HEALTH MATTERS
and lead to more noticeable scarring. In short, you may be sabotaging your body's attempts to heal.
What should you do when a superficial cut or abrasion occurs?
* Wash your hands. Scrub your hands for 20 seconds with soap then rinse with water. Use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
* Then, gently clean the wound with mild soap and lots of clean, running water. This method effectively flushes out debris and bacteria without harming the wound.
* After patting the area dry, you can apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment (if there are signs of infection) or plain petroleum jelly. Follow this process and keep the wound covered with a clean bandage for the first week to ensure it remains moist. A moist environment is proven to heal faster with
Article by Kyla P. Terhune, MD, MBA, FACS
Every year, countless minor injuries occur in homes, garages and backyards across the country. The immediate instinct for many is to reach for a familiar brown bottle of hydrogen peroxide or a swab of rubbing alcohol to "clean" the wound. As a leader of education at the American College of Surgeons, I want to share a resource developed by experienced surgeons that may lead you to pass on the peroxide.
For decades, these antiseptics were considered a cornerstone of wound care. Medical understanding, however, reveals they often do more harm than good when used inside an open cut or scrape. While effective at killing bacteria, solutions like peroxide, alcohol and iodine can't target "bad" cells. They also attack the delicate new cells your body sends to repair the damage. Harming this fragile tissue can delay healing, increase inflammation
Pass on the Peroxide: A Surgeon's Guide to Cleaning Wounds at Home