Common At-Home Wound Care Mistakes You Should Avoid

Whether your wound is the result of an accidental injury or you are recovering from a medical procedure such as surgery, you will need to care for your wound to prevent infection and further complications. There can be a great deal of misinformation floating around about wound care that can lead to severe negative effects on your health, so our foot and ankle specialists at Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute have put together some wound care tips which focus on common mistakes made at home.

Don’t Make These Mistakes At Home

Whether you are caring for your own wounds or those of a loved one, it is important that you follow proper procedures and the directions given to you by a medical professional. As your Provo, Utah, foot doctor, our clinic has seen the results of problematic at-home wound care, and we want to help our patients make the best decisions about their health when we are not around. Here are some common at-home wound care mistakes you should definitely avoid.

Forget To Clean The Wound

It is vital that you take the time and energy to properly and carefully clean your wounds before applying any dressing, especially looking for any debris or dirt that may have gotten trapped in the wound. Anything that is not supposed to be against the skin or absorbed through the pores can be a potential cause of infection. The use of running water and tweezers may be sufficient to ensure any and all foreign debris has been removed. Once that has been completed, you can use a washcloth and soap or another wound cleanser you have to finish cleaning the exposed area.

Leave The Wound Exposed

Once you have cleaned your wound, it is critical that you cover the wound as quickly as possible. The longer it is exposed the more likely it is to attract dirt or debris which can lead to an infection. After doing all of the work to fully and thoroughly clean the wound, you would not want to expose it to the outside world any longer than is necessary to get the proper coverings on it.

Not Seeking Medical Attention

The whole reason that doctors and nurses have spent so much time in medical school is to be able to provide their patients with the best possible care. Take advantage of their expertise! You may not think your wound is serious or need to be examined by a professional, but you won’t know for sure until you are checked out. They will be able to determine if any tests or scans are necessary or if there is potential for complications that you may not be aware of. Why take the risk?

Contact Our Foot And Ankle Specialist

At Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute, we have the experience and expertise needed to help you care for wounds on your feet, toes, and ankles. We understand the importance of the feet as the foundation for your body, so we want to ensure that you are in tip-top shape and can live your best, fullest life. We have provided some wound care tips here, but if you are in pain or think there is an issue in your feet or ankles, contact us as soon as possible to make an appointment and let our Provo, Utah, foot doctor examine your condition.