MeKnows

how to treat scrapes, cuts and grazes:

The best way to treat these minor abrasions is to follow the simple 3 steps guide:

- Clean the area

- Treat the abrasion

- Protect the area

Cleaning:

The first thing to do in order to prevent any from any possible infection is to clean the wound. The medical term often used is "irrigating the wound", if you have a store bought anticeptic fluid you can use this, if not you can use running cold water and soap. If you are going to buy a suitable anticeptic fluid, you should consider a Benzalkonium chloride based product.

It's important to use the running water or the presure of the fluid as you squirt it to remove any debris or dirt from the wound, don't rub or dab the abrasion as this may push dirt further into it. Once you are happy the wound is irrigated, move to treat it.

Treating:

Once the graze is cleaned, you may choose to apply a cream or ointment to further protect from possible infection, there are many products available on the market today it's best to check with your pharmacist for their recommendation.

If you are concerned about any pain from the scrape, you can often find suitable treatments that include a mild anesthetic that will help lightly numb the area.

Protection:

Once the abrasion is cleaned and treated, you can protect the area, by covering the area. Covering the graze will help prevent a scab forming, and this in itself may speed up the growth of new skin and indeed reduce any potential scarring. You can remove the covering once a day to take a shower, you will then need to reapply the treatment and re-dress the area.

Once you can see signs of new skin re-growing you can remove the protection.Don't forget the most important advice of all, if you are unsure about any medical matter, please consult a suitable medical professional.