OH! Magazine - Australian Version May 2018

( Health ) 5 FIXES YOU'RE PROBABLY DOING WRONG General Practitioner Dr Ginni Mansberg shares the most common mistakes she sees, when it comes to treating a wound. espite how common they are, many people are still in the dark about the most effective ways to go about treating a wound. D Myth 1. Use alcohol to disinfect Many people incorrectly believe that a disinfectant has to sting in order to kill bacteria, but this simply isn’t the case! Alcohol and some disinfectants not only sting, but actually dry out the wound which prevents healing. Something like medical-grade Manuka honey is a great healing agent for wounds, as it not only has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, but when it comes in to contact with ooze from a wound, it manages to generate bactericidal hydrogen peroxide without doing any tissue damage, which is quite extraordinary! Myth 2. Let the wound dry out For many years, the thinking behind wound care was to keep them dry in order to heal, but this certainly isn’t the case anymore. We have known for a while now that wounds heal better when they are moist, and when they are covered. Look for moisturising agents with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Myth 3. Covering wounds breed bacteria Myth 5. All wounds heal eventually Our skin is one of our best physical immune barriers, so when there is an opening in the skin, such as with an open wound, one of the primary objectives is to prevent invasion from bacteria. While your body is generally pretty good at healing itself, different wound types require different treatment methods, and some may need a trip to your local doctor or emergency room. Thoroughly cleaning the wound is the first and most obvious starting point, but the second and commonly overlooked step is to cover the wound to protect it from bacteria as it heals. An open wound is like an open invite for bacteria, so keeping it covered and moist is the best way to help it heal. A 'chronic wound' is a serious medical condition, and refers to a wound that does not follow the healing stages, which results in a lengthened recovery. On average, a chronic wound is classified as one that fails to heal within four weeks and shows no sign of improvement within eight weeks. The most common form of chronic wounds are ulcers of the lower extremities. Myth 4. A scab means the wound is healing A scab is a mixture of dried blood, serum, dead skin cells, and dead bacteria so scabs actually hinder the healing process by creating a barrier for new skin cells looking to heal the wound. A scab can actually be a sign that the wound is too dry to heal as fast as possible, so keeping the wound moist and covered helps allow skin cells to heal more rapidly than if left open to dry out. Chronic wounds require immediate medical attention, so be on the lookout for changes in colour, worsening pain, discharge or odour, and significant swelling or redness. If the wound shows no significant signs of improvement after about four weeks, consult a medical professional. For more information on medical grade manuka honey and its assistance in wound healing visit www.comvita.com.au OH! MAGAZINE ( MAY 2018 ) 25

OH! Magazine - Australian Version May 2018 | Page 25