wound care ointment

For daily minor wounds (bruises, cuts, superficial second-degree burns, and scar prevention after postoperative suture removal), choosing the right wound care ointment can shorten the recovery time by at least 30% compared with traditional dry scab healing, and can also reduce the probability of superficial scar hyperplasia by more than 60%. However, there is no "universal care ointment" that is suitable for all scenarios. If used incorrectly, it may delay healing and aggravate infection.

To be honest, I have been in the general surgery department and burn department for almost five years, and I have seen too many people make mistakes in this field. A while ago, I saw a girl. She was baking at home and was burned by a baking pan. She got two small blisters on the back of her hand. I bought a "universal repair ointment" at home and applied it for three days. The entire back of her hand was swollen, and pus was leaking from the broken blisters. When she came, she was so painful that she burst into tears. When I asked about the ointment, it didn't even have a brand name. The first ingredient list was petroleum jelly plus essence. It was purely an IQ tax.

In fact, there are two philosophies that are constantly fighting in the industry. Many doctors of the older generation are accustomed to letting the wound dry and air, and then it will be cured as soon as it scabs. This logic is also correct - if it is a small wound that only scratches the surface and bleeds very little, and the environment is clean, drying it will indeed heal, and it will save trouble. But now more and more clinical data supports wet healing. To put it bluntly, it means that the wound can grow in an environment with constant temperature and humidity and no scab obstruction. Epithelial cells can crawl twice as fast, and no scars will be left due to scab pulling. Nursing cream is used to create this moist environment. No one is right or wrong between the two views, but the applicable scenarios are different.

Last month, my child broke his knee while running in the community. A large area was wiped out, and the ooze was mixed with some soil. My mother wanted to apply violet liquid on the knee, saying that this was what I did when I was a child, and it would only take a few days for the scab to form. I didn't agree, so I rinsed it with saline three times to wash away the sand, then applied a thin layer of care cream containing silver ions, and put on a breathable hydrocolloid dressing. I changed it once a day. It completely healed in less than five days, and now there isn't even a mark on my knee. If you apply purple lotion according to the old method, a thick scab will form on the surface, and the exudate underneath cannot be drained out. It will most likely become stuffy and inflamed. After it heals, a dark mark will be left, which will not go away for more than half a year.

Many people say that there are hormones in the nursing cream, and if you apply it, you will become dependent on it. This really offends a lot of people. Only prescription care ointments for scar hyperplasia or eczema around wounds will add a small amount of weak hormones, and they must be used according to the doctor's instructions. Ordinary household over-the-counter care ointments, as long as they are of regular machine brand or drug approval, will not add hormones at all, so don't worry. Some people say that applying nursing cream will make the wound stuffy. That means you apply it too thickly. The correct way to apply it is to apply a thin layer, just enough to cover the surface of the wound. If there is a lot of exudate, you need to change it once a day. Wipe off the remaining ointment and exudate before applying new ones. It will not stuffy at all.

I have three types of care ointments in my medicine cabinet, each of which performs its own duties. I have never bought one that is advertised as being able to cure everything. The first type is composed of silver ions, which can inhibit bacteria and prevent infection when dealing with contaminated wounds that are stained with soil or scratched by dirt. ； The second type is based on pure white Vaseline, with no extra additions. In winter, if the hands and feet of the elderly are chapped or have just been slightly burned, you can apply a little disinfectant after disinfection. It has a particularly good moisture-locking effect and is not irritating. ； The third type is silicone. If you have an acne breakout on your face, or a small wound on your body that requires stitches to be removed, if you apply it continuously for a month or two, there will be almost no scars.

Oh, yes, not all wounds can be treated by applying nursing ointment on your own. If it is a deep puncture wound caused by a nail or needle, or the wound is rotten, pus-producing and has a fever, don’t hesitate to go to the hospital for debridement. You should take antibiotics when you have tetanus. Nursing ointment is only to assist the recovery of small wounds, not a magic medicine. Applying it on yourself if you seriously injure yourself will only delay things.

Last time I had dinner with a friend who is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine surgery. He said that the homemade comfrey ointment in their department is very effective in treating small burns and scalds. Many people who have used it said it is more comfortable than Western medicine nursing ointments. It just needs to be made properly. Don’t just soak some comfrey in oil at home and apply it blindly, as it is easy to get infected. In fact, no matter whether it is a doctor of Western medicine or a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, you just have to look for two criteria when choosing: first, the official batch number, device brand name or drug approval number. Don’t buy the three-no products that are so hyped in WeChat Moments. ； The second is to treat the symptoms. Don't just apply the same ointment to all wounds. It is better to understand the condition of your own wound before choosing.