CLEANING AND BANDAGING A WOUND

CLEANING AND BANDAGING A WOUND

How do you take care of wounded skin? Its healing relies on the way you take care of it.

A wound is a break in the skin surface, bringing about a potential entrance for bacterial infection. The right method of wound cleansing can improve healing while at the same time expel debris and secretions, preventing residues that hinder the recovery of the said wound.

Types

Skin wounds fall into two classifications:

Acute wound- this can happen due to blunt force trauma, heat or chemicals. It requires minimal care only.

Chronic wound- a type of wound that fails to heal by itself and it does not respond to any treatment over a month. It requires exceptional care from your health care individuals.

Symptoms

Here are the usual symptoms related to a wound infection:

 

  • Fever that indicates an infection
  • The feeling of the overall malaise
  • Green, cloudy (purulent) or malodorous drainage; wounds have a smelly odor that is a sign of infection
  • Increasing or continuous pain from the wound
  • Redness around the wound for more than 7 days
  • Swelling of the wounded area
  • Warm skin near the wound
  • Loss of function and movement

Diagnosis

Whether a pathogen creates an infection is usually dependent on the person’s immune system. Risks are increased when the wound is in a high microscopic load area of the body, when the patient has a chronic condition such as diabetes or vascular disease, or when poor or conflicting wound care is given. Since wounds are among the most common conditions treated conditions in clinics and hospitals and can even lead to death, diagnosing and treating wounds should be an essential objective for health care professionals.

 

Treatment

These tips can enable you to care for your minor cuts and scratches:

  • Wash your hands. This avoids infection.
  • Stop the bleeding
  • Clean the injury with water, and avoid using hydrogen peroxide and iodine which may add to the irritation
  • Apply an antibiotic or petroleum jelly
  • Cover the wound with a clean bandage
  • Change the dressing every day or if the bandage becomes wet or messy.
  • Get a tetanus shot

Watch for any symptoms of infection. See a doctor if you see unusual symptoms.

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