In principle, all wounds should be cleaned under running water that is not too cold, in order to rinse out foreign bodies, which could be the case with abrasions, for example. Germs should also be prevented from getting into the wound in the first place, so disinfectant ointments or sprays are a very good emergency measure. They contain, for example, medicinal substances such as iodine or polyhexanide, so that alcoholic disinfectants can be dispensed with. These burn on the damaged skin and lead to irritation of damaged tissue. In addition, the size of the wound is decisive if the wound is to be treated with dressing materials. For small wounds, plasters or plaster strips are suitable; for larger wounds, special wound care products are required, also to prevent scarring, for example, or to absorb sufficient wound secretions. Smaller wounds can also be treated with plasters that have a silver coating. Silver has an antiseptic effect. Waterproof plasters are also commercially available; they do not come off the skin so quickly. Care must also be taken when using wound and healing ointments that are not sterile and lipophilic substances or ointments, as these do not absorb water and tend to form occlusions because then the wound does not receive oxygen and anaerobic germs can grow. Larger wounds and injuries such as chronic wounds, bites and severe puncture wounds, but also severe burns belong in the hands of a doctor. If the wound is oozing, it can be treated with a wound dressing containing hydrogel, or with a hydrocolloid dressing in which the outer part is a foil or semi-permeable membrane, which should not be changed until the material has absorbed enough wound secretion and is detached from the skin alone. Changing the dressing too early would possibly lead to damage to new skin cells.
