Medically Safe Skin Wound Care: Types and Treatment
Skin wound care starts with knowing the type of wound. Learn how to clean minor scrapes at home, which products to avoid and when to see a doctor instead.
A skin wound will always hurt, but how bad it is varies. It depends on the location, severity and type of the wound. A wound that is large or deep needs proper care at a clinic or hospital. But you can treat a minor skin wound yourself. Before that, read the information here!
Types of Wounds
Before treating a skin wound, it is a good idea to first learn the types of wounds, because how a wound is handled depends on its type. There are several types you should know, such as puncture wounds, avulsions, incisions, lacerations and others.
One type classed as minor is the scrape, or abrasion. It happens when friction or scratching occurs on a fairly hard surface. Although it does not cause significant bleeding, this type of wound needs to be cleaned well to avoid infection.
Then there is the avulsion, a tear that damages part of the skin tissue. It can result from a serious accident, a gunshot or an explosion. Treating this kind of skin wound usually calls for immediate medical care, such as stitching the wound.
You can also come across lacerations, which can be minor or severe. This type is usually marked by an irregular shape. It is often seen in accidents at work or while driving, such as with heavy equipment and machinery. How to treat it depends on the part of the body or skin affected.
How to Treat a Wound Properly
When you have a minor scrape that is not too deep, you can treat it yourself. By following a few correct steps, the wound can be handled safely and well. One of them is cleaning the wound with clean, running water.
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If there is still dirt or a foreign object stuck in the wound, use sterile tweezers to remove it. If anything is left behind, go to a doctor for proper care. Also, when treating a wound yourself, avoid hydrogen peroxide, antiseptic solutions and iodine-based red antiseptic (obat merah), because they risk irritating the skin.
As a final step in treating a skin wound safely, apply an antibiotic ointment or cream. It helps keep the skin surface moist and well protected. Do not forget to use a bandage if needed, to keep the wound clean and free from infection-causing bacteria.
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Those are some of the things you should know about types of wounds and how to treat them. If the wound seems minor, you can treat it yourself, and if it seems serious, the opposite applies.
Also read the profile of a wound specialist doctor at Heartology here: https://heartology.id/dr-adisaputra-ramadhinara
