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An abrasion is a superficial injury that usually only affects the upper layers of the skin, particularly the epidermis. It is caused by friction or abrasion of the skin on rough surfaces, typically from a fall or when the skin is dragged over a hard surface such as tarmac, carpet or stone.
Abrasions are common injuries that often occur during sporting activities, accidents while playing or from tripping and falling in everyday life. Although they are not usually deep, they can be very painful as the abrasion exposes many small nerve endings in the skin. They are also susceptible to contamination, which increases the risk of infection. Proper cleaning and care is therefore crucial to promote healing and avoid the risk of infection.
Firstly, the abrasion should be cleaned thoroughly. Remove foreign bodies such as stones with tweezers and rinse the affected area thoroughly to remove dirt and germs. This can be done either with water or ideally with isotonic saline solution. The wound should then be treated with a wound cleansing spray. For smaller wounds up to three centimetres, three to four strokes are sufficient.
Larger wounds should be treated with six to eight strokes. The wound cleansing spray prevents infection, cleans the wound painlessly and reduces bleeding and swelling. The wound must then be protected with a suitable wound dressing. A sterile wound dressing enables pressure-free wound care without sticking and is also permeable to secretions and air. It can be fixed in place with a plaster or bandage.
When treating abrasions, the right care is crucial to prevent infection and promote healing. WERO wound and healing ointment is particularly suitable for initial treatment as it not only protects the wound, but also supports natural healing and soothes the skin at the same time.
Abrasions should be covered to protect them from further injury and contamination. A plaster or sterile dressing will help to keep the wound moist and promote healing by forming a barrier against germs. This is particularly important for larger or deeper wounds that take longer to heal. Covering the wound also prevents the skin from drying out and forming scabs, which can delay healing.
When treating abrasions, there are a few important points that should be avoided at all costs to ensure safe and rapid healing. Firstly, never apply pressure or rub the wound as this can cause further irritation. Common household remedies such as flour, honey or onion juice should not be applied to abrasions as they can increase the risk of infection and often do not provide an ideal healing environment. Saliva should also not be used to clean or disinfect, as saliva contains many bacteria that can cause wound infection.
Caution should also be exercised when using spray plasters, as these may contain ingredients that cause skin irritation or disrupt the natural skin flora. Ointments can also be counterproductive under certain circumstances, as they seal the wound airtight and thus restrict the skin's ability to breathe, which can increase the risk of bacterial growth. Water should be avoided in the first few days after the injury, especially when bathing or showering. Temporarily covering the wound with film or a waterproof plaster can help to avoid contact with water. This prevents the wound from softening and the scab from losing its protective function, which could delay the healing process and promote scarring.
The choice of the right rucksack volume depends heavily on the planned duration of use and the type of equipment to be carried. For short trips or day trips, smaller rucksacks that only hold the essentials are often sufficient. For longer missions or trips where more equipment is required, a larger model should be considered. It is important that the rucksack fits well and is not overloaded to ensure comfort and functionality. It is advisable to check the specific requirements carefully before purchasing and, if necessary, choose a backpack with modular expansion options to ensure flexibility in different situations.
If, in addition to the top layer of skin (epidermis), the underlying dermis is also affected, blood and lymph vessels can be injured, which leads to bleeding and leakage of lymph fluid. This oozing helps the body to flush foreign bodies out of the wound, which is why increased secretion is usually beneficial at first.
However, if an abrasion oozes heavily and this persists over a longer period of time, this often indicates inflammation or contamination in the wound. If the wound continues to ooze after repeated cleaning and disinfection, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Even a small graze can lead to a tetanus infection without immunisation. The incubation period of tetanus, i.e. the time from infection to the appearance of the first symptoms such as persistent muscle cramps or rigor mortis, is three days to three weeks on average. In individual cases, symptoms can also appear earlier or even months later.
Tetanus is a life-threatening disease that can be fatal if left untreated. It is therefore important to act quickly in the event of grazes and other injuries and to ensure that you are vaccinated against tetanus, especially if your own vaccination status is unknown or your immunisation may no longer be up to date.
A visit to the doctor is advisable if the graze continues to bleed, which could indicate a more serious injury. Even if the wound is very dirty and cannot be cleaned effectively at home, professional help is required to prevent infection.
Pus formation is another clear sign of infection. In this case, the doctor may prescribe appropriate antibiotics or take other measures to treat the infection. People with circulatory problems should also be careful, as their wounds tend to heal more slowly, which increases the risk of complications.
Finally, it is important to seek medical attention if a fever or elevated temperature occurs after an injury. These are typical signs of a systemic infection that must be treated immediately to avoid serious health problems.
The initial bleeding and oozing of an abrasion should subside within a few minutes. Large wounds in particular often require a moist environment in order to heal optimally. A hydrogel dressing is ideal for this, as it keeps the wound moist without sticking and thus prevents the formation of scabs. This not only accelerates wound healing, but also minimises scarring. Under optimal conditions, an abrasion should heal within a maximum of 14 days, with scarring usually being minimal or non-existent.