Everyone has experienced injuries from time to time. Many wounds don't require a doctor's visit, but to keep yourself healthy and free from infection, do everything you can to ensure that the wound heals quickly and efficiently. Luckily, you can take some steps to help speed up wound healing so you can continue with your normal activities.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Cleaning and Dressing the Wound
Step 1. Wash your hands
Before treating the wound, make sure your hands are thoroughly washed so you don't carry bacteria into the wound. Make sure you wash your hands properly so that your hands are really clean.
- Wet hands with clean, running water.
- Take some soap and rub it on your hands. Make sure the soap is rubbed evenly all over your hands, including your fingers, nails, and the backs of your hands.
- Rub your hands for about 20 seconds. A popular way to get the timing right is to hum the song "Happy Birthday" twice, or by singing the ABC song.
- Rinse hands using clean running water. When turning off the water, try not to touch the faucet with your hands as much as possible. Instead, you can use your elbow or arm.
- Dry your hands with a clean, dry towel or let them dry on their own.
- If you don't have soap and water, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Spray on hands in the amount recommended on the package and rub your hands dry.
Step 2. Stop the bleeding from the wound
If you have only a minor cut or scratch, the bleeding will be minimal and will stop on its own. If the bleeding does not stop, lift the injured area and apply light pressure with a sterile bandage until the bleeding stops.
- Seek medical attention if the bleeding continues for more than 10 minutes. The wound may be more severe than you think.
- If the blood is rushing or spurting, you may have a severed artery. This is an emergency situation and you should go to the hospital immediately or call emergency services. Some of the places where arteries can be cut are on the inside of the thigh, neck, and inside of the upper arm.
- To give first aid to a sputtering wound while waiting for emergency services to arrive, apply pressure with a bandage. Cover the wound with a bandage or cloth and wrap it tightly around the wound. Even so, do not bandage too tightly so that blood circulation is not interrupted. Seek medical help immediately.
Step 3. Clean your wound
Get rid of dirt and bacteria until clean so that the wound avoids infection. This should be done before applying the bandage to prevent bacteria from getting trapped in the wound.
- Rinse the wound using clean water. Running water will remove a lot of dirt left in the wound.
- Wash the area around the wound with soap. Do not place soap directly on the wound because it can cause inflammation and irritation.
- Use tweezers that have been sterilized with alcohol to remove dirt that remains on the wound even after rinsing.
- If there's still a lot of dirt that you can't clean, go to the doctor.
Step 4. Apply an antibiotic cream or ointment
This product helps keep wounds from becoming infected and prevents complications that can hinder the healing process. Several brands of ointments such as Neosporin, Bacitracin, and Eucerin can be obtained easily at drug stores.
- Check the packaging of the product you buy before using it so you don't have an allergy to any of the ingredients.
- Stop using the drug and call your doctor if you develop a rash or irritation.
- Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly if you don't have an antibacterial or antibiotic cream. This can help cover the wound from getting bacteria.
Step 5. Cover the wound
Bacteria and dirt easily stick to open wounds to cause infection. Cover the wound with a sterile, non-sticky bandage or bandage. Make sure the bandage you use can cover the entire wound.
- If you don't have a bandage, cover the wound with a clean tissue until you get a real bandage.
- You can use a liquid skin bandage to cover wounds that are very shallow and don't bleed a lot. These products help cover wounds to prevent infection and are usually water-resistant for several days. Apply this product directly to the skin after the wound is cleaned and dry.
Step 6. Decide whether you need medical help or not
Unless you have an infection, a superficial wound may not need medical attention. However, there are some situations that require you to seek appropriate medical attention after you have cleaned and bandaged the wound. Immediately go to the doctor or hospital if the following things happen to the wound or yourself.
- Injuries occur in children under one year of age. Any wound on a child under one year of age should seek medical attention to avoid infection and scarring.
- The wound is quite deep. Wounds of 0.5 cm or more are considered deep wounds. In very deep wounds, muscle, fat, or bone may be visible. In order to heal and avoid infection, wounds like this usually need stitches.
- The wound is long. Wounds longer than 1.2 cm may need stitches.
- The wound is very dirty or has a lot of dirt on the wound that you cannot clean yourself. To avoid infection, seek medical attention if you are unable to clean the wound completely.
- Injuries occur in the joint and open when you move the joint. Wounds like this must also be sutured in order to close properly.
- The wound continued to bleed within 10 minutes of being firmly tied. The wound may involve a vein or artery. You need medical help to treat wounds like this.
- Your wound happened because of the animal. You are at risk of developing rabies, unless you are fully aware of the animal's immunization history. The wound should be cleaned thoroughly and you may need to be given a rabies shot.
- You have diabetes. Diabetics are prone to wound complications due to poor nerve and blood circulation. Minor wounds can become seriously infected or take a long time to heal. If you have diabetes, go to the doctor immediately if you have a wound of any size.
- You got the tetanus vaccine shot more than 5 years ago. Although doctors recommend repeating a tetanus shot every 10 years, you will usually be given additional medication if you have a deep puncture wound, a scratch from an animal bite, or a wound caused by rusty metal. Go to the doctor if your last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago to reduce your risk of getting tetanus.
