Busting Myths About Wounds

We’ve placed this myth at the top of this list, because it’s possibly the most commonly perpetuated myth of all. Wounds need moisture – not air – to heal. By not covering your wound in a clean and sterile dressing, you’re exposing the wound to bacteria, dirt and possibly further injury (thought knocks and scratches).

To sum it up, wounds don’t need to ‘breathe’ – so always cover your wounds and protect them as they heal.

In our “Proper wound care: Is disinfecting enough?” article, we discussed how the reverse is true – and that in fact, an optimally moist environment prevents tissue dehydration, accelerates the development of new blood vessels, and speeds up the breaking down of dead tissue.

The solution to avoiding bacteria growth isn’t to ‘keep your wound dry’ (as bacteria can still be present on a dry wound), it’s to first clean and disinfect the wound, apply an intelligent hydrogel (like Dermatix® Wound Care ) to form a barrier on the wound¹, then use a dressing to protect it physically.

Here’s another myth that has led to many adults and children leaving their wounds exposed to the environment, instead of being kept moist and covered. While scabbing is a natural part of the healing process, it doesn’t always happen, and certainly isn’t necessary for proper healing.

Often, when a wound is kept moist, the likelihood of a scab forming is decreased (which is unfortunately why many people don’t cover wounds). Whether or not a scab forms, the same rules apply – as long as your wound is kept moist, the scab will not inhibit the healing process.

So, don’t worry whether a scab forms during healing. Simply keep your wound clean, moist, protected with a hydrogel like Dermatix® Wound Care , and covered – and you’ll be on your way to a smooth (as possible) recovery!

Scars are a natural part of the body’s healing process, and happen when your body forms new collagen fibres to mend the damaged area. After some time, the collagen build up results in tissue that has a different texture and quality from the surrounding tissue.

This is what we know as a scar, and as you can see, it’s simply a result of your body healing itself. While proper wound care won’t guarantee that a scar won’t be present after healing, improper wound care can increase the likelihood of a more noticeable scar.

Should a scar form, don’t worry. Just switch to scar management with a treatment like Dermatix® Ultra, which is proven to lighten, soften and flatten scars.^2,3,4 (In fact, Dermatix® Ultra has demonstrated an over 85% success rate in softening and diminishing the appearance of hypertrophic and keloid scars.^{4, 5})

First of all, this ‘glue’ you may have heard about, most certainly isn’t the same glue that’s available off the shelf at your local supermarket or hardware store. Also, even if you do manage to get the same type of glue that doctors use, it’s never a good idea to administer this ‘treatment’ at home.

Incorrect use of glue on wounds can lead to skin irritation, allergic reactions, delayed healing, as well as other inconveniences and medical issues. If your wound is serious enough to warrant stiches or medical-grade adhesive, please put aside any thought of this ‘home remedy’ and visit a doctor or hospital as soon as possible.

Should you have any questions on caring for your wound, please speak to your doctor for professional advice.