, leaving me wondering if there was any way to reach it and get rid of it by this time. Hope surgical removal isn't needed. I still have the slight discoloration in the area right next to the part that recently acted up. Coral can be incredibly persistent!

 

[DevonDiver]

Dude...

The "tree man" does not have a parasite or a coral, he has a chronic HPV infection related to a genetic mutation.

Genetics?!? That'll teach his Mom to do it with trees....

I heard that's how stick insects get born also... horny bug meets fertile twig... 9 months later... hey presto... stick insect.


Would it make a difference if the coral was radioactive? They dump all sorts of stuff in the oceans nowadays. I mean, just look at what a radioactive spider did for spiderman. Then there's the hulk.... I think 'coralman' wouldn't have a great set of powers though... except maybe to be very sensitive to temperature and the ability to cast his sperm in a vast cloud over the neighbourhood.

 

[DocVikingo]

Dude...You do not have coral growing in your body.Best regards,
DDM

That is absolutely certain.

Thanks,

DocVikingo

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Thanks for the visual, Andy!