In life, it’s inevitable to experience various kinds of wounds. Some wounds need immediate medical attention, while some are just minor cases that even quick first aid tricks could do.
It would help to learn how to properly take care of any open wound, whether small or big. If you think it needs to be seen by a doctor, don’t hesitate to visit the nearest hospital or clinic in your area to help in its healing process before it even gets infected.
Typically, some wounds could heal easily, and some would take a long time before it heals. In this case, knowing the proper care regimen could benefit you in many ways, especially in faster wound recovery. Here are five essential wound care and recovery tips you must learn to guide you.
Observe And Consult Your Doctor For Emergencies
You must observe your wound, especially in the first week to ten days. Take note that more care is required if your wound is large, deep, and painful. If you experience a fever, the pain worsens, and you can feel it radiating far from the wound site, and too much blood is coming out, then consult your doctor immediately.
Also, head to the emergency as soon as possible. Additionally, consider reading health-related blogs like The Bee Healthy Blog to increase your knowledge about this matter. You’ll never know how the information you gather from reputable health blogs could help you in times of need.
Always Cover Your Wounds
Many people think leaving your wound open is beneficial to allow the wounds to dry up easily. But, you have to know that that practice is not helping in the fast recovery of your injury. Thus, ensure you cover your wound with a clean bandage or a gauge after cleaning it and disinfecting it.
If you only have a small wound or scratch, it’s fine to leave it to allow it to dry, especially if it’s in an area in your body that doesn’t get much dirt on or irritated by your clothing. On the contrary, a wound that’s cleaned and then covered could help maintain the natural moisture in your skin, helping the cells to stay alive.
If you leave your wound exposed, there is a high chance that it will pick up dirt that may result in an infection. Not to mention, an injury that recovers through natural moisture, not extremely watery, has lesser chances of leaving a scar.
Change Your Wound Coverings
One thing you must never forget if you’re covering your wounds is to make sure you change it from time to time. If your injury is becoming too wet from the blood or liquid from it, then consider it the perfect time to replace your wound covered with a new one.
Also, don’t leave a covering attached for more than 12 hours, depending on what was advised by your doctor. Wounds should be covered to keep them moist for at least five days, but it’s still a case-to-case basis per patient, so don’t forget to consult your doctor regarding this.
Leaving your bandages on your wound without changing it may slow down the healing process and give rise to infection. As a result, healing would be more complicated, and it might even produce a foul smell.
Keep It Clean
Cleanliness should be prioritized, especially when faced with any size and kind of scratches and wounds. Use only clean water to rinse the wound area, and if you can, place your wound under running tap water to reduce the possibility of an infection.
After cleaning it with water, use mild soap to wash around the wound. The best option is a fragrance-free and antibacterial soap, but note that you must not apply the soap to the wound directly. Use it only to remove the dirt, and if you plan on using tweezers to get some debris out of the wound, make sure it’s cleaned with alcohol first, then rush to the hospital immediately.
Add Healthy Meals To Your Diet
If you want to speed up the healing process of your wound, eating fruits and vegetables could help boost the process. Wound healing may take some time, but with the proper diet in your meals, you could strengthen your immune system and promote better and faster wound recovery.
Some wound-healing foods include more leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, and ginger. Opting for fruits that contain high Vitamin C, like pineapples, oranges, and even tomato juices can be beneficial. Skip or even totally stop unhealthy meals while you’re healing, as it could also help you live a better lifestyle.
Final Thoughts
Healing could take a long time and even longer if left untreated. You must know when simple wound care is needed and when it is time to get medical help. You must know how to take care of and boost the recovery process of wound healing to prevent any further complications. With this, don’t skip reading the tips mentioned above to keep you guided.
