Skin Health During and After Floods, A Doctor's Guide…

Skin Health During and After Floods, A Doctor's Guide Floodwater may look harmless, but it can contain bacteria, fungi, parasites, sewage, and other contaminants. Prolonged exposure can damage the skin and increase the risk of infection. Flood recovery is not only about cleaning our homes. It's also about protecting our health, starting with something as simple as our skin. Floodwater can expose the skin to mud, sewage, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and contaminated water. Some problems are minor, but others can become serious if ignored. Fungal infections, itching, scaling, or whitening of the skin, especially between the toes and in skin folds. Bacterial skin infections, increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pain, or pus, especially around cuts and wounds. Irritant dermatitis, redness, burning, and itching from prolonged exposure to dirty water, mud, and repeated washing. Infected wounds, even a small cut can beco