Wound Care Ointment Instructions

The officially registered Class II medical device grade wound care ointment is only suitable for unruptured first-degree burns and scalds, minor abrasions/cuts with a depth no deeper than the dermis, and repair of skin barrier damage caused by eczema/dermatitis/seasonal dryness. It must not be applied directly to open wounds that have suppurated and are deep enough to see the fat layer. Pregnant women and infants under 3 years old must do a post-auricular allergy test before using it. If symptoms are not relieved after 7 days of continuous use, stop taking the medicine and see a doctor. Carrying it on will only cause problems.

I used to help the nursing team sort out the adverse reaction records of topical drugs for half a year at a community health service center. There were more than 20 cases of problems caused by the misuse of this ointment alone. The one who impressed me most was a senior chef who ran a small restaurant. He was scalded with several blisters by the oil that spilled while he was stirring the pot. He used a needle to prick the blisters at home and then applied a thick layer of ointment and wrapped it with two layers of airtight gauze. Three days later, when the dressing was changed, the blisters burst. The wound had become a yellowish-white sticky mass mixed with ointment and exudate. During the debridement, the old man clutched the handle of the stool in pain and shook it. It took the nurse almost twenty minutes to clean it. The wound should have healed in a week, but it took half a month and still left a dark brown discoloration.

Speaking of which, there is still a lot of quarrel in the industry over whether wound care should be "dry care" or "wet care". Most clinicians of the old school believe that superficial scratches will heal quickly as long as they are disinfected and left to dry, and scabs will form. Applying ointment is purely unnecessary. ； However, the moist healing concept promoted by the International Wound Care Association in recent years believes that a thin layer of ointment should be used to keep the wound moist and prevent it from forming hard scabs. The dermal layer will not be affected by the scabs during repair, and the probability of scarring can be reduced by more than 40%. In fact, both statements are correct. It depends on your own needs - if you have a small scratch and the injury is in a place covered by clothes, you don’t care whether it leaves a scar or not. It’s totally fine if you let it dry. ； If the injury is on an exposed place such as the face or wrist, it is more reliable to apply a thin layer of ointment for fear of leaving a mark.

There are actually just a few common ointment ingredients, so just pick them when you buy them. The most basic one is a mixture of yellow petroleum jelly and liquid paraffin. It has strong sealing properties and good water-locking effect. It only costs a few yuan a tube. It is easy to use on chapped hands and heels in winter. The only drawback is that it tends to be oily. Oily skin can easily become clogged when applied to the face in summer. If your wound is a little red and you are afraid of infection, you can choose one that contains chitosan and quaternary ammonium salts, which have a mild antibacterial effect. You don’t need to apply iodophor additionally, and there is little irritation. There is also a type with added ceramides and sodium hyaluronate, which is actually prepared for sensitive skin. When the season changes, the face will be red, peeling, and itchy due to eczema. Applying a thin layer can relieve it a lot the next day. My own calves are dry and white flakes fall off in winter. I apply it once before going to bed, and after three days of application, it is slippery. It uses more than the body milk tube.

Many people think that the thicker the application, the better the effect. This is a huge misunderstanding. This thing is just like applying facial cream. Apply a thin layer just enough to cover the wound. If it is thicker, it will block the pores of the skin, and the exudate cannot be drained out, but it will easily become stuffy and inflamed. Some people just apply it and forget about it. As long as you stay at home and don't touch dirty things, forget it. If you go out to work or go to the supermarket, it's best to put on a breathable non-woven band-aid to block dust. Don't let dust and bacteria stick to the ointment, which may cause an infection. When you get home, just take off the band-aid and let it breathe.

Oh, by the way, you should never use it blindly in some situations. If you have a deep wound from an iron nail or dirty wood, or the wound is oozing pus, smelly, and the surrounding area is swollen, don’t hesitate and go directly to the hospital for debridement. Tetanus should be taken and anti-inflammatory drugs should be taken. This ointment is just an auxiliary care product and cannot withstand this serious situation. Also, if you feel more itchy, have a red rash, or even develop small blisters after applying it, it means you have an allergy. Wash it off quickly with warm water. If it is serious, take loratadine. Don't insist on continuing to apply it. By then, your face will be so rotten that you won't even have time to cry.

Let me tell you a little trick that I have used for many years. If you are burned by boiling water or hot oil, you should first rinse it with cold water for 15-20 minutes until it no longer hurts, then apply a thin layer of ointment. As long as there is no blistering, the redness and swelling will basically disappear the next day. I keep a tube in the kitchen drawer all year round. I have been using it for almost three years, and it has helped me avoid the risk of scarring several times. By the way, when buying, remember to look at the "machinery size" label on the package. Don't buy the cosmetic-size "repair ointment". That stuff is just an ordinary skin care product. If you use it on a real wound, it will cause irritation.