Three Principles of Wound Care: Key Steps are Rinsing with Running Water After Hemostasis and Maintaining a Moist Environment

When cuts, scrapes, or everyday burns occur, incorrect treatment can lead to infection or scarring. Professor Jeon Dae-won, a plastic surgery specialist at The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon ST. Mary’s Hospital, presented three core principles of wound management: cleaning, hemostasis, and keeping the wound moist so it does not dry out.

Step-by-step first aid principles to follow when a wound occurs

The first thing to do when a wound occurs is hemostasis (stopping the bleeding). It is important to press the wound area firmly with clean gauze for about 5 to 10 minutes. During this time, repeatedly lifting and reapplying the gauze to check the wound can actually damage blood vessels and cause continuous bleeding. Once hemostasis is complete, the wound should be thoroughly rinsed with running water or saline to remove foreign substances. If foreign objects such as glass shards or dirt are embedded deep within the tissue, caution is required, as attempting to remove them forcibly with unsterilized equipment can cause secondary tissue damage.

Caution is required when using disinfectants. While repeatedly using hydrogen peroxide or alcohol on a wound has the effect of killing bacteria, it can also cause chemical damage that harms normal tissue. In particular, the act of pouring alcohol into an open wound can make the wound deeper or delay epithelialization (skin regeneration). To protect the wound, it is recommended to cover it with a moisture dressing or a clean bandage.

Types of moist dressings and application methods by situation

A moist environment that maintains appropriate humidity is advantageous for wound recovery. Professor Jeon Dae-won explained that the appropriate dressing product should be selected according to the condition of the wound. For superficial wounds that are lightly scraped or after removing a mole, hydrocolloid-based products are suitable. When using these products, a white liquid may form inside, which is not pus, but a normal phenomenon where the hydrocolloid hydrates and dissolves dead tissue.

If the wound is deeper or has a lot of exudate (discharge), it is good to use polyurethane-based foam dressings. Foam dressings have a porous structure and can absorb large amounts of discharge. Recently, integrated silicone border-type dressings that can be attached without tape or bandages are also used. However, if infection is suspected, such as swelling around the wound or pus appearing, or if the exudate is so excessive that the skin becomes macerated, one should avoid forcibly applying a moist dressing.

Criteria for wounds that definitely require hospital treatment

Not all wounds can be self-treated at home. Professor Jeon Dae-won emphasized that medical attention must be sought in the following situations. First, if the wound is deep and the internal yellow fat layer, muscle, or moving tendons are visible, professional treatment is required as the full thickness is open. Additionally, if bleeding does not stop even after attempting hemostasis for more than 10 minutes, or if foreign objects are embedded too deeply to be washed away with water, one should visit a hospital.

Wounds in areas with structural specificity also require caution. Since tendons, blood vessels, and nerves pass shallowly just beneath the skin in fingers, if finger movement becomes abnormal or sensation feels different from usual after an injury, one should visit a hospital immediately. For facial areas as well, places where boundaries are important, such as eyelids, lip lines, nostrils, and earlobes, must be accurately sutured early on to reduce the difficulty of later corrective surgery. Wounds caused by animal or human bites (bite wounds) carry a very high risk of secondary infection due to bacteria in the mouth, so it is recommended to receive medical treatment regardless of the size of the wound.