Wounds heal faster if they are kept warm. Try to be quick when changing dressings. Exposing a wound to the open air can drop its temperature and may slow healing for a few hours. Don't use antiseptic creams, washes or sprays on a chronic wound.
Eating well during wound healing helps you heal faster and fight infection. During healing your body needs more calories, protein, fluid, vitamin A, vitamin C, and zinc. The best source of these nutrients is food. If you are not eating enough healthy food, you may need to take a supplement.
A handful of studies have found that when wounds are kept moist and covered, blood vessels regenerate faster and the number of cells that cause inflammation drop more rapidly than they do in wounds allowed to air out. It is best to keep a wound moist and covered for at least five days.
Don't clean your wound with soap or chemicals.
Don't use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or plain soap on your wound. They can be harmful to healing skin and can slow the healing process. Instead, only clean your wound with salt water, sterile water or distilled water.
Factors that can slow the wound healing process include: Dead skin (necrosis) – dead skin and foreign materials interfere with the healing process. Infection – an open wound may develop a bacterial infection. The body fights the infection rather than healing the wound.
Don't douse a minor wound with antiseptics like iodine or hydrogen peroxide. They're actually harmful to the skin and can delay healing.
How to use Betadine to prevent minor infections in cuts and wounds. Using Betadine antiseptic products helps kill bacteria responsible for minor wound infections. To use Betadine for a minor wound, take the following steps: Wash your hands before you start working on the wound to help prevent infection.
Betadine works by releasing iodine which results in the death of a range of microorganisms. Since Betadine is sold over-the-counter, many people use this solution as a home remedy to prevent wound infection. Once again, however, experts agree that Betadine is too harsh to put on a healing wound.
Leaving a wound uncovered helps it stay dry and helps it heal. If the wound isn't in an area that will get dirty or be rubbed by clothing, you don't have to cover it.
Hydrocolloid
The gel made by hydrocolloid wound dressings keeps the wound's surface moist and promotes faster healing.
Patients are usually recommended to keep the dressing in place and not to shower the area for two days. After two days the patient can shower and change the dressing. The dressing will not need to be changed frequently; only to keep the area clean and dry.
It is advisable to apply betadine to minor cuts and open wounds. After ensuring that the affected area is clean and dry, apply a small amount of the solution or ointment. Doctors recommend using it one to three times a day at regular intervals. Betadine should not be used on deep, open wounds or severe burns.
The best way to use Povidone-iodine to effectively wipe out a breakout without harming the friendly bacteria: apply it as an overnight spot treatment. Dab it on pimples you can actually see as well as the ones that you can feel festering under the surface of your skin.
You should not use Betadine if you are allergic to it. Ask a doctor or pharmacist if Betadine is safe to use if you have any medical conditions or allergies. Do not use this medicine on a young child without medical advice. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
When wound is dry, pour a small amount of Betadine onto a cotton ball and dab over wet, affected areas. Allow the Betadine to dry for two to three minutes.
Topical antiseptics are useful for reducing bacterial counts on intact skin in preparation for surgery. Povidone-iodine (Betadine) and chlorhexidine gluconate (Hibiclens) have emerged as the two agents of choice. However, antiseptics have been shown to be toxic to healing tissue, and should not be used on open wounds.
Savlon Antiseptic Cream is suitable for both adults and children to cleanse and reduce the risk of infection in minor wounds, cuts and grazes, and superficial burns.
A first-aid antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin, Neosporin, Polysporin) can be applied to help prevent infection and keep the wound moist.