Most reasonable people understand the benefits and basics of treating cuts and lacerations quickly and efficiently. Not doing so can lead to infection and much more serious problems than if dealt with appropriately and immediately. Dr Chandan Kedawat, Sr., a consultant for Internal Medicine at the PSRI Hospital in New Delhi, recently spoke with the health and wellness site TheHealthSite.com and provided some basic advice on these simple, yet incredibly important home treatment products.
Kedewat’s first bit of information deals with the fact that, contrary to popular belief, there are some options when it comes choosing bandages. While most are made with latex, some are made waterproof to protect areas that might come into contact with moisture.
A cut on your hand is a perfect example of this. From washing your hands to cleaning dishes, there are a variety of reasons your hand might get wet in a day, so if your wound is in an area like that, investing in waterproof bandages might be your best option. Today, medical supply companies are even working on gel-type bandage that will release medication at certain intervals.
The next issue Kedewat points out is the fact that many people wait too long to change or replace old bandages. His recommendation is to swap out the old for a new one once a day under normal conditions. If it is exposed to an abundance of dirt, dust, or water you might have to change it multiple times in the same day even.
Finally, Kedewat advises that you get help with the application of the bandgage itself if your wound is in a tricky spot for you to get to. This will ensure the bandage will stay on more secure and better protect you from infection. Also, you’re going to want to first check the expiration date on your bandages to ensure their integrity.
Even if the bandages are waterproof, put on correctly, and replaced regularly there’s still a good chance you could wind up suffering from skin irritation from bandage adhesive that’s use on them. This will result in a rash, known as contact dermatitis — something that affects up to 50% of people after prolonged exposure to adhesive.
Having the right material on hand is a good start, but knowing some of these subtle intricacies is crucial to supporting speedy and safe recovery.
