When it comes to wound care, plaster and alcohol will do. If the wound is far from our vital organs, there is no need to put too much attention in treating it. This belief only applies to certain situations like small cuts and bruises. Another typical treatment for wounds is soap and water because we feel that there is a need to disinfect the wound. Although this is a good remedy, this still might not be enough sometimes. When it comes to painful and bigger wounds, we should never go easy on it. The usual band-aid and alcohol may not work anymore.
Wound care is one of the primary services we offer at Caring Nurses Services, your partner home care agency in Bel Air MD. We know the importance of proper treatment to critical wounds, especially if the patient is also diagnosed with other ailments. Today, on the blog, we will discuss some of the common myths that concern wound care. We will give you a more scientific explanation on how to treat our wounds better and accurately.
Myth 1: Not all wounds need to be treated
This is definitely a myth. Wounds, as defined by www.encyclopedia.com, is a disruption of the normal cycle of the cells. Once visible cuts surface on any part of our body, it is a sign that the continuous flow of the cells in the part has been disturbed. Hence, there is a need for the wound to heal, in order for the cells to function normally again. That is why regardless of the size of the wound, we need to apply proper treatment to it.
In addition, a small opening or cut in the body may allow bacteria and other organisms that could infect the wound.
Myth 2: Plasters could be home for bacteria
Many people believe that plasters could be a breeding ground for bacteria, whichmakes it necessary that we expose our wounds to open air so that there is no chance for them to multiply. This is nothing but a pure myth. For one, exposing our wound to open air could allow more bacteria to penetrate. Secondly, putting plasters on the wound do not allow bacteria to grow. In fact, caregivers and nurses would recommend to always wrap your wound with plaster in order to protect it from external organisms. The primary purpose of a plaster is to cover up the cut and promote fast healing of the wound. We also have to take note that before putting the plaster, we have already cleaned the wound and we have applied ointments in order to prevent the bacteria in the wound from growing and multiplying.
Myth 3: It’s normal for the wound to be itchy
Have you ever tried scratching your wound because it is just too itchy? People think this is just a normal scenario as the patch of skin is slowly repairing the old skin. Actually, this is not meaning of that itch. This is true especially to wounds that are acquired from surgeries and operations. Itchiness could be a sign of infection and it needs to be checked right away. When the itch caused by post surgery cuts is not treated right away, this could spread and infect more parts of your skin and result to abscess.
Myth 4: Alcohol is the only means of disinfecting the wound
We have this belief that alcohol can truly clean our wounds thoroughly, but medical experts tell us that bathing our wounds with alcohol does not disinfect our wounds. In fact, it will do the opposite. It could burn your skin because of the chemical it contains. Antiseptics should be used in treating your wound since this is helpful in cleaning the dirt and killing the bacteria that might be growing on the cut of your skin. But if you really want to stick with the safe way, water and mild soap can also clean your wound well.
What other common myths about wound care do you know? Only trust the experts when it comes to wound care. If you are dealing with deeper cuts or post-surgery wounds, it is best to let your nurses and caregivers do the treatment for you. They know the nitty gritty of the procedure.
If you need help on wound care, consult us today at Caring Nurses Services. For details, you can visit our office at 260 Gateway Drive, Suite 1-2A Bel Air, MD 210. You can also call us at 410-638-5588 or visit our website at www.caringnurse.org.
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