Wound Care Mistakes: 7 Blunders to Avoid
You’ve suffered a minor scrape or cut. You race to the bathroom, splash water on it, and reach for the Neosporin. You might even know better than to do that. But it turns out you might be making common wound care mistakes that will prolong your healing time.
If you’re experiencing pain from a wound, taking the necessary steps to care for it properly is essential. Unfortunately, many people make common mistakes that can worsen their pain and slow healing.
From wound dressing mistakes to plucking the affected part, here are six common wound care blunders and how to avoid them.


7 Wound Care Mistakes That Could Worsen Your Pain
1. Not knowing when to seek medical attention
One of the biggest mistakes people make in wound care is not knowing when to seek medical attention. If the wound is bleeding profusely, is deep, or if you are experiencing fever, chills, or nausea, it’s best to consult with a doctor.
Other wound care blunders that could worsen your pain include: using human saliva to clean a wound, not changing dressings often enough, and failing to keep the wound moist.
If you’re not sure how to care for a wound, consult with your doctor or a trusted health professional.


2.Not cleaning the wound properly
Another common wound care mistake is not cleaning the affected part properly. Getting all the dirt and debris out of the wound is essential to the healing process.
If you’re unsure how to care for a wound, ask your doctor or nurse for instructions. There are many ways to clean an injury, just find one that works best for you and stick to it.
Then, clean the wound daily, using sterile gauze or saline solution as needed.
3.Not using the right dressing
When caring for a wound, it’s crucial to use the right dressing, and applying the wrong one can worsen the situation. For example, using a band aid instead of a gauze pad can delay the healing process.
Here are some other common wound dressing mistakes:
● Not changing the dressing often enough
● Putting too much pressure on the wound
● Applying a cold compress when the injury is hot
Lastly, don’t let your injury get wet, as this could slow the healing process.
4. Not Monitoring the wound for infection
It’s essential to watch out for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, discharge, and pain. If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away.
If possible, go for a first aid training course to learn more about wound care.
5. Trying to self-medicate
Perhaps the most widespread wound care blunder is trying to self-medicate. This can include using home remedies like hydrogen peroxide or applying pressure to the wound. While these methods may seem like a good idea, they can do more harm than good.
If you’re experiencing pain from a wound, it’s best to speak with a doctor or nurse about the best way to care for it. They will be able to provide you with the proper care instructions and recommend the best course of treatment for your situation.
6. Not following up with a doctor
One of the biggest wound care mistakes is not following up with a doctor.
If you’re experiencing pain from a wound, it’s crucial to follow up with a doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes injuries worsen due to more severe conditions, like an infection, and require antibiotics or other treatment.
Not following up with a doctor could lead to further pain and discomfort and even worsen the wound. So if you’re experiencing any pain or unusual symptoms from an injury, schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately.
7. Trying to pop or pick your wound
If you’re experiencing pain from a wound, the temptation to pop or pick at it can be overwhelming. But doing so could make your injury worse and prolong the healing process. Do notscratch or try to remove the dead skin around a wound before it heals completely.
Note: Different Wounds Require Different Forms of Care
Wound care can be challenging due to the different nature of injuries, but don’t worry; we’re here to help. Read on for advice on how to care for a wound to ensure a quick and easy recovery.
The most important thing to remember is that different wounds require different forms of care. For example, cuts and scrapes can be cleaned with warm water and soap, while deeper lacerations may require aseptic techniques and antibiotics.
It’s also essential to track how your wound is healing over time. If it seems to be getting worse instead of better, consult a doctor immediately.
4 Signs Your Wound is Worsening
Wound care mistakes can worsen your wound. The following signs are a red flag your injury is getting worse, and you need to take action:
1. Increased pain and soreness.
If your wound is healing and you’re not experiencing any new redness or swelling, an increase in pain or soreness could signal that it’s getting worse.
2. Redness, swelling, or inflammation
If you notice redness around your wound — whether on the surface, under the skin, or inside a joint — this could be a sign that it’s getting worse.
3. Discharge or drainage from the wound.
If your wound begins to ooze fluid, this might indicate an infection and further worsening of the injury. But it can also mean the injury is worsening or infection is spreading elsewhere in your body, e.g., the bloodstream (sepsis).
4. New areas of redness around the wound.
Redness around your wound indicates it’s getting worse. However, this does not necessarily mean that an infection has begun to set in at that point. There may just be some new blood vessels forming within the area where the old ones were broken down.
5. You’re feeling sick
If you have an open wound and you begin to feel ill from the pain, fever, and chills that can accompany infection, it’s time to seek medical attention.
In the worst cases, you have signs of shock, such as low blood pressure (hypotension) or an abnormally fast heart rate (tachycardia).
How to Care for a Wound: Best Practices to Encourage Wound Healing
Wounds are common, especially among children. They can occur in areas of the body that are vulnerable to injury and infection, such as on the hands and feet.

a medical staff doing a correct wound dressing procedure to a patient to prevent wound care mistakes.

Author credit: By Staff Sgt. R.J. Biermann – https://www.dvidshub.net/image/402354, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40706213

Wounds require specialized treatment to heal properly. The best way to avoid complications from wound care mistakes is to prevent them from occurring in the first place.
Follow these best practices to care for your wound:
1. Don loose-fitting clothing
Wear loose-fitting clothing made of natural fibers such as cotton (for bedclothes) or wool (for socks), which allow air circulation, promote healthy skin, and lessens sweating.
These two factors can lead to body odor and bacterial growth on warm surfaces like beds or couches, which may increase the risk of developing an athlete’s foot or other skin.
2. Don’t rub or scrub the wound
You’ll also want to avoid rubbing or scrubbing your wound if possible. This can cause the skin around it to become raw or irritated, which will make healing more difficult.
Instead, gently pat away any dirt, lint, or other debris from your wound with clean tissue paper so it doesn’t get trapped under the bandage.
3. Avoid Band-Aids
Never use Band-Aids if you don’t have to because they don’t help speed up healing time and may even cause more problems than they solve. This is one of the most common dressing mistakes.
Instead, seek medical attention as soon as possible if you need it!
4. Rest
Rest is essential for healthy tissue repair and growth — especially if you have an injury or surgery.
If you’re not feeling well enough to sleep at night (or if you have an extended hospital stay), consider taking naps during the day instead of lying down for long periods. Studies show that napping may help prevent fatigue from interfering with wound healing.
5. Keep cuts clean and dry
Keep cuts clean and dry by applying a sterile dressing once daily until they heal properly. You can also use hydrogen peroxide diluted 1% with water or saline solution instead of plain water so that it stays clear.
Nevertheless, avoid using alcohol-based hand sanitizers when cleaning wounds since alcohol dries out the skin and can make it more susceptible to bacterial growth.
6. Eat a balanced diet
Eat well. You want to supply your body with all the vital nutrients so your immune system can speed up the recovery process!
Last Advice on Wound Care Mistakes
Again, although it may sound basic, the best advice is to discuss your wound with your doctor, who may have extra tips or advice on wound care.
Giving the wrong treatment can lead to scarring and complicate the healing process.