An abrasion wound usually affects the surface of the skin and in these cases usually heals without complications. Depending on the severity of an abrasion, medical professionals recommend various treatment measures after an injury.
What is an abrasion?
An abrasion on the hand is often caused by falling down and reflexively catching the body through the arms and hands. According to its name, an abrasion is a skin injury that is due to an abrasion. In most cases, an abrasion is accompanied by corresponding soreness in the affected person. Often there is also oozing of the abrasion due to the leakage of tissue fluid. Depending on the severity of the injury, an abrasion can be associated either with or without blood leaking from the wound; if blood leaks from a more severe abrasion, there is a risk of germs entering the wound. In most abrasions, however, blood does not leak because an abrasion often involves upper layers of skin that are not traversed by blood vessels. One of the characteristics of an abrasion wound is its often irregular wound edges.
Causes
An abrasion is usually the result of grazing falls, which can occur, for example, in the context of various sports. Corresponding sports include cycling, skateboarding or inline skating. However, a grazing fall and a resulting abrasion can also occur, for example, when falling against a wall or a wall with rough or rough edges. Furthermore, scraping past such rough or rough-edged materials can cause an abrasion even without a previous fall.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
An abrasion is caused by an abrasion of the skin and is characterized by fairly distinct symptoms. The most typical symptoms include minor bleeding, but this should subside after a short time. In the case of larger and deeper abrasions, heavy bleeding occurs, which should even be stopped appropriately under certain circumstances. In terms of external appearance, abrasions are usually irregular and shallow. In addition, the affected area is reddened and there is a strong burning sensation. In many cases, there is inflammation of the affected region in conjunction with an abrasion. When the wound is scraped, germs and bacteria often enter the wound, causing such inflammation. Those who let an inflammation persist without any treatment and medication must expect a significant aggravation. There is a strong formation of pus, so that the wound should be treated urgently by a doctor and medication. An abrasion is usually accompanied by definite symptoms, but these can vary in severity. If the abrasion is dirty and infested with germs, then a significant worsening of the individual symptoms must be expected. Those who seek medical treatment at an early stage can quickly and effectively combat the symptoms that occur.
Diagnosis and course
If an abrasion is diagnosed based on the appearance of a wound, a medical professional will often ask about accompanying factors such as the incident that led to the abrasion. This can be used, for example, to assess the risk of possible foreign body penetration into the abrasion. Because an abrasion can lead to infection at the wound, the individual’s current tetanus vaccination protection is usually checked; if necessary, this vaccination protection is refreshed. The course of an abrasion depends, among other things, on the severity of the injury; thus, a weak abrasion usually has a good prognosis: Healing usually occurs here after a few days. Scars also rarely occur after weak abrasions. However, if an abrasion affects not only the epidermis but also deeper layers of the skin, the healing process can extend over several weeks. The risk for festering infections of an abrasion and remaining scars is higher with a deep abrasion than with a superficial wound.
Complications
Contamination can lead to infection of an abrasion. This can lead to inflammation, tetanus and, in rare cases, blood poisoning. If the wound becomes infected, this can lead to serious wound healing problems.Extensive abrasions that bleed profusely can sometimes cause anemia. In addition, the injury may cause shock. Injuries that occur as part of a serious accident may result in trauma that must be worked through in conversation with a therapist. If an abrasion does not heal properly, the development of a scar is likely. Sensory disturbances in the area of the injury also occasionally occur. In addition, the wound or scar may ooze and cause unpleasant sensations on the skin. If an abrasion is treated incorrectly, infections may occur or scars may develop. In addition, allergic reactions to the materials and agents used may occur. Especially if creams and powders are used improperly, unpleasant skin reactions may occur and the wound may become inflamed or scarred. The use of painkillers is accompanied by the typical side effects and interactions such as limb and muscle pain, fatigue and headaches.
When should you see a doctor?
Whether a doctor should be consulted is usually determined by the extent of the wound. If the abrasion is deep enough to cause a lot of blood loss, a doctor should be consulted in any case. Also, if the wound has a yellowish coating after a few days, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Also, if the affected person feels a throbbing or warm sensation in the area of the injury, it is imperative to seek medical attention. Failure to contact the doctor in these cases may result in painful inflammation. Furthermore, blood poisoning can result from lack of disinfection. To avoid these unsightly late consequences, a doctor should be consulted for serious abrasions. If it is only a small, not weeping or bleeding wound, the treatment by a doctor is not mandatory.
Treatment and therapy
Just like the course of an abrasion, the appropriate treatment of an abrasion is related to the severity of the injury: If a superficial abrasion is present that is not bleeding, it is often sufficient to clean the wound under cold running tap water and apply a disinfectant within the first hour after the injury. Further treatment measures are often not necessary, as the natural healing process begins immediately after the injury. A small abrasion pre-treated in this way can be left without a plaster or, if covered by clothing, protected with an appropriate wound covering. If the graze is more severe, bleeds and shows signs of inflammation, it is often advisable to have the wound treated by a medical professional: the graze is now usually professionally cleaned and dressed with a bandage, which should be changed daily to monitor the healing process. The dressing can then often be dispensed with in consultation with the attending physician if a protective scab has formed on the abrasion. This scab protects the newly forming skin at the injured skin site.
Prevention
It is possible to prevent an abrasion only to a limited extent, for example, by ensuring appropriate protective clothing during risky sports activities or corresponding occupational activities. In the case of inline skating, appropriate protective equipment can consist of, among other things, protectors for knees and elbows. To prevent possible infections in the case of a more serious abrasion, for example, appropriate wound treatment and vaccination protection are important.
Aftercare
In most cases, abrasions heal quickly and without complications, provided that the initial treatment was proper. Nevertheless, patients with abrasions should inspect the injury regularly to determine if any problems develop with wound healing. In particular, severe redness and a feeling of heat that does not subside after a few days indicate inflammation, which should be assessed by a physician. Otherwise, it is advisable to take it easy on the injured area of the body. Depending on the location of the injury, protective wound dressings are recommended, for example. In the case of abrasions to stressed joints, sports should be avoided until the wound has healed completely. If the size of the wound has made a dressing necessary, the first dressing change should be made after 24 to 48 hours at the earliest. If the dressing sticks to the wound, it can be loosened with saline solution.Under no circumstances should a stuck bandage be torn off abruptly, because then the wound can tear open again. If the abrasion is already closed, a wound and healing ointment can accelerate healing and prevent irritating itching. The latter is important because scratching the wound can interfere with wound healing and lead to inflammation.
What you can do yourself
The abrasion is an everyday and often harmless medical event, which in many cases can be adequately treated with self-help. In this context, it is important that the wound is largely free of contamination. This applies to particles of dirt as well as traces of rust, paint, chemicals or similar negative influences. Disinfection, for example with iodine, may be advisable. It is often sufficient to simply allow an abrasion to dry and heal in the fresh air. Bandaging is sometimes only necessary for larger areas or if the affected skin area is exposed to constant stress in everyday life or at work. It is usually sufficient in the case of the abrasion to simply wait until the natural scab has formed. It protects the superficial wound until the skin under it has regenerated. After that, it falls off on its own. This means, in turn, that the scab should not be removed in a single-minded way, because it may be a nuisance. An abrasion should be protected from infection as best as possible and observed in this regard. Throbbing and redness indicate an infection of the site, which should then be cooled and spared. To rule out blood poisoning, going to the doctor for a brief checkup is then often helpful.
