Wound Healing - Why I ask you to stay out of the water

Shout out to my patients with post operative wounds who won’t be able to go into the water for a bit. I too love swimming and surfing but you need to know that it’s important for you to keep your wound dry and stay out of the water.
 
If your wound stays wet for a long time, a lot of the fresh healing tissue will be washed away. Also, when the wound is soggy from a lengthy swim, a lot of your skin’s natural waterproofing gets washed away, making it easier for germs to get in.
 
People often mistakenly think that it’s OK to go in the ocean with a fresh wound because it’s salt water. But unfortunately, although it is salt water, it is also home to lots of microorganisms which can get your wound infected. So, all up, a brief wetting in the shower is OK but a swim is not a good idea.
 
 
Dr Lewis Blennerhassett
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