Properly cleaning and dressing scrape-like wound?

Question

I have a large(a 4x4 gauze barely covers all of it) scrape-like wound on my shin. It's deepish, certainly lost some flesh on it and for several seconds it was just white with little red dots(open capillary blood vessels I assume) before it really started even bleeding and oozing. I guess it appears more like a burn. The edges are tapered and the wound itself is large and inconsistent so it appears unstitchable. It was caused by some dirty yard equipment, so I'm mostly worried it will become infected so have been cleaning and dressing it obsessively, though I'm not sure if I'm doing it right.

Currently it's covered by a 4x4 gauze held on with ace bandage wrap. Clean it every 12hrs or so be changing the gauze(usually soaked in blood and ooze by then) and wiping the wound and edges with alcohol wipes. It stings like crazy 90% of the time, is painful to touch and walk, and can feel its warmth through the bandage. So far does not appear infected, though only happened yesterday, no surrounding redness, no puss, no smell.

Any further tips or corrections if I'm doing something wrong?

? · Accepted Answer

Active +15 Manuka honey from new zealand should be covering the entire wound area then cover with bandage. You can cover the bandage with honey first. It will promote skin repair and healing while protecting against infection. Don't wait 4 days tell and us how it works.

minootoo · Answer

Next time when changing Gauss use Bactine Spray to clean it, then apply Neosporin ointment or cream and wrap it. or if the Gauss sticks good then next day do not pull out the Gauss and clean it just watch it clean it only if it is loose or you think there is puss or infection. Scab will form and guss and scab will come out at the same time, you can trim ends off the Gauss from time to time if it lifts up,  but do not disturb the rest of it, if you do then you are actually opening up the partially healed wound again. Make sure to keep it dry while bathing or showering. Allow few days and just watch it.

If above does not happen then see a Dr. and have the Dr. install artificial skin or liquid bandage. My wound just like yours took long time to heal but I did left it alon to dry and scab and just watch it. If every thing is going right then pain will be less and less very day.

Delanne · Answer

If it's opened that much you should get some kind of stitches. If it's just scraped, put a cold wash rag on it to stop the bleeding. Then wash it with soap and water. You can put some antibiotic cream on it with a bandage. After it starts to heal, stop using the bandages so the air can get to it and heal better.

Anonymous · Answer

After it stops bleeding completely, use soap and water to clean it, then apply antibacterial cream and keep a bandage on it. Do not let it dry in the open air because it will take much longer to heal, moist skin heals much faster.

Properly cleaning and dressing scrape-like wound?

4 Answers