Wound Healing Myths
Author: Marcus Duda, MD, internationally recognized for innovation in wound care at Cone Health OrthoCare.
In my treatment of patients with wounds of all kinds, I often hear common misconceptions about how best to heal a wound. Here are some common myths about wound care. I hope this information helps you with wound care at home, for yourself and loved ones, and we are here to help with wound care at Cone Health OrthoCare when you need us.
Myth: Letting a wound breath and open to air speeds up healing.
Reality: Wounds heal best in a moist environment. Preventing a wound from drying out and scabbing allows the healing cells to clean out non healthy tissue, fight infection and create new skin.
Myth: Alcohol and Hydrogen peroxide should be used routinely to clean a wound.
Reality: The alcohol and hydrogen peroxide will damage the cells that are trying to fight infection and heal the wound. These products will increase scabbing and scaring and slow healing. Cleanse the wound daily with mild soap and water apply a moist dressing to prevent the wound from drying out.
Myth: Scabs are a sign of healing.
Reality: Scabs form when a wound dries out and the tissue dies. Maintaining a moist wound environment will prevent scabbing and allow for faster healing and less scaring. Do not pick off scabs, this can slow healing and increase risk for infection.
Myth: Applying butter or cooking oil helps burns heal.
Reality: Butter and cooking oil trap heat and drainage in the burned tissue, causing further damage and increasing risk of infection. Minor burns should be cooled with cool running water. Do not use ice. Ice can cause further thermal damage to the tissue. Cover with an ointment or moist gauze dressing.
Myth: All wounds need oral or topical antibiotics.
Reality: Minor wounds often only need daily cleansing with mild soap and water and cover with a moist dressing. Use gloves when treating a wound to prevent contaminating the wound with the bacteria on your hands. Most skin bacteria are resistant to over-the-counter antibiotic ointments.
Myth: Sunlight helps wounds heal.
Reality: UV rays can damage healing tissue and cause scaring and increased pigmentation in the skin. Keep healing wounds covered with a moist dressing and once the wound has healed use a sunscreen for about a year to protect the healing skin.
Myth: Itching is a good sign of healing.
Reality: Mild itching generally means that damaged nerves are recovering. Significant itching can be the sign of infection or allergic reaction to the treatment. Check with your care provider if there is increased redness or increased itching.
Overview: Clean wounds with mild soap and water, keep covered with a moist dressing, and seek medical help for large, deep or contaminated wounds.
About the Author
Dr. Duda sees patients for general orthopedics care and for trauma. He has a special interest in foot and ankle surgery, as well as diabetic foot care and complex wounds of the lower extremities.
