Facts About Minor Wound Care
My son had an very terrifying accident the other day, January 9 to be exact. He jumped on the bed and cut his toes with a tin sheet (his white board toy). It bled. It bled so hard that I almost panicked!
You probably think you know all the facts when it comes to the topic of minor wound care – if you cut your finger, just dab a tissue on it and you’re ready to go! Unfortunately it is not as simple as that. Minor wounds deserve special treatment in order to heal most efficiently and minimize the appearance of scars. So before you peel off that bandage make sure you know the difference between the facts and the misconceptions on minor wound care.
Misconception: It is best to let a minor wound heal over with a scab.
For a long time I thought this is the truth.. until know, I think it is. But if scab makes the healing process longer, I need to search more about it.
Fact: Scabs actually impede the healing process by creating a barrier between healthy skin cells. The cells have to work their way under the scab in order to form new tissue and heal. Scabs can also be easily torn or scratched, causing re-injury.
Misconception: It is best to let a wound “breathe” or air out.
Fact: The best way to protect a wound is to cover it with a bandage until fully healed. Bandages that absorb a wounds fluid and maintain a natural moisture balance are ideal for healing and enables skin cells to migrate together to form new tissue.
Misconception: It is best to leave a wound uncovered.
For me, I think the wound should be covered when it is still fresh and eventually take it off so that air can flow around it to heal faster, apparently that may not be the case.
Fact: Covering a wound with bandages is essential to wound care: a bandage provides extra cushioning and protection from any re-injury that may occur, as well as preventing exposure to water, germs and dirt.
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