With a little care, you can help your body heal an infected wound. Keeping your skin clean can help prevent the infection from spreading by infecting other parts of the body or other people. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after cleaning the wound. Unless live flesh is exposed, it may be helpful to soak the part in a saline solution three times a day. It is advisable to also apply antibiotic ointment and keep the wound covered. If the wound is still open, to prevent it from becoming infected, rinse it with warm water and wash the skin at the edges with soap as soon as it stops bleeding. If the cut is deep or if you injured yourself by bumping into a dirty or rusty object, go to the emergency room right away to see a doctor. Stitches or other special care may be needed. If after getting injured, you have a fever, severe pain, or if the skin around the cut is swollen or red, call your primary care physician immediately.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Cleaning a Healing Wound
Step 1. Follow the directions given by your doctor
The key thing you need to do to properly heal the wound is to strictly follow the instructions given by your doctor. If you haven't shown it to a doctor yet, don't wait any longer. Your doctor may recommend that you:
- Keep the wound clean and dry;
- Cover it when you take a bath or shower to prevent it from getting wet;
- Clean the wound with soap and water or with a specific disinfectant;
- Replace the bandage regularly and whenever it gets dirty or wet.
Step 2. Wash your hands before and after taking care of the wound
Use an antibacterial liquid soap and warm water, making sure to rub your hands evenly for 15-30 seconds. You will always need to wash them both before and after healing the wound.
Avoid touching the wound until it is cleaned and do not scratch it for any reason, even if it is very itchy
Step 3. Soak the part in a saline solution (if your doctor agrees)
If you have been recommended to soak the wound in salt and water a number of times a day, be sure to do so regularly. If, on the other hand, your doctor has given you different directions, follow his instructions. Remove the bandage and immerse the part where the wound is healing or infected but closed in a container with the saline solution. Leave the wound to soak for 20 minutes. If it is not easy to submerge the part in a basin, soak a clean, sterile cloth in the salt water and hold it on the wound for 20 minutes.
You can make your own saline solution at home by dissolving two teaspoons of whole sea salt in one liter of hot water
Step 4. Use mineral water to clean the wound
If you consider that tap water is not suitable for drinking, you shouldn't use it to clean damaged skin either. Use mineral or distilled water and heat it on the stove after adding the salt.
If you don't have mineral water at home, you can boil tap water and wait until it has cooled enough to apply to your skin without burning yourself
Step 5. Apply antibiotic ointment
Place a veil on a cotton ball or pad, taking care to prevent the edge of the tube from coming into contact with the cotton. The correct amount of ointment is the one that allows you to spread a thin layer of it over the entire wound. If you need to add more, use a clean cotton ball.
Use an over-the-counter antibiotic cream if your doctor didn't prescribe it. You can ask your pharmacist for advice to choose the one that best suits your case
Step 6. Avoid using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide
When the skin is injured or infected, both disinfectants tend to do more harm than good because they interfere with the healing process and the body's ability to fight infection. Both alcohol and hydrogen peroxide dry the skin and kill the white blood cells that the body uses to eliminate the germs that cause the infection.
Step 7. Make a new bandage to promote healing
After cleaning the wound and applying the antibiotic ointment, blot the skin around the cut with a clean cloth to allow the dressing to adhere. Keeping the wound covered promotes healing and prevents the infection from spreading.
Do not use a dressing that can stick to the wound. Use a sterile bandage instead of gauze
Step 8. Follow all doctor's instructions
If the wound has become infected, it is essential that it be kept under medical supervision. If you have been to your primary care physician or emergency room after getting injured or when the wound has become infected, follow the directions given to you closely. You may need to apply a prescription antibiotic ointment or take an antibiotic medication by mouth.
- If your doctor has also prescribed other medications, such as a pain reliever or anti-inflammatory, take them according to their instructions.
- If stitches had to be placed, be careful not to get them wet for 24 hours, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Method 2 of 3: Cleaning an Open Wound
Step 1. Stop the bleeding
Minor wounds, such as superficial grazes or shallow cuts, usually stop bleeding on their own after a few minutes. If necessary, hold the covered area with a clean bandage or cloth, applying light pressure. If possible, keep the body part elevated so that the wound is higher than the heart.
