Can you swim in the ocean with a scrape?

Editor’s Note: You can learn more basic first aid tips and tricks from the folks at Surf Aid Kits, who built a specialized safety kit every traveling outdoors-lover can use. Check out Surf Aid Kits on Instagram too.

We’ve all been told once or twice to wash a fresh wound with some saltwater.  “Saline solution is just saltwater anyway,” we rationalize, and that’s long been used for wound management, “so why not get in the ocean?”

Unfortunately, the ocean is not sterile.

“Basically, you shouldn’t look at swimming in the ocean as a way to cure an open wound,” says Professor Bart Currie, infectious disease and tropical infection expert of Flinders University at Royal Darwin Hospital, Australia.

This doesn’t mean ocean water in itself is dangerous to an open reef cut, or that you have to stay out of the water altogether on a surf trip, but there are definitely some factors you should consider with a fresh wound and the urge to get a few waves:

1. The state of your immune system

As mentioned, the ocean isn’t a sterile environment. If your immune system isn’t functioning properly and is compromised for any reason, you should avoid the ocean altogether when managing open sores that need time to heal (or perhaps haven’t been healing properly).

2. The state of your wound

Even those of us with robust immune systems need to properly clean and dress any wounds exposed to seawater. This is especially true if that sore was already red, inflamed, or even full of pus before coming in contact with seawater.

3. The state of the ocean in which you are swimming

Some parts of the ocean simply have more bacteria present than others. The water in estuaries, near fisheries, sewage plants, drain pipes, surrounded by rocks, or over coral are all environments that are especially risky. Those same risks for higher bacteria concentrations go up after it rains.

4. The temperature of the water.

Warmer water encourages bacterial growth, so warm water simply means the environment is going to be less than sterile, which in turn means you have a higher risk of infection through that open wound. Be aware of this factor especially when on holiday in the tropics.

Overall, jumping in the ocean with a fresh wound is not a way to treat that wound and help it heal. But on top of that, if you’re surfing or swimming in a high-bacteria environment, you run the added risk of infecting that open wound and inviting a series of other possible health complications. Any wound should always first be cleaned, treated, and dressed when out on surf trips.

This piece was presented by Surf Aid Kits.

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Most of us have been told at one time or another that swimming in the ocean will help heal a sore or cut.

This makes sense because the ocean is salt water and salt water is a great way to clean wounds, right?

But every now and then, you hear a horror story about someone who went swimming in the ocean and ended up with some kind of nasty wound infection.

So, is it a good idea to swim in the ocean when you have an open wound, or should you keep all sores out of the sea, even if you're on an expensive holiday in an exotic locale?

Unfortunately, there's no simple answer, says infectious disease and tropical infection expert Bart Currie of Flinders University at Royal Darwin Hospital.

While it's true that salt water (for example, saline) has long been used in wound management — especially to clean foreign materials out of a wound or to clean a wound before dressing it — the salt water in the ocean is not sterile.

"The evidence base for sores and wounds and being in the sea is not clear because situations are very different based on a number of factors," Professor Currie says.

There are several things to consider before you decide to head into the ocean with an open cut or wound:

  • The state of your immune system;
  • The state of your wound;
  • The state of the ocean in which you are swimming;
  • Whether you are in the tropics.

Who is susceptible to infections?

Certain health conditions such as diabetes or liver disease, or treatments such as chemotherapy for cancer, can weaken your immune system.

This can make you more likely to pick up an infection from sea water that would not normally cause a problem in a healthy person, Professor Currie says.

Given that the ocean is not a sterile environment, if your immune system isn't functioning properly, he advises that you should avoid it altogether if you have open sores.

You should also be careful if you have ulcers or sores on your legs that are caused by diseases related to poor circulation, such as diabetes and peripheral vascular disease.

This is because your underlying poor circulation impairs your body's ability to heal infected wounds.

Even those of us with robust immune systems need to properly clean and dress any wounds exposed to sea water if the sore was already red, inflamed or full of pus before contact with the sea water.

How bacteria in water can sabotage your swim

It's important to remember not all sea water is the same.

"The type of place where a person is swimming is very important," Professor Currie says.

"There are certain parts of the ocean where there are certainly lots of bacteria present, naturally or sometimes because of human activity."

The water in estuaries and near rocks or coral is especially risky.

Bacteria are also common in oceans when fisheries, mines, farms, stormwater drains and sewage plants are nearby; the runoff from this is particularly bad after periods of heavy rain.

Tropical waters can be home to some really nasty bacteria as warmer water encourages bacterial growth, Professor Currie says.

This is where many of the 'flesh-eating bug' horror stories originate.

For example, people have died in the Northern Territory after coming into contact with marine vibrio — a type of bacteria related to cholera — through open sores and cuts.

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In these cases, however, the victims had underlying health conditions, such as liver disease.

So if you're swimming in a tropical paradise and have a few minor cuts, it's a good idea to clean them with sterile saline solution or antiseptic once you get out of the water, even if they look fine.

This is particularly important if you cut yourself on any rocks or coral while you're swimming, as these cuts tend to harbour bacteria.

"Basically, you shouldn't look at swimming in the ocean as a way to cure an open wound," Professor Currie says.

"The evidence just doesn't support that.

"And you need to keep an eye on your cuts and if they start to look worse, rather than better, then you really should go and see a healthcare professional."

This is general information only. For detailed personal advice, you should see a qualified medical practitioner who knows your medical history.

This story, which was originally written by Lydia Hales and published by ABC Health and Wellbeing, was updated in 2019.

Can you go in the ocean with a scrape?

Do not enter bodies of water if you have cuts or abrasions; if injured, clean wound at once to reduce risk of infection. Many harmful micro-organisms are found in lakes, rivers, along the coast, and in other bodies of water.

Is swimming in the ocean good for wounds?

Because it is rich in other mineral salts such as sodium and iodine, ocean water can be considered an antiseptic, meaning it may have wound-healing properties.