We all get wounds from time-to-time, from cuts and scrapes to the occasional insect bite. How we care for these wounds can determine how well they heal and if we experience complications such as infection. While the risks associated with smaller wounds may be minimal, larger, non-healing, and more serious wounds such as diabetic ulcers require an extreme amount of watchful care. It’s vital to follow all of the best practices with wounds such as these and to avoid falling victim to any one of the many myths that surround proper wound care.
Myth 1: You Should Clean Wounds with Rubbing Alcohol
While alcohol can make a good antiseptic, your best course of action is to clean any new wound with soapy water. Rubbing alcohol may not only kill bacteria, but it can also damage additional tissue, particularly new tissue that has been freshly exposed.
Myth 2: You Should Keep Wounds Dry
While it may seem logical that keeping a wound dry would allow it to heal better, the opposite is actually true. In fact, regular irrigation of a wound with clean and soapy water can help prevent infection. Additionally, dry surface cells in a wound can slow the healing process.
Myth 3: Bandages Just Lead to Bacteria
Along the same lines as keeping a wound dry, a similar vein of thought exists in those who believe keeping a wound covered and moist will lead to an overgrowth of bad bacteria. Not only does a covered wound heal more quickly, the bandage actually works to keep bad bacteria out (not in) and reduces the chances for infection.
Myth 4: It’s Okay if it Takes a Wound Longer to Heal
Chronic, slow/non-healing wounds are a matter to be taken very seriously. If the body is having trouble resolving a wound on its own, additional help is likely needed to avoid complications such as serious infection. For many patients, this means seeking the aid of a wound care doctor and specialized treatments such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy to speed the healing process.
If you are suffering from a serious, large, or non-healing wound, contact Lane Wound Care, and schedule an appointment with one of our specialists to learn more about your available treatment options.
