who is right?

Question

when i cut myself and it's healed, i like to put a bandage on it because it still hurts and i don't want to break it open again.
my dad tells me not to do that because the air should get at it. but i tell him that there's germs swimming in the air and i don't want to break the scape.
who's right?

Answer 1

Mother nature did an incredible thing when we were formed, she gave us immune systems that reject 99% of the germs that "swim" in the air, and she used the nitrogen and other particulates in the air to help speed healing of minor wounds and scrapes.

Once a scab has formed on a cut your body has created the best bandage you could have, one that protects you from the germs on the outside, and that heals you from the inside. Keeping a bandage on a cut only makes it take longer to heal, and prevents your body from doing what it needs to do to fix the booboo.

Your father is right.

Answer 2

I have to agree with your dad. If the cut has an unbroken scab on it then that is the perfect cover for your cut. Keeping a scab covered will make it soft and this becomes a good environment for germs to grow. If not properly cleaned and treated it can even become infected. You think you're keeping the germs from the air out but in reality it can't be done. A band-aide only keeps you from aggravating an open wound and allows anti-biotic ointments to stay in place until a scab forms. The only exception I can think of is when a cut is on place where the skin is moved a lot. The knuckles of you hands, your knees, or any place where a scab becomes easily aggravated. In this case keeping a bandage on longer is OK. Otherwise, having a healed cut be in the air is the best thing to do.

Answer 3

You are both right! Yes there are many germs everywhere, but some of the bad ones (the kind that cause tetanus and gangrene) can only live in a place with no air. They are called anaerobes. If you leave a bandage on without ever changing it or exposing the wound to air then those anerobes can grow in the wound and cause many other complications.

Answer 4

Cuts and scrapes: First aid

Minor cuts and scrapes usually don't require a trip to the emergency room. Yet proper care is essential to avoid infection or other complications. These guidelines can help you care for simple wounds:

Stop the bleeding. Minor cuts and scrapes usually stop bleeding on their own. If they don't, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or bandage. Hold the pressure continuously for 20 to 30 minutes. Don't keep checking to see if the bleeding has stopped because this may damage or dislodge the fresh clot that's forming and cause bleeding to resume. If the blood spurts or continues to flow after continuous pressure, seek medical assistance.

Clean the wound. Rinse out the wound with clear water. Soap can irritate the wound, so try to keep it out of the actual wound. If dirt or debris remains in the wound after washing, use tweezers cleaned with alcohol to remove the particles. If debris remains embedded in the wound after cleaning, see your doctor.

Thorough wound cleaning reduces the risk of tetanus. To clean the area around the wound, use soap and a washcloth. There's no need to use hydrogen peroxide, iodine or an iodine-containing cleanser. These substances irritate living cells. If you choose to use them, don't apply them directly on the wound.

Apply an antibiotic. After you clean the wound, apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment such as Neosporin or Polysporin to help keep the surface moist. The products don't make the wound heal faster, but they can discourage infection and allow your body's healing process to close the wound more efficiently. Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people. If a rash appears, stop using the ointment.

Cover the wound. Bandages can help keep the wound clean and keep harmful bacteria out. After the wound has healed enough to make infection unlikely, exposure to the air will speed wound healing.

Change the dressing. Change the dressing at least daily or whenever it becomes wet or dirty. If you're allergic to the adhesive used in most bandages, switch to adhesive-free dressings or sterile gauze held in place with paper tape, gauze roll or a loosely applied elastic bandage. These supplies generally are available at pharmacies.

Get stitches for deep wounds. A wound that cuts deeply through the skin or is gaping or jagged-edged and has fat or muscle protruding usually requires stitches. A strip or two of surgical tape may hold a minor cut together, but if you can't easily close the mouth of the wound, see your doctor as soon as possible. Proper closure within a few hours minimizes the risk of infection.
Watch for signs of infection. See your doctor if the wound isn't healing or you notice any redness, drainage, warmth or swelling.
Get a tetanus shot. Doctors recommend you get a tetanus shot every 10 years. If your wound is deep or dirty and your last shot was more than five years ago, your doctor may recommend a tetanus shot booster. Get the booster within 48 hours of the injury.

Answer 5

Your dad is right to an extent because if you keep a cut covered the skin just gets soft and it takes longer for it to heal. The germs in the air won't do any harm as long as you keep the cut clean.

Answer 6

Cover the wound,exposure to air speeds healing,but a bandage can help keep the wound clean and keep harmful bacteria out,so your both right.

Answer 7

you are right. there are so many germs in the air! there is germs on the band aide but not as mutch.a cut could still be broken open with a band aide but its less likely.

Answer 8

Keep the bandage on if it makes you feel better. It's YOUR cut afterall. Let him uncover his own cut. I keep mine covered too.