Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Assessing the Situation
• Method 2 of 3: Cleansing and Wounding
• Method 3 of 3: Caring for the wound as it heals
• What do you need

Although cracked skin on the knee is a minor injury, you should still heal it as quickly and safely as possible. With a simple set of tools and materials, you can treat the wound. Follow the guidelines in this article and your knee will heal very quickly.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Assessing the Situation

1. 1 Examine the wound. Most often, such an injury does not pose a serious danger - it can be treated at home, but it is still worth examining the wound. A wound can be considered minor and does not require medical intervention if:
   • it is not so deep that muscles, bones and fat deposits are visible;
   • there is no intense bleeding;
   • the edges of the wound are not torn or separated in different directions.
   • If any of this list is present, see your doctor.
   • If you have corroded your skin with rusty metal and have not had a tetanus shot in the past few years, seek immediate medical attention.
2. 2 Wash your hands before handling a wound. You don't want to get an infection, so wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. To play it safe, you can wear disposable gloves.
3. 3 Stop bleeding. If bleeding is coming from the wound, stop the bleeding by pushing in place.
   • If there is dirt or debris in the wound blocking the area where the blood is coming from, wash the wound first. In all other cases, the wound should be washed after the bleeding has stopped.
   • To stop bleeding, place a clean cloth or gauze over the wound and press down for a few minutes.
   • If the rag or gauze gets wet, replace it.
   • If blood still flows after 10 minutes, see your doctor as stitches may be required.

Method 2 of 3: Cleansing and Wounding

1. 1 Rinse the wound. Place your knee under running cool water or pour water over the top. Do this until the water has rinsed out the entire wound and rinsed off any dirt and debris.
2. 2 Clean the wound with cleanser. Clean the area around the wound with antibacterial soap, but be careful not to get the soap into the wound itself, as this can irritate. This will get rid of bacteria and prevent infection from developing.
   • Usually, hydrogen peroxide and iodine are used to disinfect wounds. However, these substances can harm living cells, so check with your doctor before using them.
3. 3 Remove debris from the wound. If something gets stuck in the wound (dirt, sand, debris), gently remove the debris with tweezers. First, rinse and sterilize the tweezers by rubbing with cotton wool dipped in alcohol. After removing the debris, put the elbow back under running water.
   • If the wound is very deeply contaminated (so that you cannot clean up the debris), see your doctor.
4. 4 Blot the wound gently with water. After washing the wound and working around the edges, take a clean rag or towel and dab the wound. You should just blot, and not rub the wound, so that it does not hurt so much.
5. 5 Apply an antibiotic ointment or cream, especially if the wound has been contaminated. This will prevent the development of infection and speed up healing.
   • There are many antibiotic ointments and creams that contain different active substances or combinations of them (for example, bacitracin, neomycin, polymyxin). Follow the instructions on the package - it will tell you how to apply the ointment and in what quantities.
   • Some creams and ointments contain mild analgesics to reduce pain.
   • Some drugs can cause an allergic reaction. If you notice redness, itching, swelling after applying these ointments, stop using them and try something else with a different active ingredient.
6. 6 Cover the wound. Wrap a bow around your knee to protect it from dirt, infection, and irritation from rubbing with clothing. You can use an adhesive plaster or apply sterile gauze to the wound and secure it with a plaster or elastic bandage.

Method 3 of 3: Caring for the wound as it heals

1. 1 Change the bandage as needed. Change the dressing daily, or even more often if it gets wet or dirty. As before, wash away any dirt from the wound.
   • Research results indicate that it is better to pull off the plaster quickly, not slowly - it does not hurt so much. However, this also depends on the nature of the wound.
   • For a more pleasant ripping off the patch, coat it with oil and let it sit for a few minutes.
2. 2 Apply antibiotic ointment to the wound daily. This is unlikely to help the wound heal faster if nothing else is done, but the ointment will protect the knee from infections. In addition, the ointment will retain moisture in the wound, so that the wound mestre will not leave the scars that often appear as a result of drying out wounds. Usually, the ointment is applied once or twice a day. You will find information on the method of use in the instructions for the preparation.
3. 3 Pay attention to how the healing process is going. The speed of wound healing depends on a number of factors, including age, a person's diet, bad habits, stress levels and various diseases. In addition, antibiotic ointments simply prevent the infection from developing but do not heal the wound faster. If your wound is healing very slowly, see a doctor as it could be a symptom of a more serious health problem.
4. 4 If your condition worsens, see your doctor for help. You will need professional help if:
   • the knee has stopped bending;
   • the knee is numb;
   • the wound is bleeding and the blood cannot be stopped;
   • there is debris or foreign objects in the wound that you cannot reach yourself;
   • the wound is inflamed or swollen;
   • red streaks are visible in the wound;
   • the wound is festering;
   • you have a high fever (38 ° C).

What do you need

• Water
• Antibacterial soap
• Tweezers
• A clean towel or rag
• Antibiotic ointment
• Bandage