The importance of wound care is always stressed by health professionals. How a wound is cared for impacts its healing and recovery. The side effects of improper wound care can be very serious and life-threatening.
If you have an open wound, make sure to give it what it needs to regenerate new tissue. Washing hands, stopping the bleeding, cleaning the wound, applying antibiotic ointment, and covering it with a bandage are critical steps in wound care. Below are several complications that can arise from improper wound care.
Infection
Perhaps the biggest risk of improper wound care is infection. Skin is a protective barrier against bacteria and other foreign invaders. While it is open, bacteria can enter and multiply inside, causing an infection. An infected wound will ooze pus, feel warm, and be painful. You may also develop a fever. Soft tissues, bones, and organs may develop an infection. An infection slows the wound healing process.
Improper Healing
A wound that is properly cared for will heal at a faster rate than a wound that’s improperly cared for. An example of improper wound care is leaving the wound open. Not only is this an infection risk, but it can be exposed to trauma, which can affect blood flow to the wound and your body’s healing process.
Scar Formation
In order for the wound to heal properly, an antibiotic ointment is spread over it to keep the wound soft and moist before covering it with a bandage. If the skin is too dry, the wound may form a scab, which can lead to scarring. Wounds that form a scab also tend to take longer to heal. The bandage needs to be changed daily or according to the doctor’s instructions in order to keep the wound clean.
Chronic Wound
A wound that takes a long time to heal is called a chronic wound. A non-healing wound has very serious implications. Patients with diabetes are at risk of chronic wounds, where the wound does not go through the normal healing stages. It could be due to a combination of poor circulation and damaged blood vessels. The longer a wound takes to heal, the greater the chance of developing an infection, and the higher the likelihood of it progressing to amputation. Cancer patients and those with heart and vascular disease are at high risk of chronic wounds.
Improper wound care is too great a risk to take for your health. If you or your child has a wound, seek proper medical care to minimize risks and complications.
Urgent Wound Care Near Me
At Cornerstone Urgent Care Center, our health care providers give immediate and expert wound care to our patients. Our methods help reduce the risk of infection and other complications. We also give clear and easy-to-follow instructions for at-home care.
We accept walk-ins in our Rochester clinic located at 2968 Chili Avenue. We are open daily – even on the weekends. To let us know you’re coming, call (585) 207-0088 or send us a message online now.