- Wounds occur on the face. These wounds may require stitches or other treatments to help heal so they don't interfere with appearance.
Part 2 of 4: Caring for Wounds While Healing
Step 1. Change the bandage regularly
Bacteria and blood coming out of the wound will make the bandage dirty. So, change the bandage at least once a day to avoid infection. Also change the bandage if it is wet or dirty.
Step 2. Watch for signs of infection
Even if you've cleaned the wound thoroughly and covered it to prevent infection, there's still a chance that you might have an infection. Watch for these signs and consult a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms.
- The area around the wound becomes more painful.
- The area around the wound looks red, swollen and feels warm.
- The wound oozes pus.
- The wound smells bad.
- Has a fever of 37.7 degrees Celsius or more for more than 4 hours.
Step 3. Go to the doctor if the wound is not healing properly
The wound will usually heal within 3 to 7 days, or up to 2 weeks if the wound is severe. If the wound doesn't heal for a long time, an infection or other problem may have occurred. Go to the doctor if the wound does not heal within a week.
Part 3 of 4: Helping Wounds Heal Fast
Step 1. Keep the area around the wound moist
Antibiotic ointment is not only used to prevent infection, but can also be used to keep the wound moist. This is especially useful because dry wounds take longer to heal, so moisture will speed healing. Apply the ointment every time you bandage the wound. Even if the wound is not bandaged, apply an ointment to retain moisture and help the healing process.
Step 2. Do not peel or remove the scab (dry wound)
Sometimes a scab will appear over the cut or scrape. This is useful for protecting the area while the wound is healing. Therefore, do not peel off the scab. Your wound will reopen and your body will have to start healing so it will take longer to heal.
Sometimes the scab accidentally peels off on its own and the wound will bleed again. If this happens, clean and bandage the wound as you would any other wound
Step 3. Remove the bandage slowly
While many say that the best course of action is to quickly remove the plaster, it can actually slow healing. Removing the tape with a quick motion can tear the scab and open the wound, allowing the healing process to start all over again. Instead, slowly remove the bandage. To make it easier to remove and reduce pain, soak the plastered area in warm water until it loosens.
Step 4. Do not use harsh antiseptics to treat minor wounds
Alcohol, iodine, peroxide, and harsh soaps can irritate and burn the wound. This can slow down the healing process and may even result in scarring. For minor cuts and scrapes, all you need is clean water, a mild soap, and an antibiotic ointment.
Step 5. Get enough sleep
The body repairs itself during sleep. If you don't get enough sleep, the wound will take longer to heal. Sleep is also very important to maintain a healthy immune system in order to prevent infection while the wound is healing. Sleep at night so the wound can heal efficiently and quickly.
Part 4 of 4: Helping Wounds Heal with the Right Food
Step 1. Consume 2 or 3 servings of protein daily
Protein is a material needed for tissue and skin growth. Eat 2 to 3 servings of protein daily to support wound healing. Some good sources of protein include:
- Meat and poultry
- Nuts
- Egg
- Dairy products such as cheese, milk and yogurt, especially Greek yogurt
- Soybean products
Step 2. Increase fat intake
Fat is needed for cell formation, so you need a lot of fat for wounds to heal efficiently and quickly. Make sure you eat monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, or "good fats." Saturated fats from junk food can't help heal wounds and can even cause other health problems.
Sources of "good fats" that can help with wound healing include dairy products, lean meats, and vegetable oils such as olive oil or sunflower seed oil
Step 3. Eat carbohydrates every day
Carbohydrates are an important ingredient because they are used by the body for energy. Without carbohydrates, the body will break down nutrients such as protein for energy. This can slow down the healing process because fats and proteins are not used for wound healing but to produce energy. Prevent this by eating bread, cereals, pasta, and rice every day.
Choose complex carbohydrates, not simple carbohydrates. The body digests complex carbohydrates more slowly, so it does not increase blood sugar levels. Some foods that contain complex carbohydrates and also contain lots of fiber and protein include breakfast cereals, breads and pastas from whole grains, sweet potatoes, and whole oats
Step 4. Consume adequate amounts of vitamins A and C
These two vitamins aid in wound healing by stimulating cell growth and preventing inflammation. This vitamin can also fight infection while the wound is still healing.
- Some sources of vitamin A include spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, salmon, herring, eggs, and dairy products.
- Some sources of vitamin C include oranges, dark green leafy vegetables, yellow peppers, and fruits.
Step 5. Include zinc in your diet
Zinc helps the process of protein synthesis and produces collagen, so it will help heal wounds. Eat red meat, fortified cereals, and shellfish to get enough zinc.
Step 6. Don't run out of fluids
Get plenty of fluids to help improve blood circulation so that essential nutrients can be delivered to your wound. Water can also help the body to remove toxins, which is useful for preventing infection.
Warning
- Consult with your doctor before making drastic dietary changes. If you have previously suffered from a health condition or are on a certain diet program, ask your doctor for advice so that your actions do not harm your body.
- Call emergency services or go to the emergency room if the wound is bleeding for more than 10 minutes, there is a lot of dirt in the wound that you cannot clean, or you have a long or deep wound.
