Wound Care Ointment Instructions

It can be used for acute abrasions, cuts, first/superficial second-degree burns, chronic superficial postoperative wounds, mild pressure ulcers, and early diabetic foot ulcers. Its core function is to isolate external pollution, regulate wound moisture, and promote healing.； The correct operation is to apply thinly on the wound surface after debridement, 1 to 2 times a day. It is contraindicated for those who are allergic to matrix components, deep second-degree burns or above, deep and narrow puncture wounds, and large open wounds.

Last week, my sister's baby ran wildly in the community and fell on his knee. The bruise was as big as a palm and was bleeding. My sister hurriedly squeezed out a thick layer of ointment and wrapped it with two layers of gauze to make it tight. As a result, when the gauze was removed the next day, it was so sticky that the baby cried, and yellow-white exudate oozed from the wound. In fact, this is a common problem among many people who use ointments: they always think that the thicker they are applied and the tighter they are wrapped, the better. On the contrary, they are doing bad things with good intentions. When applying it, it only needs to be thin enough to allow semi-transparent viewing of the wound below. A paste that is too thick will block the passage of exudate and instead provide a breeding ground for bacteria.

The wound care ointments currently on the market actually follow two different technical routes. There is no absolute good or bad, only the difference between suitability and suitability. One type is an oil-based one, mostly with Vaseline and purified lanolin added, which has a particularly strong moisture-locking ability. I usually use this type to care for the elderly at home who have mild pressure sores. After applying it, not only the wound surface can be kept moist, but the dry and cracked skin around it can also be protected. In autumn and winter, apply a little on a small cut on your hand, and it can be closed the next day. The other type is water-based. Its core ingredients are mostly sodium hyaluronate and sodium carboxymethylcellulose. It has strong ability to absorb exudate and will not be stuffy. For wounds with a lot of exudation, such as summer scratches and freshly broken burns and scald blisters, oil-based ones are more likely to stick to them, while water-based ones are much more comfortable. There is also a type of ointment with added silver ions, which has been quite controversial in the industry in the past two years: one group believes that it is completely unnecessary to use it on ordinary small wounds. Long-term use may cause local deposition of silver ions and delay the growth of granulation. ； The other group believes that if the wound already shows signs of infection such as redness and slight pus discharge, using it for 2 to 3 days is safer than using antibiotic ointment indiscriminately and is less likely to develop drug resistance. My own experience is that you only need to keep the basic model at home, and there is no need to stock up on the silver ion model every day. If there are any signs of infection, see a doctor first.

Many people think that ointment is a "magic medicine" that can be cured by applying it. In fact, this is not the case. I met an old man with diabetes at a community clinic before. He had a small ulcer on his instep. He applied the ointment at home for half a month, but the ulcer reached the dermis layer. When I saw his operation, I just wiped the surface with iodophor before each application. The dust and necrotic tissue stuck under the scab were not cleared away. It was like all the dirt was stuffed under the ointment, and no matter how good the medicine was, it was useless. No matter what ointment you apply, the first step is always debridement: For small acute wounds, use normal saline to wash away the dirt and dirt. Apply iodophor only to the good skin around the wound. Don't rub too much on the fresh granulation, which will kill the new cells. ； If it is a chronic wound such as a pressure sore or diabetic foot, do not pick the scab by yourself. It is best to ask community medical staff to clean the necrotic tissue and then apply medicine. Otherwise, it will be in vain.

Another point that is easily overlooked is the issue of allergies. Last month, I met a little girl who used an oil-based ointment given by a friend after a scrape on her knee. After applying it for two days, she developed a small red rash around the area, which was extremely itchy. When I asked about it, I found out that she was allergic to lanolin, and that ointment happened to contain lanolin in its base. If you experience itching, red rash, or burning sensation around the wound after applying it, immediately rinse it off with saline and stop. Change to one with simple ingredients. Don’t force yourself to make a small problem bigger.

Of course, not all wounds can be treated by applying ointment on your own, such as deep and narrow wounds punctured by nails or needles, deep second-degree or above burns that turn the skin black and form thick scabs, or open wounds larger than the size of your palm. Don’t hesitate and go directly to the hospital. Tetanus should be treated with tetanus, and wounds should be debrided. Ointments can only deal with superficial minor problems. This kind of serious situation is really unbearable.

I always keep two of them at home, one water-based one for my baby, which is convenient for running and jumping, and one oil-based one for skin care of the elderly. I have been using it for almost two years, and I have basically gone through all the holes. I am really not sure whether my wound is suitable for use. It doesn’t take much time to take a photo and ask the community doctor. Just don’t use it blindly and delay things.