Ask a Dermatologist: Wound Healing Fact vs Myth
Here are some myths surrounding wound healing:
Small wounds can be ignored ❎
Deeper wounds are more painful ❎
Open wounds without plaster heal faster ❎
Scars are unavoidable ❎
And here’s what to do in just 3 simple steps when you have a wound for optimal healing
Step 1: CLEANSE with a polyhexanide wound spray
Step 2: PROTECT with a 99% bacteria-resistant plaster
Step 3: HEAL with an ointment for an ideal moist wound healing environment
Cleansing is the fundamental step to to remove bacteria, dirt, excess wound exudate and cell debris. A clean and cleansed wound is the 1st step for optimal healing.
Here are some tips on how to cleanse your wound properly:
✅Choose the right antiseptic
✅Use cleanse-specific products such as wound sprays
✅Formulated for painless wound cleansing
✅Alcohol-free
✅Does not cause stinging during application or dry the skin
✅Well-tolerated, unlike iodine which could be allergenic
Dermatologist’s three-step wound care routine: cleanse, protect and heal.
Why are moist wound healing environments preferred over dry scabs?
Key to the last step is keeping the wound moist. Plasters and ointments promote wound healing by creating a moist wound microenvironment. This allows cells to migrate and regenerate efficiently, reducing the risk of scarring and infection.
Applying an ointment formulated for wound healing helps speed up healing up to 2x faster & also reduces scarring compared to an untreated wound. Advanced plaster technologies such as hydrocolloid or wound healing ointments are designed to maintain a moist wound microenvironment. Migration of epidermal cells is optimised, by preventing dehydration and preserving growth factors, new skin cells grow quickly while dead tissues and fibrin are broken down.
Here’s a three-step wound care routine: cleanse, protect and heal.
We’ve covered step 1 in the last video, zooming in on step 2, we learn how protection with a plaster is key to prevent wound infections and support faster healing.
A plaster is a key barrier that shields wounds from the external environment and contaminants such as water, dirt and microbes. It helps to seal and maintain a moist wound healing environment for optimal healing. Additionally the wound pad absorbs blood/secretions and provides an extra layer of cushioning that reduces painful contact.
Hansaplast has a wide range of plasters which are proven to block 99% of bacteria* from entering the wound, besides protection from contamination, it is important to seal the wound to prevent reopening of the wound/scab. This provides an undisturbed healing process until the damaged skin has regenerated.