Everyone gets cuts and scrapes when they’re growing up and playing a lot, but even the most cautious adults will occasionally get injured as well. Minor surface wounds can be cleaned and treated at home, but deeper breaks in your skin may require professional medical assistance.
Unlike closed wounds, such as bruises or closed fractures, open wounds are injuries that involve a break in the skin and leave the internal tissue exposed. The skin has an important role in protecting the organs, tissues, and other structures inside the body, so a breach of the skin can potentially invite infection.
Knowledge of the types of open wounds is critical to administering treatment – or knowing that you should seek treatment from a healthcare professional. Let’s talk about some of the main types of open skin wounds and where you can go for treatment if necessary.
What Are the Various Types of Open Wounds?
Some of the main types of open wounds include the following:
Laceration
A laceration is a cut that tears the skin and may also involve damage to the underlying tissues. Unlike an abrasion, none of the skin is missing. Blunt trauma is the usual cause of laceration wounds.
Deep or long lacerations may require stitches by a physician. Seek an evaluation by a doctor right away if you have a cut that continues to bleed, because medical treatment is necessary.
Puncture Wound
A puncture is a hole in your skin that usually goes through all layers of the skin. It often results from mishandling or stepping on pointed objects, such as needles and nails. A bite from an animal may also be considered a puncture wound. Go to an urgent care center right away if you suffer a puncture wound of any kind.
Metal exposure and animal bites pose an exceptionally high risk to your health. Metal tends to be dirty or rusty, and animal bites deliver bacteria or viruses from the animal’s mouth directly into your body. These can cause a serious infection quickly if not properly addressed by a physician.
Burn Wound
Burns are caused by overexposure to thermal, electrical, radiation, laser, or chemical agents. You can treat minor burns at home, but a non-minor burn wound requires immediate medical attention.
Burn wounds can be classified based on the extent of the injury:
- First-degree burns affect only the epidermis and may cause redness and pain.
- Second-degree burns affect the epidermis and the dermis and may cause blisters.
- Third-degree burns reach into the fatty layer under the skin and may destroy nerves.
Avulsion
Also known as a skin tear, an avulsion is a deep break to the skin, tearing it away from the underlying tissue. Wounds of this type are usually more serious and extensive. Traffic accidents and machine injuries are among the common causes of skin avulsions.
When an avulsion affects a large area of the skin, doctors usually consider skin grafting as part of the treatment and reconstruction process.
Wound Care in Rochester, New York
If you have a moderate wound or notice any signs of infection from a minor cut or scrape, it’s best to seek a medical evaluation by a doctor. For expert medical care, visit Cornerstone Urgent Care Center in Rochester to receive quick treatment for your wound.
Our urgent care providers can treat a wide variety of non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries. We are open every day from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday, and 9 am to 7 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. An appointment is not necessary, and walk-ins are always welcome.
If you have any questions, contact us at (585) 207-0088. You can also send us a message online for any non-urgent matters. We look forward to serving you.Unlike closed wounds, such as bruises or closed fractures, open wounds are injuries that involve a break in the skin and leave the internal tissue exposed.