For example, if you have injured your leg or arm, lift the limb so that the cut is higher than your heart
Step 2. Rinse the open wound for a few minutes as well
Run lukewarm water over the graze or cut to remove dirt and germs. Clean the surrounding skin with a cloth previously soaked in soapy water or a saline solution. Hurry to clean the wound as soon as possible to prevent infection.
- If you have been stung or bitten, keep the wound immersed in a warm saline solution to remove the waste.
- If necessary, dip a pair of tweezers in alcohol to disinfect them and use them to remove debris that is still present or that cannot be cleaned with water. Seek medical attention if you cannot get dirt particles out of a cut or sting in the event of an insect bite.
Step 3. Apply antibiotic ointment and cover the wound
Spread an even layer of ointment using a cotton ball, then bandage with a sterile bandage. If necessary, dry the skin around the cut with a clean cloth to allow the bandage to adhere.
- Be sure to replace the bandage at least once a day or whenever it gets wet or dirty;
- If the wound is not infected, clean it with saline only at least once a day or as often as you change the dressing.
Step 4. Check for signs of infection
As you care for the wound, look for any symptoms that indicate it may have become infected. Call your doctor if you see any of the following:
- Redness around the wound
- Swelling around the wound
- Skin that is very hot to the touch;
- Ache;
- Soreness;
- Pus.
Method 3 of 3: Ask the Doctor for Help
Step 1. If the cut is deep, stitches will be needed
If the wound is two millimeters deep or wider, you should go to the doctor or emergency room. If you have trouble closing it on your own or if there are parts of muscle or fat visible, stitches will almost certainly be needed.
- Suturing the wound within a few hours will reduce the risk of infection and scar formation;
- Be aware that wounds with rough edges are more prone to infection, so be sure to see your doctor if you have such a wound.
Step 2. Go back to the doctor if the infection gets worse
Call him immediately if the swelling and redness extends beyond the wound or infected area. Contact them even if you have already been examined if the fever persists beyond two days after starting antibiotic therapy or if you do not notice any signs of improvement after three days of starting treatment. Symptoms that may indicate a worsening of the infection include:
- Increased swelling;
- Red streaks branching off from the wound
- Unpleasant odor, like decaying material, coming from the wound;
- Increased pus and body fluids leaking from the wound
- Fever;
- Chills;
- Nausea and / or episodes of vomiting;
- Swollen lymph nodes.
Step 3. Discuss with your doctor the possibility of using an antibiotic for external or internal use
After he examines the wound, he will be able to advise you on the best treatment for you. He will most likely prescribe an antibiotic for external use, which is an ointment, to be applied directly to the infected area.
Alternatively, they may advise you to take an oral (systemic) antibiotic medication, particularly if they believe the infection is spreading or your immune system is compromised. Be sure to detail any of your symptoms, such as if you have a fever, and don't forget to also mention any previous medical conditions or medications you are taking, or have taken in the past, that may have weakened your immune system
Step 4. Ask your doctor to give you a tetanus vaccine
If the wound is deep or if there is any debris, it is best to discuss with your doctor to have a tetanus vaccination. If the surface you bumped into was dirty or rusted you could get tetanus, so it's best to check when the last tetanus vaccine you got was dated. If more than 5 years have passed, a recall may be required.
Step 5. See your doctor if you are concerned about any previous chronic illnesses or other problems
If you have any concerns about the nature of the injury or about any disease already underway, it is important to clarify them with your doctor.
- For example, you should consult immediately if you are taking blood thinning medications or if your immune system is compromised.
- In addition to injuries caused by dirty or rusty objects, you should see your doctor right away even if you have been bitten by an animal or another human being or if there are residues in the skin that are difficult to remove.
- You should be aware that some people are more likely to develop an infection than others, for example the elderly, diabetics, obese or immunocompromised individuals (for example due to HIV / AIDS, chemotherapy or the use of steroid drugs).
Step 6. See a doctor immediately if you have severe symptoms
In some situations, you may need to see a healthcare professional right away. Symptoms that indicate the need for immediate medical attention include:
- Shortness of breath;
- Rapid heartbeat;
- Sense of mental confusion;
- Intense bleeding that impregnates the bandage;
- Feeling or certainty that the wound is tearing
- Very severe pains;
- Red streaks branching off from the wound.
