Don't clean your wound with soap or chemicals. They can be harmful to healing skin and can slow the healing process.
Clean area with tap water and soap such as dove or dial using a clean Q-Tip or sterile gauze. (Use antibacterial soap on the lower extremity) Dry with a clean Q-Tip or sterile gauze. Apply Vaseline/Aquaphor over the entire wound (NOT Neosporin).
Immediately after the injury, wash thoroughly with clean water and mild soap. Remove any visible dirt or debris from the wound. Apply gentle pressure to stop bleeding. For burn wounds, run cool water over the area or apply a cool, wet cloth.
soak a gauze pad or cloth in saline solution or tap water, or use an alcohol-free wipe, and gently dab or wipe the skin with it – don't use antiseptic as this may damage the skin.
[1] The most commonly used products in clinical practice today include povidone iodine, chlorhexidine, alcohol, acetate, hydrogen peroxide, boric acid, silver nitrate, silver sulfadiazine, and sodium hypochlorite. Antiseptic uses and indications vary.
Don't use hydrogen peroxide or iodine to clean the cut. They are harmful to the skin and can actually delay healing. Don't leave a cut or scrape exposed to the air. A bandage can protect the area from rubbing against clothing and getting dirt and bacteria in it, while keeping the cut moist to heal faster.
Distilled water and cooled, boiled water were compared with saline, and no increase in the infection rates was found, suggesting that these solutions could be used in the absence of potable water. Tap water has been used for centuries as a wound cleanser without evidence of adverse effects or associated infection risk.
Wounds are commonly cleansed to prevent infection. The cleansing solution can be tap water, distilled water, cooled boiled water or saline. Tap water is commonly used in the community because it is easily accessible, efficient and cost-effective; however, there is an unresolved debate about its use.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows soap and water is less effective than saline water at cleaning wounds, a finding that could result in significant cost savings.
Dawn dish soap is by and large the best of the mild detergents to use. It is gentle enough to keep your finish on your deck, but strong enough to remove tough stains.
Showering is preferable to bathing, so that the wound does not 'soak' in water. Do not use soap, shower gel, body lotion, talcum powder or other bathing products directly over your healing wound; and do not rub the area, as this might be painful and could delay healing.
Saline wound wash is a sterile liquid solution that is made up of distilled water and sodium chloride (salt).
How do you clean a wound? Using Dettol Antiseptic Liquid to clean cuts or scratches can help protect the wound from infection. Make sure to dilute the Dettol first by mixing 20ml with 400ml of water. This diluted mixture can then be used to cleanse the wound.
Use 1 quart (4 cups) of distilled water, or boil 1 quart of tap water for 5 minutes. Do not use well water or sea water. Add 2 teaspoons of table salt. Mix the water and salt well until the salt is completely dissolved.
You should keep a wound moist and covered for about five days.
Wash the wound
It's also OK to get in the shower and let copious amounts of warm, soapy water flow through the wound. Make sure you flush the wound bed thoroughly. If you're dealing with a burn, apply a cold cloth or run the area under cold water. Then, wash the burn with soap and water.
When a person receives fluids intravenously (through an IV bag, for example), a saline solution is sometime used. Giving large amounts of pure water directly into a vein would cause your blood cells to become hypotonic, possibly leading to death.
Several studies have compared wet, moist, and dry healing. A wet or moist incubator-like microenvironment provides the fastest healing with fewest aberrations and least scar formation.
Betadine is used on the skin to treat or prevent skin infection in minor cuts, scrapes, or burns. Betadine is also used in a medical setting to help prevent infection and promote healing in skin wounds, pressure sores, or surgical incisions.
Don't clean your wound with soap or chemicals.
Instead, only clean your wound with salt water, sterile water or distilled water.
The best way to clean a minor wound is with cool running water and mild soap. Rinse the wound for at least five minutes to remove dirt, debris, and bacteria. Wounds that are large, deep, or bleeding nonstop should be treated by a professional.
If the wound is in an area that has more bacteria — like the urinary tract, gastrointestinal system, or respiratory system — fluids and other contaminants could get into the wound and cause infection. Dirt or a foreign object in the wound also can increase the risk of infection.
Clean the wound and apply a dressing
clean the wound under drinking-quality running tap water – avoid using antiseptic as it may damage the skin and slow healing.
Wounds need to be covered so that they can heal properly. When a wound is left uncovered, the new surface cells that are being created can easily dry out. When these important cells dry out, it tends to slow down the healing process. A wound should be covered using a clean bandage.