Having open wounds occurs often to every person, especially depending on your daily activities and not every type of wound requires taking a mile seeking for treatment, some are minor that need personal care. There are also wounds that require medical treatment, but after the doctor has realised the wound seems big but not deep, you can actually take care of it at home. Wounds have differences and types, and the treatment is different, which is why every single one should be treated differently. According to Medical News Today, there are several types of wounds including; An abrasion wound occurs when the skin rubs or slides against a rough surface. Examples of abrasions include a scraped knee or road rash. Although abrasions produce very little blood, it is important to sanitize the wound and remove any debris to prevent infection. When caring for this type of wound, Sandra Manirakira, General Practitioner at University Teaching Hospital of Kigali CHUK says, when you happen to have an abrasion wound while at home, only wash the scrape with clean plain water without soap, at least two times a day. “Avoid hard chemicals like alcohol, since they can slow the healing process of an abrasion wound. To maintain its cleanliness, you can apply petroleum jerry on to the wound wrap with a non-sticky bandage. Keep replacing the bandage for better use” Manirakiza says. She adds that, although most people prefer applying hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol rather than helping the wounds heal, it can cause pain and irritation and slow down the healing process. Always seek medical consultancy before using hydrogen peroxide on the wound. According to healhline.com, petroleum jelly is effective in keeping skin moist during post-surgery healing. This also applies well particularly for regular, less dramatic skin injuries. The magazine says that you should make sure that the surface you apply petroleum jelly on is properly cleaned and disinfected. Otherwise, bacteria and other pathogens can get trapped inside and delay the healing process. Another type includes laceration wounds. This is a deep opening or a tear in the skin. This type of wound often occurs from accidents or incidents involving knives, machinery, or other sharp tools. This type may as well cause significant bleeding. There is an avulsion type wound as well, known as skin tear. This involves forcefully tearing the skin and underlying tissue. Avulsions can result from violent incidents, such as explosions, animal attacks, or motor vehicle accidents. On this type of wound, Manirakiza says that, patients with laceration wounds should first seek medical treatment, since they are often deep wounds to the skin, away from underlying tissue. She adds that the wounds are more serious and extensive and the healing process may take long. They might as well lead to other healthy serious problems such as diseases like cancer, if not well treated. A puncture wound is also a type of wound that only affects the outer layers of tissue. They are usually small holes in the soft tissue caused by needles, sometimes knives when it has not happened to go deep, splinters among others This type of wound can sometimes result in significant bleeding. Manirakiza says, applying pressure to puncture wounds can stop bleeding quickly and prevent further anemia, while speeding up the healing process. An incision is another type occurring as a clean, straight cut in the skin. Many surgical procedures use incisions. However, accidents involving knives, razor blades, broken glass, and other sharp objects can cause incisions. Incisions usually cause heavy, rapid bleeding. Deep incisions can damage the muscles or nerves and will most likely require stitches. For an incision wound, a pediatrician says to use a normal saline solution or what is known as salt water to clean the skin affected. Using super clean hands, soak a clean cloth in the salt water and gently wipe the skin with it, as you remove all drainage built on it. In most cases, a surgical incision heals in about two weeks, unless there is another medical condition, your healing may take long or differ.
