A Short Guide on Wound Care

Jan 23 , 2021

Erandika Mohanathasan

Tags - Wound Care

No matter how vigilant/careful you could be, you are bound to get scrapes, cuts, wounds and bruises at some point.

However, unlike most other parts of the body, wounds on feet and ankles not only take more time to heal than other wounds, it could also hurt more than other places in the body. Simply, this is because of how often you use your feet and ankles.

In any case, you need to be extra careful with such wounds.

Potential Complications

If a wound is not looked after properly, it could cause ulcers, infections or even lead to amputation of body parts in some patients.

So, to boost the wound healing process and decrease the risk of infection, it is crucial to clean the wound before applying dressing.

Ulcers are open bruises in the skin, which form when the skin's outer layer gets injured and the profound tissues become exposed and unprotected.

Further, ulcers are formed due to excess pressure (such as improper/tight shoes) and an injury that cracks the skin. This is usually seen among people with vascular diseases, neuropathy and diabetes.

In addition, as ulcers are open, it could lead to formation of infections.

Here, red skin, inflammation, thick tissue and odor are some symptoms of ulcer.

It is treated by eliminating the diseased tissue and dressing it properly (wound care).

First Aid

Initially it is always best to perform first aid on the wound.

Here, the equipment needed for first aid are some tweezers, sterile gloves, gauze and tape, hand sanitizer, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, hydrocortisone cream, antibiotic cream and antihistamines for allergic reactions.

If you are diabetic patient, you should not cure the wound yourself. Instead, always go to the doctor then.

Steps for Wound Care:

1. Wash your hands

Wash your hand well with anti bacterial hand wash and preferably wear sterile gloves.

2. Clean the Wound

First clean the wound with cold running water.

Then, remove anything on the wound using tweezers. It's best to wash on and around the wound with soap or wipe it with a wet cloth or anti bacterial wipe. (Do not use alcohol to clean it in the first stage).

3. Use Antibiotic Cream

Apply antibiotic creams as it would help to maintain the moist in the wound and also decrease the risk of getting an infection.

Before applying it on the wound, Initially apply a thin layer to see if you are allergic to it (if you get a rash).

4. Cover the Wound

Cover the wound with a bandage or a plaster.

If the wound is open, it is more likely to get scratched and cause bleeding again and would also cause infection. Best way to cover the wound is using a gauze.

It is best to change the bandage daily.

If the wound is bleeding excessively, first apply pressure to stop bleeding and then cover it.

5. Spot Infections

Swelling, swollen glands , severe pain, red skin, warm skin, pus formation, high temperature and feeling lethargic and unwell are few symptoms of an infection.

If you see any of these, go to the doctor or emergency services as soon as possible.

6. Medical Guidance

Seek medical guidance for the following:

(i) If the bleeding doesn't stop within 5 to 10 minutes (after adding pressure).

(ii) The wound is very large or deep, and hurts when cleaning.

(iii) The wound is very close to a blood vessel or a joint or close to the eye.

(iv) Area around the wound is swollen and red.

(v) The wound has pus or dirt.

(vi) If you think it's infected or the wound is caused by a bite (animal or human).

(vii) The wound was caused by something rusty and dusty.

(viii) If the bone is broken or fractured.

To learn more, get in touch with us today.

In the meantime, check our range of comfortable shoes.