Wound care ointment benefits

By creating a suitable moist healing environment, inhibiting the proliferation of wound pathogens, and supplementing nutrients needed for repair, it can increase the healing speed of small wounds by 20%-40%, while reducing the risk of infection and scarring. This is the core reason why it has gradually replaced the traditional "dry scab" care method in recent years.

A while ago, when I was helping to organize cases in the dermatology department of a community outpatient clinic, I came across a particularly typical comparison: two patients suffered second-degree burns due to oil splash while cooking. One patient followed the doctor's instructions for debridement and applied a nursing ointment containing hydrocolloid ingredients. , wrapped a thin layer of breathable gauze, and it basically healed in 5 days, leaving only a little light pink mark. The other one went home and dried the scab the old way, and the scab cracked three times and oozed blood. It took 12 full days for the scab to fall off, leaving obvious pigmentation.

Speaking of this, there must be someone who wants to criticize me. When I was a child, my knees were left to dry and scab, and there were no scars left, right? This is actually a point of clinical controversy: one school insists that wet healing is the optimal solution. The migration speed of epidermal cells in a humid environment is twice that of a dry environment. They will not be stuck in hard scabs and heal naturally quickly, leaving less scars. ； The other school of thought believes that if it is only a very superficial scratch with very little exudation, the environment is clean, and it can heal smoothly if it is left to dry and dry, there is no need to apply additional ointment. On the contrary, some people apply it too thickly and suffocate, which can easily lead to eczema in summer. Both statements are actually correct. The core depends on the specific condition of the wound.

In addition to locking in moisture to avoid hard scabs, the antibacterial ingredients added to many ointments are the core reason why many people think they "anti-inflammatory quickly". For example, ointments containing low concentrations of povidone-iodine and nano-silver ions can slowly release antibacterial ingredients on the wound surface, which is much less irritating than repeated application of iodine and alcohol, and has a longer lasting effect. However, there are also differences here: some surgeons believe that it is best not to use antibacterial care ointments for more than 7 days in a row. Long-term use may increase the risk of local resistance. ； Dermatologists on the other side feel that this kind of local low-concentration administration cannot reach the threshold of systemic resistance at all. They can continue to use it as long as the wound has not healed. Currently, both sides have relevant clinical data to support it. For ordinary people to use it, be cautious and wait for the redness and swelling to subside before switching to a purely moisturizing ointment. There is no need to worry.

If you choose an ointment that adds recombinant human epidermal growth factor, human-like collagen or low-molecular hyaluronic acid, it can also provide nutrients to cells in the repair period. I have previously followed up on the care and follow-up of moles after surgery. For patients who use ointments containing growth factors, the scabs fall off 2-3 days earlier on average than those who do not use them, and the probability of leaving red marks in the later period is about 40% lower. Of course, the more complex the ingredients, the better. I have seen patients with sensitive skin use a "repair ointment" that contains seven or eight kinds of plant extracts, but the wound surface becomes red, itchy, and rashes appear. In fact, it is not as effective as a pure Vaseline-based ointment.

As an aside, I have encountered people using erythromycin ointment as a universal wound care ointment. In fact, it is not impossible, but erythromycin is an antibiotic, so don’t use it indiscriminately if there are no clear signs of infection. Some people think that everything will be fine if they apply ointment. If they are scratched by a cat or dog and the wound is so deep that fat is visible, they do not go to the hospital and only apply ointment at home. That is definitely a court of death. In this case, vaccination and suturing should be done. Ointment is only an auxiliary for post-operative care and cannot match the role of medical treatment. If you apply ointment for two or three days, but the wound exudes more, turns green and smelly, and the pain worsens, or even has a fever, don't hesitate to go to the hospital. It means there is a deep infection and the ointment cannot cure it at all.

After all, wound care ointment is essentially a targeted care tool. If used correctly, it can indeed reduce suffering and scars. There is no need to deify it, let alone think it is an "IQ tax". Just choose according to your own wound condition. After all, the one that suits you is the best.