How awesome is your Skin after cast removal? You waited for weeks to get your cast off, you wonder what your skin would be like, will it be smooth and soft, or will it be rough and scaly? Continue reading for more details…
Finally, the day is here, and the cast is off. Ooh, the thought of no more itchiness is so pleasing. You want to go back to regular life, as you know it, but not just yet, your skin is so different from the skin on your other leg. It is unrecognisable, there is an abundance of rough, scaly, itchy and smelly skin.
The skin change is brought about by the constant growth of new skin cell replacing dead skin cells. The skin regenerates itself and is estimated to shed more than forty thousand skin cell every single day but the dead cell has nowhere to go because of the cast, and you not follow your normal hygiene plan of showering every day.
The great thing about the skin is that it will be normal again in a short space of time. The discomfort is only temporary and will soon disappear. There are a number of things that you can do for your skin after cast removal to speed up the recovery process. In this article, I will share with you the information that is being gathered from different medical sources and authority websites. Here we go…
Your skin after cast removal care steps
After a cast is removed the skin underneath will typically be scaly, dry, pale and itchy with darker and thicker hair than usual and have an unpleasant smell. This condition is normal and occurs when the normal loss of skin cells is prevented from flaking because your skin is deprived of exposure to air, sunshine and regular washing away from showering daily. There are some easy fixes to get your skin looking its best again.
Removal of scaly, dead skin after cast removal
Step #1 Soak your skin in lukewarm water
Doctors normally advise that the best way to remove this scaly, dead skin is to soak the affected skin in warm water for 20 minutes, twice a day. Remember the skin is still delicate therefore lukewarm water is best.
Lukewarm water is neither hot nor cold some experts converged at a consensus that the magic temperature lies between 98º and 105º F and others believe it should be much colder at somewhere between 80º – 90º F, you decide.
Step #2 Pat your skin, do not scrub
Gently pat the skin with a soft towel be careful not to scrub as you will only irritate the skin which may lead to skin breakdown, irritation and infection.
Step #3 Apply fragrance-free lotion
Apply an alcohol-free, fragrance free gentle moisturizing lotion or cream, after soaking, to get rid of the dryness of the skin. The lotion will keep your skin nice and soft to reduce the risk of skin break. You could probably try the Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream, found on Amazon, it is free of dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, lanolin, parabens and formaldehyde.
I am not 100% sure if it is alcohol-free but it comes highly recommended. It has over 3400 five star reviews and it is formulated specifically for sensitive, irritated, cracked and itchy skin. Ask your doctor which lotion or cream you should get.
If your skin has a cut or a break on it do not apply lotion to the spot but instead, it is a good idea, to speak to your doctor, they will advise you as to the next step.
Removal of the long thick hair on the skin after cast removal?
Ignore the thick hair, for the time being, do not shave the area because your skin is too delicate, shaving may damage the skin and increase the risk of infection. No one wants more problems at this stage, the delicate broken foot care is enough.
The thickness of the affected hair will get back to normal over time. Some suggest that you may shave it after three days but listen to what your doctors have to say because everyone’s skin is different.
Skin before cast removal, What to do
The condition of your skin may be influenced by your care regiment before cast removal. A number of ideas are communicated by doctors which include:
- Avoid water getting under the cast, which can lead to skin irritation, bad smell or infection.
- Resist the temptation to use sharp objects to relieve the itch under the cast as it can lead to skin injury and infection.
You can use cast covers to keep moisture from getting into the cast when you shower but using a good quality cast cover. I found this really good one on amazon, it is called the Vive Leg Cast Cover it comes highly recommended and the price is reasonable. There is also the Arm Cast Cover for Shower that works well.
While hoping on the road with your crutches there are other cast covers that can prevent water from getting under the cast. Have a look at the My Recovers Walking Brace Cover for Orthopedic Boot, it is cheap and works well.
A final thought on the skin after cast removal
After the cast is removed, allow your skin to heal on its own in order to prevent skin problems from occurring. In the treatment, follow your doctor’s advice, soak as directed, avoid picking or peeling the dry skin, and be careful not to scratch and injure your skin even though it may be a bit itchy.
Experiencing severely itchy skin or pain may be a sign of problems. If that is the case hurry up and see your doctor. The information on this site is general information and should not be treated as medical advice, always speak to your medical team.
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