Does sea spray affect instruments?

For marching band, I play a plastic Emerson piccolo. The one that comes with two head joints (I don't know the model, it's the school's.) The other day we were marching outside right by the sea wall when it started sprinkling. (Well, there was a typhoon coming.) When we went in, I completely dried out the inside and left it out of its case. But the next day, the pads on the keys were yellow and some were swollen. Luckily nothing happened to the plastic headjoint.

As well, there are some spots on the keys that are losing their silver finish, whether it be from the salt, sweat, or just water.

Is there any way I can stop this from getting worse? Or is my piccolo just doomed?

Thank goodness it is the school's piccolo an not yours! I would be really mad if that happend to mine. Good luck with it.