Rescue situation, newer keeper

[Bogertophis]

Got it. This was the spot where I had also applied neosporin before knowing about silver sulfa. If the scale health was already poor, is it possible it totally loosened the worst of the damaged scales?

Yes- Neosporin is known for causing scales to "de-laminate" (for lack of a better term). A little bit used briefly for a small wound isn't usually a problem, but with scales that are already damaged, I would think that may have made it worse.

Either way, with scales damaged as these are, I'm not surprised that a few have come off & left spots without scales- they'll likely stay that way, as small scars. Make sure there's no skin breaks for infection to enter, now & in the future (ie. those spots without scales will be less protected & therefore more vulnerable to injury).