Road rash infection?
06-12-11 | 05:05 PM
#1
Road rash infection?
Background: After a bad crash last weekend, my arms have some nice road rash. I've had them covered, cleaned and changed bandages daily. It's all healed up more or less, no open wounds and very minimal scabbing, a patch of pink skin in one area. My doctor suggested that I should have the bandages off occasionally now to let it get some air since the skin is almost all healed up. I still rub on a bit of vaseline to keep the skin from getting to dry.
So then. The skin has become very itchy. I know that's normal sometimes. However, just recently in the last two days, I've noticed that groups of small flat blisters are forming, mostly on one arm. They seem to come and go, especially after a shower they will be noticeable and look full of fluid, but then seem to shrink and turn red, looking kind of like scabs. I've now noticed this start to appear on the other arm too. Cortisone cream seemed to help with the itch, but the blisters aren't going anywhere.
Has anyone experienced this? I'm wondering if I've developed contact dermatitis from the bandages or ointment. Suppose it's back to the doctor tomorrow.
So then. The skin has become very itchy. I know that's normal sometimes. However, just recently in the last two days, I've noticed that groups of small flat blisters are forming, mostly on one arm. They seem to come and go, especially after a shower they will be noticeable and look full of fluid, but then seem to shrink and turn red, looking kind of like scabs. I've now noticed this start to appear on the other arm too. Cortisone cream seemed to help with the itch, but the blisters aren't going anywhere.
Has anyone experienced this? I'm wondering if I've developed contact dermatitis from the bandages or ointment. Suppose it's back to the doctor tomorrow.
06-12-11 | 06:10 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,435
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: Colnago, Cervelo, Scott
Don't put any more cortisone cream on your road rash. It slows healing and amplifies infection. It also makes the skin thinner over time. If its been over a week, just leave it open to air, no bandages or anything.
06-12-11 | 07:27 PM
#6
06-12-11 | 08:55 PM
#8
Schleckaholic
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,230
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From: Carteret Co., NC, USA
Bikes: '08 Trek 1.2, Schwinn Avenue Hybrid, '11 GT Sport
air it out son. did you get sunburn as well as road rash? Sometimes a sunburn will do this when you sweat. small blisters that will fill up. Check your temp. See a spike hit the docs office. I'd give them a call to the hotline and see if you'd need to come in as is most likely just something minor.
Tegaderm for later . Not sure if you can order from these guys without a provider number or not but it's worth a shot. Could get your local EMS/Fire department to order it if you paid them up front.
Tegaderm for later . Not sure if you can order from these guys without a provider number or not but it's worth a shot. Could get your local EMS/Fire department to order it if you paid them up front.
Last edited by K&K_Dad; 06-12-11 at 08:57 PM. Reason: added link
