Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Assess the situation
• Part 2 of 3: Cleaning and covering the wound
• Part 3 of 3: Wound care during healing
• Necessities

While a knee abrasion is a relatively superficial skin injury, there are a number of steps you need to take to ensure that the wound heals as quickly and safely as possible. With a number of easy-to-obtain supplies, you can clean the wound and apply proper wound care. Take the right steps to promote speedy knee recovery.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Assess the situation

1. Inspect the wound. In most cases, an abrasion on the knee is a relatively minor problem that can be treated quite easily at home. However, you should examine the wound to be sure. A wound is considered small and manageable without the need for medical attention if:
   • The wound is not deep enough to see fat, muscle or bone.
   • The blood is not gushing out of the wound.
   • The wound edges are not frayed and are far apart.
   • If you are dealing with any of the above, you should contact your doctor.
   • If the abrasion was caused by a rusty piece of metal and you haven't had a tetanus vaccination for years, you should also contact your doctor.
2. Wash your hands before treating the wound. You don't want to cause an infection when you care for the scrape on your knee, so you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water beforehand. If you want extra protection, you could put on disposable latex gloves before you start treating the scrape on your knee.
3. Stop the bleeding. If the wound on your knee is bleeding, stop it by applying pressure to the area.
   • If dirt and grime block the area where the knee is bleeding, rinse it off before trying to stop the bleeding. If not, you can rinse and clean the wound area after you stop the bleeding.
   • To stop the bleeding, you can place a clean cloth or gauze on the bleeding area and then apply gentle pressure for several minutes.
   • Get a new cloth or piece of gauze if it becomes soaked with blood.
   • If the bleeding has still not stopped after 10 minutes, you should contact a doctor as the wound may need to be stitched.

Part 2 of 3: Cleaning and covering the wound

1. Rinse the wound. Run cold water over the scrape on the knee, or pour it over the wound. Do this long enough to ensure that the entire wound area has been flushed and all dirt and debris has been flushed away.
2. Wash the wound. Use antibacterial soap and water to clean the area around the wound, but try to keep the soap out of the wound itself as it could cause irritation. This will help flush out bacteria and prevent infections.
   • Hydrogen peroxide and iodine have traditionally been used to disinfect skin wounds such as an abrasion on the knee. However, hydrogen peroxide and iodine can damage living cells and so medical professionals now advise against the use of these agents.
3. Remove all debris. If there is anything in the wound, such as mud, sand, splinters, etc., you can try to gently remove this debris using tweezers. You should first clean and sterilize the tweezers by wiping them with cotton wool or gauze soaked in isopropyl alcohol. Rinse the wound with cool water as soon as you remove the dirt.
   • If the dirt or other material is so deep in the wound that you are unable to remove it yourself, you should contact a doctor.
4. Try to gently pat the area dry. Once you have rinsed and washed the scrape on the knee, gently pat the wound area dry with a clean cloth or towel. By dabbing instead of rubbing, you avoid unnecessary pain while drying the wound area.
5. Apply an antibiotic cream, this is especially important if the wound was dirty. This can prevent infections and help the wound to heal.
   • There are different types of creams and ointments that contain antibiotics, which can contain different active substances or combinations (for example bacitracin, neomycin and polymyxin). At all times, carefully follow the cream's instructions and directions for use regarding the amount and method of application.
   • Mild analgesics have been added to some creams to relieve pain.
   • Some creams and ointments can cause an allergic reaction in some people. If you notice redness, itching, swelling, etc. after applying such a product, you should stop immediately and try another variant with other active ingredients.
6. Cover the wound. Make sure to cover the scrape with dressing to protect it from dirt, infection, and clothing irritation during the healing process. You can use an adhesive wound dressing or sterile gauze that you can secure with tape or elastic bandages.

Part 3 of 3: Wound care during healing

1. Change dressing as needed. Change the dressing covering the scrape on your knee every day. You should do this more often if the dressing has become wet or dirty. Wash away any debris from around the wound area as previously described.
   • Research shows that it is best to remove an adhesive dressing quickly rather than slowly to make it less painful, however this depends on the nature of the wound.
   • If you lubricate the ends of an adhesive dressing with oil and then leave it on for a few minutes, removing the dressing may be less painful.
2. Apply a cream with an antibiotic daily. While this alone will not speed up the healing of the wound, it will help fight infection. A cream with an antibiotic keeps the wound moist during the healing process, which prevents crusting and scarring. This formation could occur when the wound dries out. In general, such creams can be applied once or twice a day. Read the package leaflet and the instructions for use to find out how often you can apply the product.
3. Keep a close eye on the progress of the healing process. How quickly the abrasion on your knee will heal depends on a number of factors, such as age, diet, whether you smoke or not, your stress level, whether you have a certain condition, etc. In addition, antibiotic creams only treat infections, do not contribute to faster wound healing. If the wound appears to be healing abnormally slowly, consult a medical professional as this could be an indication of something more serious, such as an illness.
4. Contact your doctor if the situation appears to be getting worse. You should seek medical help in the following cases:
   • If the knee joint stops working.
   • If your knee is numb.
   • If your knee is bleeding and the bleeding doesn't seem to stop.
   • If there is dirt or other material in the wound that you cannot remove.
   • If the wound area becomes inflamed or swollen.
   • If there are red streaks on the skin around the wound.
   • If pus (fluid from the wound) runs out of the wound.
   • If you have a fever of more than 38 ° C.

Necessities

• Water
• Antiseptic soap (bactericide)
• Tweezers
• Clean towel or cloth
• Povidone iodine (disinfectant)
• Bandages