Is a small cut dangerous to swim in the sea with?

[PattyDuckface]

So, there's not much more to add to the title apart from "please help, and give me advice".

I am on holiday in Italy and my child got a cut on their toe from stubbing it. Some blood but the pain subsided after 20 minutes.

Now my DH is saying it's dangerous to swim in the sea with a cut. He thinks our child must not swim until it's healed, which will totally ruin our holiday as it is 37 degrees here.

I had no idea about this being dangerous and I checked it out online but was surprised to read that there are dangerous bacteria in the sea and swimming with a cut is not recommended.

Can anyone clarify this. The cut he has is very small, it's not a wound.

Never heard of this. I always think the salt water is good for cuts and skin things. Unless you're in an area that's massively polluted I wouldn't worry about it.

Hmm - I would have thought the salt in the seawater would help it heal. Your DH is being a bit weird.

Sea water is fantastic for helping wounds heal. It might sting a bit though

I badly cut my finger the day before we went on holiday. I was worried about swimming, but the salt water has helped heal it far quicker than normal. So don't worry.

My parents and now I also think swimming in the sea actually helps heal cuts

Like everyone else I thought it'd be good!

My DD got a small cut on her foot on holiday recently. She went in the sea with it, and it actually helped the cut heal!

We see it as the ultimate cure. I guess with everything there is a risk but I think the benefits would far outweigh the risk.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/real-life/my-dad-died-after-swimming-29677584

It's a no from me

Id just give it a good rinse with some clean water after being in the sea to make sure there's not bits of sand etc getting in the cut.
I'd think sand/dirt are the bigger risk than the actual water.

Can you put a waterproof plaster on it, to put your husbands mind at rest - he does seems to be totally overacting as your child isn't actually bleeding.

Abroad I would yes, in the UK no.

What's the water quality like there?

Sea water helps with healing. I wouldn't swim in a river or freshwater lake with a cut though.

Can you get that stuff you paint on and it forms a waterproof seal? It's a bit like clear nail polish, called Liquid skin or liquid plaster.

DD has been swimming in the sea for the last couple of days and a graze which would not heal properly is finally looking a lot better

absolutely not

wait at least a couple if days, if it's a superficial cut it will heal fast.

Wouldn't even occur to me not to tbh.

I may have watched too many films, my first thought was sharks! 😆

Growing up in the Med. We were always told and I have evidence from my own experience that it helps it heal faster.

That article actually says people shouldn’t be scared to swim with a cut because it was an incredibly rare bacteria. Bit scare mongering to post!

My mums friends granddaughter burned her foot on the gas fire and lifted the skin off the top of her foot (just a toddler) l. She took her to the beach and it healed up really well whereas it had been weeping and a bit minging before going in the sea. It seemed to speed up healing.

Exactly. Think of the millions that go in the sea every day with small cuts.

Isn't it rivers etc that can carry horrible bacteria? I thought salt water helped to heal

I grew up on the other side of the adriatic sea and definitely had many cuts as a child when I spent all of my summers in the sea ☺️ salt water helps heal cuts