Wound care precautions

Don’t apply random folk remedies with unknown ingredients, don’t cover the wound blindly regardless of the type, and don’t seek medical attention immediately if there are any abnormal signs. The rest of the detailed adjustments must be flexibly adjusted according to your wound type, healing stage and even your own physical constitution. There is no "standard answer" that can fit everyone.

A while ago, I was helping a neighbor's kid downstairs to deal with a bruised knee after a fall. My grandma insisted on sprinkling ground Yunnan Baiyao powder on the wound, saying that it would cause scabs to form quickly. When I stopped, I was told, "Young people don't understand the methods passed down by our ancestors." This is actually the most common disagreement in the field of wound care today: Should dry scabs or wet healing be required? The older generation's belief that "the scabs heal quickly by drying them out" is actually not wrong, but it is only applicable to limited scenarios: if the skin is only scratched, the amount of bleeding is minimal, and the wound does not often touch clothes, applying iodophor to dry the scabs is really trouble-free and less susceptible to infection. This is how many outdoor practitioners deal with small scrapes, and it is extremely cost-effective. But if it is a scratch or burn on the face, or the wound is deep into the dermis and is scarred, it is more recommended to follow the wet healing principle advocated by evidence-based medicine: apply a layer of antibiotic ointment or a special hydrocolloid dressing after disinfection, so that the wound can be repaired in a moist environment without accumulation of water. This will not only reduce the pain during healing, but also reduce the probability of scarring. There is no absolute superiority between the two methods. Just choose one based on your needs and wound condition. There is no need to argue about right or wrong.

Don’t believe it. Many people’s wounds heal slowly and even leave scars. It’s not a physical problem at all, but a result of applying random things. Two years ago, I wore new shoes and tore my ankle. I didn't like the iodophor staining, so I picked up a piece of aloe vera grown at home and applied it to the wound. I thought it would be natural and lighten the scar. However, the next day it was so swollen that I couldn't put on socks. When I went to the community hospital to clean it, the nurse complained for a long time: unsterilized fresh aloe vera, toothpaste, and herbal powder of unknown ingredients. These things were applied to the wound, and they were all potential sources of infection. There is also red potion and violet potion that were commonly used in the early years, but they are no longer recommended now. Red potion contains mercury and may be toxic if used too much. Purple potion will dye the wound dark, and the doctor cannot even judge the healing condition of the wound. It is really not as effective as a bottle of iodophor costing a few yuan.

There are also many people who regard "no water on wounds" as an iron rule. If they break their leg in the summer, they will not take a shower for a week. In fact, it is really unnecessary. If the wound is stained with sand and dust when it is first injured, the first reaction should be to rinse it with running water at room temperature for 15 minutes to wash away the foreign matter. This is much better than rubbing it hard with a paper towel to break up the blood scab that has finally condensed on the surface. During the healing period, as long as you don't soak in water for a long time, put a waterproof patch on it when taking a shower, take it off immediately after washing, wipe it with iodophor and let it dry, and nothing will happen.

Of course, there are situations that cannot be dealt with forcefully. For example, if you are scratched or bitten by a cat or dog, no matter how small the wound is or whether there is bleeding, just rinse it with soapy water for 15 minutes and get a rabies vaccine immediately. There is no chance of it happening. If you get a deep wound from a rusty iron nail or dirty wooden thorn, don't just apply iodine at home. Anaerobic bacteria can easily breed in a deep, closed environment. It's important to go to the hospital quickly to get tetanus antitoxin. People with low immunity and diabetics should eat more snacks. I once saw a diabetic patient in his sixties who wore cloth shoes and got a small blister but didn't take it seriously when he was doing rotation in surgery. In the end, he developed a diabetic foot and almost had his leg amputated. I'm not alarmist.

Is it itchy and you want to scratch it during the healing period? This is very normal, it is the growth of granulation, but don’t worry about it. I had a bruise on my arm last summer, and I picked up the scab while sleeping at night. It took half a year for the pigmentation to disappear, and I had to apply concealer when wearing short-sleeved shirts. If the itching is really unbearable, pat it gently twice with clean gauze, or apply a cold towel for half a minute. It is better than regretting it after buckling.

In fact, after all, wound care is really not that mysterious. The core is not to mess around. Treat small wounds that you can judge by yourself as needed. If you are not sure, ask a nurse at the community hospital to take a look. It is much more useful than doing a half-hour science review at home and getting more and more panicked.