General purpose wound care ointment

A compliant general-purpose wound care ointment can cover more than 80% of daily superficial wound care needs and can be used as a standing item in the home medicine cabinet. However, it is definitely not a panacea. It is not suitable for direct use on wounds that reach deep into the dermis, wounds that have been obviously infected, and wounds caused by special injuries (such as animal scratches and iron nail wounds). Don't hold on to it, and see a doctor first.

The first time I knew about this was when I was riding a shared bicycle in a hurry last summer. When I turned a corner, I bumped into a curb, and my knee was scratched almost as big as my palm. Blood beads mixed with dust came out. The clerk at the roadside pharmacy did not bring me the iodophor I usually buy, but directly handed me a general-purpose wound care ointment. After the poison was applied, it felt very cool. I wore trousers that day and didn’t get all the yellow marks on my trouser legs. I originally thought it would hurt for at least three or four days, but it turned out that it was basically healed on the third day, and even the hard scab didn’t form. Later, I went to check the relevant information and asked a surgical nurse to understand its logic.

In fact, to put it bluntly, the core logic of a general-purpose ointment is to create a mild, moist healing environment for the wound. Most of the basic ingredients are bases with moderate occlusive properties such as petroleum jelly and lanolin, which are equivalent to covering the broken skin with a breathable "small protective shield". Dust and bacteria from the outside cannot enter, and the tissue fluid exuded from the wound will not evaporate quickly. It will not form a hard scab that hurts when you pull it. The healing speed is about one-third faster than leaving it open to dry or only applying iodine. Regular products generally add mild antibacterial ingredients such as polyhexamethylene biguanide. They do not use mercury-containing or color-retaining raw materials such as red liquid and violet liquid. They also rarely add strong antibiotics. They can also be used by people with sensitive skin and children.

However, when I participated in a community-organized nursing charity class before, I also heard completely different opinions. Many nurses who have been in the industry for a long time believe that there is no need to buy the "universal model". For scrapes, use iodophor plus Band-Aid. For burns and scalds, there are special burn and scald creams. In winter, use cracking cream for cracked hands and feet. It is more targeted according to the situation and is less likely to cause problems. I specifically asked a friend who is a dermatologist, and he said that this view is actually valid. After all, the universal version has milder ingredients in order to adapt to more scenarios. If you encounter mild second-degree burns and scalds, the anti-swelling and analgesic ingredients in the targeted burn and scald cream will indeed work faster. There is no conflict between these two opinions. It just depends on the usage scenario.

To be honest, I have been using it for almost a year, and I feel that the universal version is really convenient for ordinary people. Last time, my nephew fell on his face while running. My sister-in-law was going to buy a children's wound ointment worth several hundred yuan, so I bought her the one I use. It contains no hormones or alcohol. After three days of application, it was all healed, and it didn't even leave any marks.； Also, the last time my office colleague opened a package and got a small cut with a utility knife, I took it out and applied some on it, without even putting a band-aid on it, and it was closed in the afternoon. Oh, by the way, my heels tend to get dry and crack in the winter. Applying this product is much easier than ordinary moisturizer, and it will heal in two or three days.

Of course, I have also encountered pitfalls. I bought a "universal care ointment" without medical device registration for a cheap price. After applying it, the wound was red for several days. Later I found out that it was a makeup-grade product and could only be used on intact skin. It could not be used on broken wounds at all. Also, the last time my mother got several big blisters due to oil splash while cooking, she blindly applied ointment to cover it up, but it got infected instead. When she went to the hospital for treatment, the doctor said that if the blisters have broken and there is leakage from the wound, it is best not to cover the blisters too thickly after applying the ointment.

Anyway, I keep one at home and stuff it in my commute bag. It is very convenient to take out for small bumps. Of course, if you encounter a wound so deep that you can see the fat, or are pricked by a rusty nail, or scratched and bitten by a cat or dog, don’t think that it will be cured by applying ointment. Go to the hospital quickly to find professional treatment, and don’t risk your body.