How to use wound care ointment

Most daily care ointments are used for small wounds. The key is to clean and disinfect the wound in place first, then apply a thin layer to cover it. There is no need to apply a thick seal, and do not apply it at the same time with wet disinfectants such as iodine and alcohol. Apply it as thinly as you would normally apply a light lotion, just enough to cover the wound without exposing the red flesh. Don't apply a thick layer like jam, which will suffocate the exudate in the wound and make it heal slowly. A while ago, I met a college student who came to the clinic for a follow-up visit. He fell while riding a shared bicycle and scratched a large area on his palm. I applied ointment at home thick enough to be scraped off, and also wrapped two layers of sports bandages. When I arrived, the wound was stuffy and white, and all the exudate was covered inside to prevent it from evaporating. Later, it was adjusted to wash away the sediment with saline first, wait two or three minutes for it to completely dry after the iodophor was used up, and only applied a thin layer of ointment and left it open, and the scab basically formed in three days.

Speaking of this, some people may ask, when will the application stop? There is indeed no unified clinical standard in this area. Some doctors believe that as long as there is no scab, you need to apply it twice a day. It can not only isolate external dust and bacteria, but also soften the wound and reduce the probability of traction and scarring. Some rehabilitation practitioners believe that after scabbing, the wound has formed a natural protective barrier. Applying ointment again will easily soften the scab, leaving room for infection under the scab. When I give advice to patients, I usually look at the location of the wound. If it is a place that is frequently moved, such as elbows, knees, or knuckles, even if it is scabbed, you can continue to apply it thinly for two or three days. Otherwise, the dry and hard scab will easily tear when the joint moves, and the wound will heal slowly over and over again. If it is a place that does not move much, such as the forehead or calf, you can stop immediately when the scab forms.

Of course, not all wounds are suitable for applying ointment by yourself. If it is a deep and narrow wound punctured by rusty iron nails or dirty wooden thorns, or an infected wound that has suppurated and is hot and painful to the touch, do not apply ointment on your own. Go to a doctor for debridement first. Otherwise, the ointment will seal the surface of the wound and the anaerobic bacteria inside will not be able to access oxygen and will grow wildly. Then you will suffer more. There is another pitfall that many people tend to step on. After applying the ointment, you just put a band-aid or gauze on it no matter what the situation. In fact, it is completely unnecessary, unless you are going to a dusty construction site or outdoors, or you need to wash your hands and touch water. You can temporarily put on a protective layer and leave it open at home. Just like drying the quilt in the sun can help sterilize with the help of ultraviolet light, the wound will be exposed to more fresh air, and the recovery speed will be faster.