Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Preparing the wound
• Part 2 of 3: Cleaning the wound
• Part 3 of 3: Dealing with an infected wound

An abrasion is generally a superficial wound that only damages the top layers of the skin, unlike cuts that often reach the deeper layers of the skin. Nevertheless, deep scrapes are also very painful and they can bleed considerably. If you have a deep abrasion, you can try treating the wound yourself at home or see your doctor. Deep abrasions that have not reached the deeper layers of the skin can generally be cared for, cleaned and covered at home.

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Part 1 of 3: Preparing the wound

1. Try to determine what kind of wound you are dealing with. Sometimes a scrape and a laceration (tear) wound can look quite similar. Before you start treating a scrape, you need to determine with certainty that it is actually a scrape. This is important, as lacerations or cuts usually need to be stitched or glued. An abrasion is a shallow wound where part of the epidermis has disappeared due to an abrasive action.
   • If you are dealing with a wound deeper than one centimeter, you should seek medical attention as such a wound will require stitching.
2. Wash your hands. Before taking care of the wound, make sure your hands are clean. As long as your wound is not bleeding profusely, take a moment to wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap. If the deep scrape is on your hands, try to avoid getting the soap into the wound as it will be painful.
3. Rinse with water. After you have determined with certainty that you are dealing with an abrasion, rinse the wound with water. Run water over the wound to remove any debris that has entered the wound. The water should look lukewarm. Feel free to let the water run over and into the wound for a few minutes. Periodically check that the wound is completely clean. If not, rinse the wound again.
   • If you are in an area where you don't have access to clean water, you can try removing the dirt from the wound with a cloth.
   • If you notice that the wound is bleeding profusely, rinse for as short a time as possible to remove the debris. You then need to proceed to the next step.
4. Apply pressure to the wound. Once large objects or debris have been removed, stop the bleeding. You can do this by covering the wound with a clean cloth, towel, or gauze. Apply pressure to the wound. If you only have a worn shirt or dirty cloth, you don't have to worry too much about this. Your wound is already dirty since it hasn't been disinfected yet, so you don't have to worry too much about infection at this point. You just need to focus on stopping the bleeding.
   • Apply pressure to the wound for at least seven to ten minutes and do not check the wound in the meantime. If you remove the cloth or gauze in the meantime, you will remove the clotted blood, which will cause the wound to start bleeding again.
   • If you have waited seven to 10 minutes and the wound has stopped bleeding, now is the time to clean the wound.
5. Seek medical attention. If the cloth you are applying pressure with becomes soaked with blood or you notice blood spurting from the wound, seek immediate medical attention. This means that your injury is serious and you need professional care that only a doctor can provide. This may be the case when you are dealing with large scrapes, such as a large wound as a result of a fall on the road surface or scrapes of a considerable length.
   • There are also a number of health factors that may require you to go to the hospital if you are dealing with a deep wound. You should go to the hospital immediately if you have a blood disorder, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, or a malfunctioning immune system. A deep abrasion in combination with another condition can put you at risk.

Part 2 of 3: Cleaning the wound

1. Remove trapped debris from the wound. There may still be dirt residues in the skin that you have not been able to rinse away, this is not uncommon when dealing with an abrasion. Once the bleeding has stopped, inspect the wound for other debris in the skin. If you notice any residual debris, try using tweezers to gently remove the remaining debris from the wound. If you are unable to remove the remaining dirt, you should see your doctor to have it removed by him or her.
   • Do not begin to pick into the wound with tweezers. You don't want to injure yourself further.
   • When there is no dirt left in the wound, you can move on to the next step.
2. Clean the wound with an antiseptic. Once the bleeding has stopped, run water over the wound to flush out the blood.You should then pour an antiseptic, such as alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or povidone iodine, over the wound. You could also soak a piece of gauze with one of these and rub it gently over the wound. This can be biting, so prepare yourself for any pain. Pat the wound dry with sterile gauze or a clean towel.
   • This action could interfere with the clotting of the blood, which could cause fluid or blood to drain from the wound again. This is normal and does not indicate a more serious injury, as you have already managed to stop the bleeding before.
3. Apply antibiotic ointment to the abrasion. Even if you feel that you have removed all the dirt and grime from the wound, there is still the possibility that the wound will become infected. For this reason, applying antibiotic ointment is a good idea at all times. This ointment also keeps the wound moist so it will not crack and worsen when you are on the move. A thin layer of antibiotic ointment or powder covering the wound area should be sufficient.
   • Neosporin, Polysporin, and Bacitracin are the three most commonly used products (in the United States).
   • You could initially use hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound, but you should not use it long-term as it will damage the tissue in and around the wound.
4. Cover the wound. Once you have applied the ointment to the wound, cover it with a wound dressing. Using gauze or a large piece of wound dressing to cover the wound. Use medical tape to cover the edges. This prevents dirt, germs and other particles from entering the wound. If your scrape isn't too big, you may be able to use a large band-aid instead of gauze.
   • These dressings are available at most drugstores and pharmacies.
   • If the wound is on a flexible joint, gauze dressing may be a better option. You can easily cover the wound with this dressing and the chance that the dressing will come off is less.
5. Replace the dressing. Re-cover the wound with a clean dressing two to three times a day. Removing the dressing allows you to clean the wound and apply a clean dressing. It also offers you the opportunity to inspect the wound and see if you notice any inflammatory symptoms. Do not leave dressings on for more than 24 hours.
   • You should change the dressing whenever it gets wet or dirty, as a dirty dressing could infect the abrasion.
6. Try to observe inflammation symptoms. Despite your frantic efforts to keep the scrape clean, there is always the risk of infection. This will depend on the size of the wound and a number of other factors, such as your age, general health and any conditions, such as diabetes and obesity. These factors can also affect the duration of the healing process. Symptoms of inflammation include redness around the wound or on the wound edges, especially if it appears to be spreading. The wound fluid (pus) could also run out of the wound.
   • If you find yourself starting to develop a fever, this could also indicate an infection.

Part 3 of 3: Dealing with an infected wound

1. See your doctor. If you suspect that your wound is infected or if the bleeding does not stop even after applying pressure, you should get medical attention. If you have been walking around with the wound for a while and notice that it has become infected, you should also see your doctor. Ignoring an infection could lead to septicemia and other life-threatening situations.
   • If you have a fever or the wound area looks feverish, you should go to the hospital.
   • If any yellow or greenish fluid is running out of your scrape, you should go to the hospital.
   • If you notice yellow or black discoloration in the wound area, you should go to hospital.
2. Get a tetanus shot. If your wound has become infected, you will likely be given a tetanus shot to fight the infection. A tetanus shot is normally given every ten years, but if you have a very deep wound, your doctor may advise you to get this shot.
   • You should get the tetanus vaccination as soon as possible after you get the injuries to avoid developing tetanus.
3. Take antibiotics. If your scrape is deeply or severely infected, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics to treat or prevent further infection. The antibiotic you will most likely be prescribed is erythromycin. If your doctor suspects that you have an MRSA infection, he or she will likely prescribe a much stronger remedy. Follow your doctor's instructions regarding the use of such medications.
   • You will likely be prescribed a course of 250 mg four times a day for five to seven days. The drug should be taken half an hour to two hours before each meal to ensure maximum absorption into the body.
   • You may also be prescribed painkillers, however, this depends on the degree of pain you are experiencing from the wound.