Use wound care ointment before or after scabbing

There is no absolute requirement for wound care ointment to be "can only be used before scabs form" or "must be used after scabs form". The specific timing of use depends entirely on the type of ingredients in the care ointment and your current wound status. Both timings have their own applicable scenarios.

I have a lot to say when it comes to this. Last month, I was riding a shared bicycle to catch the subway. The front wheel hit a pebble and slid sideways, causing a big bruise on my knee. At that time, I hurriedly took out the burn ointment I always had in my bag and applied it on. It turned out that it happened to be the pants I was wearing that day. I was bored all the way, and when I took off my pants at home at night, the wound was sticky, the exudation was all trapped in the ointment, and the surrounding area was red. Later, I went to the community hospital to change the dressing. The doctor scolded me, saying that when I was injured and there was a lot of exudation, I was looking for trouble by applying a strong occlusive ointment.

The older generation often says "You can't apply ointment before the scabs form. You have to let them dry before the scabs form." This is actually not completely unreasonable. This is actually the idea of ​​traditional dry healing: if you have just been injured and the wound is still exuding a lot of tissue fluid and even actively bleeding, no matter what kind of ointment you apply at this time, especially Vaseline This type of oil-based ointment with strong occlusive properties will seal the exudate between the wound surface and the ointment, which is equivalent to creating a warm and moist petri dish for bacteria, which can easily induce infection. In this case, let alone applying ointment, it is best to apply less band-aids. Disinfect first and let it dry, so that the osmotic fluid dries up and the initial scabs form before considering follow-up care.

However, the wet healing theory that everyone has heard more and more in recent years has another set of logic. As long as the wound exudation has basically stopped and debridement and disinfection have been carried out, using a nursing cream with appropriate ingredients before scab formation can actually reduce the formation of scars. For example, recombinant human epidermal growth factor gel or antibacterial cream containing low-concentration silver ions that are commonly prescribed in hospitals are mostly water-based or semi-occlusive. When applied to a clean wound, they can form a thin protective layer that will not suffocate the exudate. It can also maintain a moist environment on the wound surface and avoid the growth of thick and hard blood scabs - what do you think? , the new skin under the thick scab is "pulled" by the hard scab, and it is easy to leave sunken or raised scars. After the isotonic fluid dried up on my last knee wound, I applied a thin layer of growth factor gel every day and applied a thin hydrocolloid dressing. In the end, there was almost no thick scab, and it healed in a week. Now even the mark is almost gone.

As for the often said "apply ointment after scabs have formed", there are also corresponding applicable scenarios. For example, many people have developed hard, thick scabs due to improper handling. The surrounding skin will ache if they are moved, and even some tissue fluid may occasionally seep into the scabs. At this time, applying a mild moisturizing care cream or a scar cream containing asiaticin can slowly soften the scabs and reduce the risk of pus accumulation under the scabs. It can also lay a moisturizing foundation for new skin in advance and reduce the probability of scarring. But if your scab has dried to the point of warping, and the surrounding areas are not red, swollen or painful, then it’s okay not to apply it. Just wait for it to fall off naturally. Don’t apply greasy ointment to soak the scab in advance, which will injure the tender skin that hasn’t grown yet.

There are two groups of people quarreling fiercely on the Internet right now. One group says that applying it before the scabs form is effective, and the other group says that applying it before the scabs form will lead to infection. In fact, they are only half right and do not mention the premise. I have a friend who just got a small blister from being scalded with boiling water. After the blister broke, it was disinfected and applied with scald ointment. It healed in three days without leaving any marks. There are also people who blindly applied Internet-famous scar removal cream after the scab formed, but the scab was blistered away, leaving a red mark. The scar hasn't gone away in half a year. In the final analysis, it still depends on the situation. If the instructions for the care ointment you buy says "applicable to unbroken wounds," don't apply it to newly broken wounds. If it says "use after debridement," don't apply it directly with dirty things.

There are two kinds of care creams I have at home. One is an antibacterial water-based cream, which is used after the exudate from the injury has dried up. The other is a light scar cream containing asiaticin, which is used to apply red marks after the scabs have fallen off. I have never been confused about when to use it. When you are really unsure, take a photo and ask the doctor at the community hospital. It only takes a minute, and you don’t have to worry about this trivial matter for a long time. Don’t blindly trust the unified tutorials on the Internet. After all, everyone’s wound condition and the ingredients of the ointment you buy are different, right? If you really leave an obvious scar, you will be the one who suffers in the end.