How to Heal a Minor Infected Wound

Any time you break through the barrier of your skin, whether with a small or large wound, take careful measures to prevent infection. Severely infected wounds are dangerous and need to be treated by health care professional promptly. Minor infections can normally be self-treated with careful monitoring and by following a few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Antibiotic cream
• Wound antiseptic (optional)
• Bandages

Instructions

1. Clean the wound and keep it clean. Clean the wound and change the bandage once in the morning and once in the evening. Wash with water. For extra cleaning, use a wound antiseptic. Pat dry

2. Apply an antibiotic cream. This will to clear infection, prevent further infection, speed healing and minimize the appearance of scars.

3. Apply a bandage. The bandage should sufficiently cover the entire wound and seal around it.

4. Be patient and continue to monitor the wound closely. Contact a doctor immediately if you observe spreading redness or swelling, fever, chills or tender lymph nodes.

Tips & Warnings

• If the wound or bandage gets wet or dirty during the day, repeat the cleaning process and apply a new bandage

• The length of time it takes the wound to heal depends on factors such as the size of wound and its location on body; areas that receive a greater blood supply will heal faster. If you do not see any difference in three to four days, consult a doctor.

• A wound that is more than 1/4 inch deep, gaping or has fat or muscle protruding usually requires stitches. See a doctor immediately.

References

• Cleveland Clinic Overview on Wound Healing
• The Use of Antispectics in Wound Healing
• Neosporin