Wound Care Myths

We’re in the midst of wrestling season for most high schools, which means lots of wound care for us Athletico athletic trainers. We often encounter a lot of myths or old wives’ tales on this subject that unfortunately keep getting perpetuated. These myths can actually delay healing and cause unnecessary pain. So let’s go through step by step of how a minor cut or abrasion should be treated.

It’s the New Year and you’ve decided to get in shape. You start your couch-to-5k program and manage to slip on some ice, scraping your knee on the sidewalk. You know you should clean the wound so you reach for that trusty brown bottle of hydrogen peroxide and douse the area causing both searing pain and those bubbles which mean it’s getting clean. No pain, no gain right?

Myth #1: Hydrogen peroxide is best for cleaning out a wound

Truth: It is recommended to use either both soap and water or a wound wash made of saline. The saline solution is the same pH as our body and can be used to irrigate the wound without pain. Soap and water is readily available and is extremely effective at removing bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide should not be used to clean out wounds. Those tiny bubbles that are supposedly getting the wound nice and clean are actually causing cell death, specifically your cells. Studies show that hydrogen peroxide has no additional antimicrobial properties over plain tap water¹. It’s painful with no additional benefits. For the same reason, alcohol should also not be used to clean out a wound, as it also harms healthy tissue. Ouch!

Now that the wound is nice and clean, you leave it uncovered to ‘air out’. Some nice fresh air to let the wound scab over will make it heal.

Myth #2: Leaving a wound uncovered to scab over will help it heal faster.

Truth: Keep a clean bandage over that wound! Not only will it prevent germs and dirt from entering the wound, studies have shown that a moist or ‘wet’ environment will heal a wound at a faster rate than in a dry environment. Scabbing has been shown to cause more scarring².

You think to yourself: well, as long as you’re going to keep it covered you might as well reach for that tube of medicated ointment to slather on multiple times a day (hopefully it’s not expired!). That will heal that wound faster!

Myth #3: Using Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic ointment will heal the wound faster.

Truth: Neosporin is marketed for the prevention and fighting of infections and speeding the healing of wounds. However there is little data supporting these claims and in clinical trials, Neosporin is not more effective that simple petroleum jelly³. A majority of wounds will heal just fine without the need of antibiotic ointment. There is actually a higher chance of developing a rash from the ointment than getting an infection. Approximately 11% of people have an allergic response to neomycin, an ingredient in antibiotic ointment⁴. If the wound is kept clean there is little need to apply this type of ointment. Utilizing antibiotics when there is no need can contribute to bacterial resistance.  To keep the wound moist, applying petroleum jelly is more effective.

Using these tips can help cut your recovery time from minor cuts and abrasions. Bust those wound care myths and throw out that painful brown bottle!

• http://www.healthcenter.vt.edu/assets/docs/WoundCare.pdf
• http://www.surgerysupplements.com/how-to-heal-open-wounds-faster/
• http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/01/health/01real.html?_r=1&
• https://arborfoot.wordpress.com/2014/04/23/why-i-dont-recommend-triple-antibiotic-ointment-anymore/