Skin scrapes

[Thelmarina]

The effects of ageing, (I’m 73), and Pred mean that I have to be very careful not to scrape the skin - but that doesn’t always work. So I am a mini expert on what to do when the inevitable brush against a hard surface results in the skin folding back like tissue paper. If it’s very deep go to A&E. They have a fabulous dressing you don’t get in your GP practice unless lucky. It reduces scarring and keeps the wound clear of infection. So, the info.

Don’t disinfect the wound if possible. The nurse told me the body produces its own protection. If you do disinfect use a very mild lotion.

Try to ease the folded back skin over the wound as far as you can, tweezers can help. Cover with a hydrocolloid (wet) dressing and leave for five days or so. You can see through the dressing and the yellow is the gel not pus. When you change the dressing sluice the wound with saline water and leave to dry. If it’s a bit bloody still I use an antiseptic wipe to clear it. I also use tape to secure the dressing when I shower. Transpore 3M is the one that removes easily without more scratches and pain! If your dressing does get wet change it at once. It can take three weeks to heal depending on the kind of tear so you have to be patient. The result is worth it however. No antibiotics for an infected wound and a pretty good pale pink patch. I view mine as a timeline 😂 I do hope this helps. The pic shows the products I’ve found to be most successful. Obviously this is what works for me and you will have your own methods and discoveries but I thought it worth sharing and perhaps opening the discussion 😀

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Super post Thelmarina - thank you!

[SheffieldJane]

Very helpful. Thanks for sharing!

[Hidden]

A good post Thelmarine, it's a problem many of us experience. I have a battle scarred arm to prove it.

[scats]

That's very helpful, thanks. My father had this problem and I was always patching him up, until he fell against a door frame and tore the skin right down his arm. A very kind young nurse spent ages pulling his skin back into place and securring it with 42 steri strips!

[Thelmarina in reply to scats]

I forgot to mention seri strips. They can be useful too!

[EdithWales]

Thank you. I have been doing this for years, like you I am am an expert,the only difference is I use Inadine, I think you can get it over the counter, but the iodine is wonderful. I keep the equipment with me as I regularly injure myself.

I took a huge half moon chunk out of my calf, tripping over myself, it’s taken a month to heal and I have an impressive scar. What amazes me is that it heals so well and the scars eventually go.

It’s good when we can manage ourselves.

🥂

[York54]

Thankyou for sharing this x

[S4ndy]

Brilliant post! You can now buy packs of smaller hydrocolloid plasters in pharmacies too. These are useful for small skin catches.

My GP used to give me a box of Duoderm dressings on prescription but now due to prescribing restrictions I can't get them unless I actually have a wound. So my solution was to buy them online as they are invaluable. Amazon, eBay and online chemists stock them. They are a bit pricey but worth it in my opinion.

I also keep steristrips, micropore tape, Duoderm dressings and also breathable non adhesive absorbent dressings as my basic first aid kit when an ordinary plaster just won't do it

[EdithWales in reply to S4ndy]

Again me too. It’s essential to be prepared, nothing worse than dripping bright red blood everywhere and others panicking, us experts are use to it and just deal with it. Take care 🥂