Cover a wound or not, and let air dry

[clifffaith]

We have a dual king bed made up of two twins. Two weeks ago while reaching for the inner corner on my side while changing sheets, I dragged my forearm under the sharp corner of the bedside table, peeling a flap of skin open. Grabbed a Kleenex to staunch the flow of blood, saw the big flap of skin and immediately pulled that off. Big yuck. For the first five days I kept it bandaged, after that I left the gross wound uncovered to let it air dry unless I was going out or going to bed. Both my mom and Cliff have encouraged me to leave it uncovered when I could, and really I "knew" that already. Because I feel like the wound is slow to heal (still too gross to be uncovered in public), I googled and was surprised to read that a wound heals faster when it is covered. Apparently "air drying" has fallen out of favor. So I'll keep it covered in Neosporin (usually a "miracle drug") and a bandaid 24 hours.

 

[Lydlady]

I used to think that air-drying was better, but had also read that it is better to cover it. I don't know if this has to do with germs also or what.

 

[VacationForever]

If the wound is large but not large enough to need to see a doctor right away, we use neosporin and a cloth gauze thing to cover it and then use tape to hold it down. If it starts to get pus, we go to the doctor.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Covered keeps out germs, Open does not. Plus wounds need moisture to aid in the healing process.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/cover-wound-air/

 

[Beachclubmum]

Agree that covered is best and if you want to minimize scarring, put some Vaseline (petroleum jelly) on it every time you change the bandage.

 

[Krteczech]

Neosporin and bandage. I learned that from a friend who works at nursing home not too long ago.

 

[1st Class]

I would recommend a wet to dry dressing. You need to keep the wound covered to prevent infection, but it needs to stay moist while it heals. It sounds more complicated than it really is ... Apply triple antibiotic ointment as you are doing, then moisten a gauze pad with saline and place on top of wound. Cover that with a dry gauze pad and secure. Change the dressing 2x daily. With each dressing change you are debriding the wound, which means removing the dead skin cells and protecting the new ones. This method also minimizes discomfort and infection. You should see noticeable improvement in about a weeks time.

 

[Shankilicious]

Keep it coated in neosporin/triple anti-biotic and bandaged! I was doing this with my wife's help after my motor cycle crash last July. 55mph onto pavement.... Back all messed up, but I have minimal to no scarring because I didn't let the skin air dry. Air drying leads to scabs, scabs lead to scars.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[PigsDad]

Apparently "air drying" has fallen out of favor.

I didn't realize air drying was ever in favor. I remember those Band-Aid commercials of probably 20 years ago where they compared the healing time of a cut when it was covered vs. not. Anyone else remember those commercials?

Kurt

 

[MULTIZ321]

I didn't realize air drying was ever in favor. I remember those Band-Aid commercials of probably 20 years ago where they compared the healing time of a cut when it was covered vs. not. Anyone else remember those commercials?

Kurt

Here's one of the old Band Aid Commercials -

Richard

 

[RX8]

Here's one of the old Band Aid Commercials
Richard

I remember that exact commercial.

 

[easyrider]

We have band aids but also have new skin liquid band aids in the medicine cabinet. The new skin works good on bendy body parts. My opinion is covered just because I don't like seeing scabs and stuff.

Bill

 

[Talent312]

I recently put a half-inch cut in the palm of my hand with a knife.
I stopped the bleeding with a wound-seal product.
My DW first saw it applied at an urgent-care place for her wound.

After that, I covered it with an antibiotic cream and a band-aid.
A doc I saw later approved of my treatment.

 

[clifffaith]

My wound has been slow to heal, but was looking better by now. I've been keeping it covered as everyone suggested, and large taped down bandages gradually became smaller Bandaids. I went to change the bandaid today and I'll be darned if the adhesive didn't pull a layer of skin off leaving a visible divot! What the heck? The pharmacy around the block was open so we went to get some advice on how to staunch the bleeding and cover the new wound without adhesive. We came home with wrap around gauze to hold non-adhesive pads in place and then the tape can be stuck on the gauze and not my skin. Did a quick Google and found that oral steroids can cause thin skin. I have been getting steroids for pain via an epidural every couple of months for three years, so I am suspicious that the underlying cause for such fragile skin is the steroids and not just 63 year old crepey skin. Time to stick my head in with my GP, and then perhaps a dermatologist.

 

[Sandy VDH]

I react to glue on a lot of bandaid brands very badly. Not my skin pulling off but rather my skin being very red and inflamed. I have found lately that if you are just trying to heal a wound and it is not actively still weeping then I really like the 3M product Tegaderm transparent Film. I recently had to areas on my back that I had Melanoma removed from. (Caught it early thankfully). But once the incision was healed over about a day, then I switch to Neosporin and these transparent Film bandages. Not sure how it would help with your ripping skin off situation however.

 

[clifffaith]

Visited my GP yesterday to discuss the state of my wounds. Yes, steroids cause thinning of the skin. Use Lubriderm or similar to see if you can add moisture back so your skin isn't so fragile. Be more careful so you aren't hurting yourself (duh). Let the wounds AIR DRY when you can, and if you wrap it for cosmetic purposes (like not grossing people out) use something that still allows air in (she approved of the cheesecloth-like bandages we picked up the other day). Even though I'd just had a physical six weeks ago, she spent 20 minutes with me. I love her, and when I qualify for Medicare in 18 months top priority is making sure she is on the new plan. Cliff is on Healthnet and sees her, so that's where I'll start, as much as it pains me to do so. I had Healthnet insurance for 20 years, then when Cliff retired they wouldn't keep me on because of the migraine headaches they treated me for, and failed to cure.