Open wounds, various types and how to handle them

A wound is damage to the skin or underlying tissue as a result of a physical injury. There are several different types of wounds, one of which is an open wound.

Most of the time, open wounds are just small wounds that can heal in the near future, but there are also wounds of a serious nature and should be treated by a professional. Check out the explanation about the following open wounds.

What are open wounds?

A wound is said to be open if it damages the outermost layer of skin. This damaged layer of skin will reveal the underlying tissue. If not treated immediately, the lower tissue that is exposed to the outside environment can be at risk of infection.

Once the wound has become infected, this will prolong the healing process for the wound. Bacteria and dirt can also release toxic substances that make it difficult to heal wounds. Therefore, it is important to prevent infections that have a negative impact on wound healing.

Based on the severity, open wounds are divided into the following classifications.

Superficial: wound with the lightest intensity, only on the epidermis layer (outer layer of skin).
Partial thickness: deeper than the wound superficial, This wound damages the epidermis layer and the upper dermis layer.
Full thickness: the wound has included damage to the subcutaneous tissue, which is the place where fat, sweat glands, and collagen cells are located.
Deep and complicated: the worst type of wound, the depth has reached the muscle, bone, or organ of the body.

Types of open wounds and their causes

Open wounds come in several different types. Of course, these types are important for you to know because each has a different way of handling.

1. Abrasion (abrasions)

Abrasion or more commonly called abrasions are sores that arise due to skin rubbing on a hard and rough surface. These sores can cause a small amount of the outermost layer of skin (epidermis) to be eroded.

Blisters belong to the type of minor wounds and are the simplest to treat. The duration of wound healing also usually will not take a long time. The blisters will only cause minimal bleeding and the majority will heal without leaving scars.

However, if the area of the blister is larger or it affects the top of the dermis, the wound can cause scar tissue to appear after it heals later.

2.Lacerations (lacerations)

Also known as a laceration on the skin, a laceration is an open wound that causes the underlying tissue to be cut or torn.

Most of the time, these injuries are caused by accidents in the kitchen when using knives or other sharp tools. This wound does not involve the removal of the epidermal layer.

3. Burns

Burns can be caused by exposure to excess heat, but sometimes they can also be caused by prolonged contact with objects or air with extreme cold temperatures.

Burns can appear mild or severe. In severe burns, the effects can make a person go into shock or even threaten his life.

The causes vary, ranging from exposure to sunlight, contact with fire, electricity, or chemicals contained in certain products.

4. Stab wound

source: EmedicineHealth

Puncture wounds arise from skin contact with sharp sharp objects such as nails or needles. Often times, these wounds don't bleed much. However, puncture wounds are more at risk of becoming infected, especially if the puncture is deep.

This is because the area that is punctured deeper is moist and warm, so it can be an ideal place for bacteria to breed. In addition, stab wounds also tend to be difficult to clean.

5. Blisters

These open sores are often the result of touching an object that is very hot, such as when the skin is exposed to exhaust. Sometimes blisters can also be caused by friction or allergic reactions to certain substances.

How to deal with open wounds

If the wound is mild, you can treat it yourself at home. Of course, the thing to do after the skin is injured is to provide first aid.

In fact, each type of wound requires different treatment. However, in general, there are steps you can take for minor injuries.

First, wash your hands before doing help to prevent contamination of the wound. Then, clean the wound under running water.

Indeed, there is an assumption that open wounds should not be exposed to water because water itself is not necessarily clean and free from germs. It is feared that this can cause infection and worsen the wound, so that healing will also take longer.

In fact, washing can actually reduce the risk of wound infection, if the water used is clean and not contaminated. For that, use clear water and avoid washing the wound for too long. After that, dry the area with a clean towel or cloth.

Next, you can apply wound medicine or antibiotics to prevent infection. If the wound forms a circle or is slightly broad, you can cover it with a bandage.

This is done to keep the wound area dry and clean and to protect the newly formed skin cells.

Make sure you regularly change the bandages and bandages you use every day or after they feel dirty and damp to keep the wound clean.

Factors that influence the healing of open wounds

At first glance, these minor open wounds can heal without any other accompanying problems. However, there are still some things that can make the healing process take longer.

One of the main factors determining the speed of healing is an adequate supply of blood to the wound. This is because nutrients in the blood such as vitamin C, iron, and protein have an important role in the formation of new skin cells that will help heal wounds.

Therefore, it is better for you to start eating healthy foods with balanced nutritional content. You can find various nutrients in fruits (strawberries, oranges), vegetables (spinach), and protein foods (milk, eggs, meat).

Apart from nutrition, oxygen is also very much needed in the process of healing open wounds. One of the things that can lower the level of oxygen in the blood is smoking. This is caused by the presence of carbon monoxide which enters the blood cells when you smoke.

If you want the wound to heal faster, avoid it as much as possible and stop smoking.

Not all types of open wounds can be treated alone

The method of dealing with the wound above only applies if the type of wound is minor and not so serious. Keep in mind, not all types of wounds you can treat and clean yourself. Some types of wounds need to be handled by a health worker in a clinic or hospital.

Note the characteristics of open wounds that should be treated medically below.