Healing Your Wounds Effectively
You can get wounds, which are breaks in the skin or other body tissue, from cuts, falls, bites, stabbings, surgical procedures or medical conditions like diabetes or poor circulation. Regardless of the cause, it is crucial to clean and care for the wound properly to speed up recovery, prevent infection and reduce scarring. Neglecting to do so can increase the risk of infection which causes tissue damage and slows down the healing process.
Home Treatment for Wounds
Got a small cut or scrape? Home treatments are usually effective for minor wounds. When you sustain a small cut, apply firm but gentle pressure with gauze or a tissue. If the bleeding persists, add another layer of gauze or tissue on top of the old one to prevent the wound from reopening and bleeding again.
Once the bleeding stops or slows down, you can clean the wound with cool water. Remove dirt or splinters with alcohol-sterilised tweezers and gently clean the wound with mild soap and water before patting it dry with a clean sterile gauze. Do not use disinfectants as they can slow down healing by damaging healthy tissue. All you need is clean water for uninfected wounds.
Applying an over-the-counter or prescription wound ointment on the wound creates a moist environment that supports healing and reduces the risks of infection. Use a small amount and spread it out thinly on the wound according to the manufacturer’s instructions and stop using it if you get rashes.
An uncovered wound may reopen or become infected so cover the wound with a sterile bandage or dressing to keep it clean. Change the bandage each day or sooner, if it becomes dirty or wet, to keep the wound clean and dry.
READ ALSO: "Managing Chronic Wounds"
When Is Professional Care Is Needed
How fast your wound heals depends on factors such as the wound’s size, location and your overall health. It is important to seek medical attention for severe wounds or wounds that are not healing properly despite home treatment. If your wound feels warm or appears red, swollen, or has pus, it could be infected and you should see a doctor.
For surgical incisions, chronic wounds, diabetic ulcers, pressure injuries, burns, traumatic injuries and/or wounds that cannot be cured with basic first-aid measures, you should see a wound nurse for wound care.
READ ALSO: "Wound Care That Enabled Him To Go Home"
Your nurse will evaluate the wound’s size, depth, location, and overall condition to determine the best course of action. This may involve cleaning the wound, removing any infected tissue and dressing the wound.
For more severe wounds, specialised wound healing therapies such as Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, Compression Therapy, and ultrasonic wound debridement therapy is recommended.
When a wound is not healing as expected or if you have concerns about a wound, it’s important to seek medical help from healthcare professionals such as the experts from Wound Care Clinic at St Luke’s Hospital.
Professional wound care is tailored to the patient’s needs and the specific characteristics of the wound to promote optimal healing, prevent complications and improve the patient’s overall quality of life. The team St Luke’s Hospital helped Mdm Baldeep Kaur, a patient of the hospital who was suffering from a wound that was so severe and deep enough that it exposed the tendons underneath, to recover through a customised treatment plan.
READ ALSO: "Healing Wounds, Restoring Hope"
Lifestyle Changes For Faster Healing
Besides treating the wound properly, you can speed up wound healing with a healthy lifestyle. If you have any chronic health conditions, such as diabetes or immunodeficiency disorders which can slow down wound healing, work with your doctor to manage these conditions effectively.
To promote optimal wound healing, it is important to eat a healthy diet rich in vitamins and protein, stay hydrated, quit smoking and excessive drinking, get enough rest and sleep, reduce stress and do gentle exercises regularly.
The right wound care and lifestyle changes can help to relieve pain and discomfort associated with the wound, helping patients improve their quality of life and recover more quickly!
Do you know St Luke’s Hospital and Singapore University of Social Sciences Launch First Caregiver Wound Care Micro E-learning Course? Find out more
