skin infections

[arvanitismd]

;-0

I AM A PHYSICIAN AND I HAVE A PATIENT WHO IS A DIVING INSTRUCTOR IN ILLINOIS. HE OCCASSIONALLY WILL PRESENT TO MY OFFICE WITH A VESICULAR RASH ON HIS FORHEAD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY SKIN INFECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SCUBA DIVING? ANYONE OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP?!?

[O-ring]

Can you elaborate a little on what that would look like? When I dive in salt water my forehead sometimes gets little bumps on it (look like small pimples)...I have really sensitive skin anyway...

I always attributed it to clogged pores, but then again I do not have MD after my name

[cpalerm]

I don't know what it could be, but here is a page dedicated to dive medicine:
http://scuba-doc.com/

You should also consider giving DAN a call; they will help you out with this:
their info number is (919) 684-2948

[Divepirates]

Hey Doc! I have the same kind of problems and it is usually sea lice or a coral infection. I can resolve it with a topical antibiotic but it seems to return eventually. My Doc's have never really resolved the infection but can temporarily ease the soreness and red marks

[BillP]

Howdy arvanitismd:

There are many causes of dermatitis that are associated with scuba diving. Divepirates has already mentioned a couple of causes that are found in salt water, but it would be unlikely that your instructor is getting repeated coral injuries on his forehead and the effects of "sea lice" are more likely to be found on covered skin (under a bathing suit or wetsuit for example) rather than exposed skin.

Some questions to consider- do his symptoms appear after diving in salt water, freshwater, or both? What kind of exposure protection does he wear- eg wetsuit vs. drysuit, does he wear a hood or beanie cap- what's exposed and what isn't? Does he use sun protection for his forehead?

Contact dermatitis from gear or beasties in the water is common in diving. Solar dermatitis is also a possible cause of a vesicular rash on the forehead.

The Divers Alert Network (DAN) is a non-profit medical and research organization for divers and is an excellent resource for diving medicine information for divers and their physicians. A quick search for "rash" on their website yield a wealth of information at:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/se...edical&q1=rash

Specifically, the link at:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/me...q.asp?faqid=27

seemed particularly relevant.

You can also contact DAN directly with questions online at:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/contact/email.asp

or divers or their physicians can telephone with questions too. The non-emergent medical advice line is 1-919-684-2948.

Hope this helps,

Bill

[Laurence Stein DDS]

arvanitismd,

BillP is probably right on. Does this patient use a NEOPRENE or mask or hood? These would fit exactly where you discribe them. They may form a rash, even pustules. Has he made contact with latex?

While I would expect a rash on other parts of his body, is he using any medications which are photosensitizing?

I have also seen what looks like a rash but isn't--sunburned skin, several days old--sweat may collect under this "dead skin" and appear as vesicles. It dissappears as the skin peals.

Two bits from your friendly dentist.

Good luck,

Larry Stein