Some health conditions may lead to poor blood circulation. These conditions can cause poor wound healing:. A chronic wound heals very slowly or not at all. If you have a chronic wound, you may need to see a specialist. An infection happens when bacteria, fungi, and other germs get into the wound before it fully heals. Signs of an infection include:.
See your healthcare provider if you think you have an infected wound, no matter how small it is. This can be harmful and cause health complications. You may have an underlying condition that slows down healing. Treating and maintaining a chronic condition like diabetes can help skin wounds heal better. Some people with diabetes and other chronic conditions can get a skin ulcer from a small cut or wound on their feet or legs. Wound healing happens in several stages. Your wound may look red, swollen, and watery at the beginning.
This can be a normal part of healing. The wound may have a red or pink raised scar once it closes. The healing will continue for months to years after this. The scar will eventually become duller and flatter. Some health conditions can slow down or impair wound healing. Some people may get infections or have other healing complications. With diabetes, wounds tend to heal more slowly and progress more quickly.
In some cases, this can lead to severe complications. Here's what to know. An open wound is an injury involving an external or internal break in your body tissue, usually involving the skin. Nearly everyone will experience an…. Well, this one piece of folklore is actually true…. Debridement is a procedure that helps wounds heal by removing dead or infected tissue.
There are several types of debridement, from using ointments…. First aid for abrasions An abrasion means that the surface layers of the skin epidermis has been broken. First aid treatment includes: Clean the wound with a non-fibre shedding material or sterile gauze, and use an antiseptic such as Betadine.
If there is embedded dirt, Savlon may be used as it contains an antiseptic and a surfactant to help remove debris. Rinse the wound after five minutes with sterile saline or flowing tap water. Cover the cleaned wound with an appropriate non-stick sterile dressing. If you reapply antiseptic, wash it off after five minutes and then redress the wound. First aid for incised wounds Incised wounds are caused by sharp objects, such as knives or shards of glass, slicing into the skin.
First aid treatment for severe bleeding includes: Remove clothing around the site for easier access. Apply pressure directly to the wound with your hands to stem the blood flow. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing, if possible, and continue to apply direct pressure bandage firmly.
Seek urgent medical attention. You may need to call an ambulance if you cannot stop the bleeding, are feeling faint, sweaty or dizzy. Tetanus-prone wounds Some wounds are more likely to encourage the growth of tetanus bacteria than others, unless the person is immunised against tetanus. Stages of healing The body begins repairing a wound immediately and the process may continue for days, weeks, months or even years, depending on the injury.
The basic stages of healing include: The body takes action to maintain a normal state. Blood vessels to the wound constrict, reducing blood loss. Blood platelets gather at the site to form a clot. Once the clot has formed, the blood vessels dilate, allowing maximum blood flow to the site. This causes inflammation.
White blood cells start cleaning the site of bacteria, micro-organisms and other foreign agents. To clean a wound well: Wash your hands first. Remove large pieces of dirt or debris from the wound with cleaned tweezers.
Do not push the tweezers deeply into the wound. Hold the wound under cool running water. If you have a sprayer in your sink, you can use it to help remove dirt and other debris from the wound.
Scrub gently with water, a mild soap, and a face cloth. If some dirt or other debris is still in the wound, clean it again. If the wound starts to bleed, put direct, steady pressure on it. Long-term alcohol and drug problems. Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease. Medicines taken after organ transplant. Not having a spleen. For a deep or dirty wound that has things like dirt, saliva, or feces in it, you may need a shot if: You haven't had a tetanus shot in the past 5 years. You don't know when your last shot was. You have not received 3 doses of the tetanus vaccine series. For a clean wound , you may need a shot if: You have not had a tetanus shot in the past 10 years.
Pain in adults and older children Severe pain 8 to 10 : The pain is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and can't do anything else except focus on the pain. Moderate pain 5 to 7 : The pain is bad enough to disrupt your normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days.
Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's there. Mild pain 1 to 4 : You notice the pain, but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities. Pain in children under 3 years It can be hard to tell how much pain a baby or toddler is in.
Severe pain 8 to 10 : The pain is so bad that the baby cannot sleep, cannot get comfortable, and cries constantly no matter what you do. The baby may kick, make fists, or grimace.
Moderate pain 5 to 7 : The baby is very fussy, clings to you a lot, and may have trouble sleeping but responds when you try to comfort him or her. Mild pain 1 to 4 : The baby is a little fussy and clings to you a little but responds when you try to comfort him or her. These include: Jagged wounds on the face.
Cuts on the eyelids. Cuts to the lips, especially if they cut through the edge of the lip. With severe bleeding , any of these may be true: Blood is pumping from the wound. The bleeding does not stop or slow down with pressure.
Blood is quickly soaking through bandage after bandage. With moderate bleeding , any of these may be true: The bleeding slows or stops with pressure but starts again if you remove the pressure. The blood may soak through a few bandages, but it is not fast or out of control.
With mild bleeding , any of these may be true: The bleeding stops on its own or with pressure. The bleeding stops or slows to an ooze or trickle after 15 minutes of pressure.
It may ooze or trickle for up to 45 minutes. For example: You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk mild difficulty breathing , or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all severe difficulty breathing. It may be getting hard to breathe with activity mild difficulty breathing , or you may have to work very hard to breathe even when you're at rest severe difficulty breathing. Seek Care Now Based on your answers, you may need care right away.
Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care. If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour. You do not need to call an ambulance unless: You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you. You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down. Seek Care Today Based on your answers, you may need care soon.
Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care. If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care today.
If it is evening, watch the symptoms and seek care in the morning. If the symptoms get worse, seek care sooner. Call Now Based on your answers, you need emergency care. Put direct, steady pressure on the wound until help arrives.
Keep the area raised if you can. Home Treatment Minor cuts usually can be treated at home. Treat bleeding Stop the bleeding with direct pressure to the wound. Prevention To prevent cuts, it is important to practice safety when using blunt or sharp objects: Pay close attention to what you are doing. If you become distracted, set the project aside until you can pay attention to it.
Know how to use the object properly. Have good lighting so you can see what you are doing. Wear gloves whenever possible to protect your hands. Wear other safety gear, such as glasses or boots, as appropriate. Hold a sharp object away from your body while using it. Carry the object with the dangerous end away from you. Shut the power off and use safety locks on your power tools when you are not using them.
Store dangerous objects in secure places away from children. Teach children about safety, and be a good role model. Do not use alcohol or drugs when you are handling sharp objects. Questions to prepare for your appointment You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions: What are your main symptoms? A small cut or scrape will usually heal well without medical care.
Here's what to do if the injury isn't serious:. If a cut bleeds a lot , get an adult or call your doctor right away. Cover the wound with a clean bandage or cloth. If the blood soaks through, don't remove the first bandage — put a new covering on top of it. Hold the injured body part up above your head or as high as you can to help slow the bleeding.
If a wound is very long or deep or if its edges are far apart , a doctor will need to bring the edges close together so they can heal. The doctor might do this with stitches. If you get stitches, you'll probably need to go back to the doctor in 5 to 10 days to get them out. To remove stitches, a doctor or nurse will snip the thread with scissors and gently pull out the threads.
It tickles a bit and feels a little funny, but usually doesn't hurt. Doctors sometimes close small, straight cuts on some parts of the body with medical glue or steri-strips thin pieces of medical tape.
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