Which wounds should be kept moist and which ones dry?

Question

i've read that according to the type of wound it should be either be kept dry or moist, but i can't recall which one, can you shed some light?

Answer 1

Every wound I've ever had has healed dramatically faster when left open to the air and let to dry. Bacteria tend to reproduce faster in a moist environment.

Answer 2

If you have a wound with a large surface area (e.g. burn) and you leave it to the air it will possibly get infected---remember your skin is the protective organ for your body, and anywhere it is missing, bacteria, etc can get in. Also, a wound like a burn will scar badly if left open. (I had a bad chemical burn on my elbow once, and had a dressing on it for several weeks until it healed--- now you can barely see where it was).

Deeper wounds should be cleaned very thoroughly with an anti-bacterial wash (see your doctor on this one), as the bacteria that causes tetanus could become a problem. This bacteria is actually very common in the soil, but people don't often get tetanus because the bacteria needs an oxygen-free environment (such as that provided by a deep wound) to survive and multiply. If you are at all concerned that you have a wound susceptible to tetanus (e.g. any puncture wound that is dirty), see a doctor.

If a wound is not very deep or big, and I don't think it needs stitches or a doctor's attention, I always wash it thoroughly with soap, rinse, pat dry with a clean soft cloth, put neosporin or other topical antibiotic on it, and bandage it. This will help it heal quickly and greatly reduce scarring. After a scab forms, any covering should be removed and the rest of the healing can take place without more care, other than keeping dirt out of it.

Hope this helps. Get well soon!