Clean, Dry, and Covered: Essential Wound Care at Home and When to Seek Help.

This article was written by Hilary Hancock BSN, RN, CWON.

The skin is our body’s largest organ, and it’s an important part of how we see ourselves and construct our identity. We have a relationship with our skin. We see it when we look in the mirror, while we prepare food or do chores, and when we hug our children or embrace our friends. 

Wounds that break the skin can be challenging, especially when they’re serious or don’t heal as expected. It’s important to understand how to properly care for simpler wounds at home, and to know which wounds need care from a healthcare provider.  

There are several types of wounds, and each has their own treatment and care steps. Common wound types include:

• Burns: Wounds that happen when the skin is damaged by heat, chemicals, or electricity. Burn wounds can vary from mild to severe and require careful care to prevent infection and reduce scarring. Expert providers at The Burn Center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center help patients recover both physically and emotionally.

• Lacerations: Deep cuts or tears in the skin, often caused by accidents, these wounds may need stitches or other treatments to help them heal properly.

• Pressure injuries: Wounds caused by unrelieved pressure that results from staying in one place for too long, like a bedsore. They can develop in bed, in a chair, or when resting against an object for too long at home or in the hospital. Prevent pressure injuries by repositioning at least every two hours.

• Surgical incisions: Cuts made during surgery to allow the doctor to reach the area being treated. Following the surgeon’s post-operation care instructions closely allows the incision to heal smoothly without infection.

• Ulcers: An ulcer is a chronic wound that takes longer than 30 days to heal. These can be caused by many different conditions, including cancer and diabetes.

Minor wounds can be safely cared for at home, and most don’t require attention from a healthcare provider. It’s important to treat wounds properly to ensure they heal quickly and properly.

3 steps for wound care at home.

For many wounds, care starts at home. That’s where you can take steps to jumpstart the healing process, and where you can monitor symptoms to determine if more intensive care is needed. There are three main steps you can take to care for wounds at home. 

Keep the wound clean.

Cleanliness is essential for preventing serious health consequences from infection. Use mild soap and water to gently wash the area around the wound, removing any dirt or debris. This helps create a safe environment for healing and reduces the risk of complications. 

You don’t need to use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as these can irritate sensitive tissues especially when used in excess.

Keep the dressing dry.

Keep wound dressings dry by changing them daily unless your provider gives you other instructions. This can help prevent infection that can result when excess drainage sits in contact with the wound. If the dressing becomes saturated it should be changed. Don’t leave wounds exposed to open air, as this can expose them to dirt, infection, and dryness that can mean longer healing times. 

Keep the wound covered.

Covering a wound protects it from dirt, bacteria, and further injury. A clean bandage can help keep the wound dry and promotes healing. It also serves as a barrier against friction and keeps the body at the best temperature for recovery.

When should you seek additional wound care?

For some wounds, independent care at home isn’t enough. Infected, non-healing, or deep wounds mean you may need to go to an urgent care facility or see your primary care doctor. Consider these important indicators to determine if it’s time to get help with your wound.

Signs of infection.

Infection can lead to serious complications like sepsis, a life-threatening complication. The body’s response to infection can lead to widespread inflammation that causes organ dysfunction, tissue damage, and even death. The best way to avoid complications is to see a healthcare provider at the first sign of infection. Some signs include:

• An odor coming from the wound

• Confusion or delirium, especially in older adults

• Increased drainage coming from the wound, especially if it is green, yellow, or creamy

• Pink discoloration around the wound or streaks of red or pink leading away from the wound

• Severe pain that does not go away with time

• If the wound becomes bigger or looks worse

Slow healing.

If your wound is healing much slower than expected, it may be a sign that something is wrong. Most minor wounds should show signs of improvement within a few days. However, 2.5% of people in the U.S. live with a chronic wound, which can be a sign of an underlying circulatory or nutrition issue. 

If you notice that the wound is becoming larger or shows no signs of healing after two weeks, consult a healthcare provider. 

A deep laceration.

If you have a laceration that’s more than a quarter inch deep, you may need professional wound care. Sometimes, it’s difficult to tell how deep a wound is just by looking at it. If there’s a lot of bleeding that doesn’t stop when you apply pressure, head to a hospital so a provider can care for your wound. 

A burn is considered deep if it is blistered or if there is black/ brown discoloration indicating damage more severe than red or pink coloration at the wound site. Many patients with deep burns or burns that cover more than 10% of their body will benefit from seeing a burn specialist. 

Medications or conditions that complicate wound healing.

Some disorders, including diabetes, kidney disease, vascular disease, and heart failure can make it more difficult for wounds to heal. Steroids and anticoagulants can also complicate healing. 

If you have a condition or are taking a medication that can cause slow or difficult healing, check with a healthcare provider if you develop a wound, especially if there are signs of infection.

Wound care is more than skin deep.

Wounds heal from the inside out, meaning that what’s going on inside your body is just as important as what’s happening on the surface of your skin. Healthcare providers help with the healing, but it’s your body that does the actual work. You can help wounds heal quickly and without complications by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

It’s important to eat a balanced diet all the time, but especially when healing. Vitamins and nutrients that most help with healing include Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Zinc, and protein. Incorporating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables into your meals, along with healthy fats and proteins, can further improve your body’s ability to recover.

It’s also important to stay hydrated. That’s because proper hydration helps maintain skin elasticity, supports blood circulation, and aids in delivering essential nutrients to the wound site. To help the kidneys function and replace lost fluids, drink about .5 fluid ounces per pound of body weight each day. People with severe burn wounds need even more hydration to replace lost fluids.which is why anyone with a severe burn should seek medical treatment immediately. 

Smoking can also make healing harder because it reduces blood flow and oxygen to the wound, weakens the immune system, and slows down tissue repair. Quitting smoking during wound healing can help create a healthier environment for recovery.  

No matter what type of wound you have, MedStar Health experts have experience helping heal the skin and beyond.

Support for patients with wounds throughout the recovery process.

Our skin does so much. It protects our delicate inner organs, regulates our body temperature, and serves as a barrier against harmful pathogens and environmental elements. It’s important that we protect this vital organ by practicing proper wound care at home and seeking help when necessary. 

MedStar Health’s expert physicians, nurses, and therapists guide patients through wound recovery. At the Burn Center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, patients receive support from the moment they arrive until the end of their recovery. 

MedStar Health’s Wound Healing Institute, meanwhile, helps patients with ulcers, trauma, and surgical wounds heal and regain balance in their bodies. Providers at both centers work closely with patients to ensure they understand their treatment and feel comfortable throughout the healing process.