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Wound cleaning and dressing are very important first steps when we get a wound. Whether the wound heals well or has complications, such as wound infection, it is caused by this step.
Therefore, it is considered something that must be well taken care of from the beginning until the wound heals. The steps for cleaning the wound, dressing the wound, why do we have to clean the wound every day according to the doctor’s appointment? And how to take care of the wound after dressing the wound? Let’s see.
Things you should know about wound care and wound cleaning
- What is wound cleaning?
- Steps for wound care and general wound cleaning
- Steps for wound care, cleaning of abscess/pus scars
- Why do we need to clean and treat wounds every day?
- What to do if you forget to clean the wound?
- What procedures require wound cleaning (and why)?
- How to care for a wound after dressing it at home
- Wound care and cleaning expenses
What is wound cleaning?
Wound cleaning is the process of cleaning and removing foreign objects from the wound, dressing and supporting the wound. The purpose of wound cleaning is to prevent germs from entering the wound through the skin, prevent the wound from becoming more damaged and help stimulate the wound to heal faster. Wound cleaning is divided into 2 methods.
Dry dressing
It is a wound cleaning that does not require moisture. It helps the wound heal. It is used to clean wounds that are closed, such as surgical wounds that are clean and sutured. Suitable for patients whose wounds are not inflamed and have no discharge from the wound. 
Wet dressing
It is a wound cleaning that requires moisture. It is used to clean open wounds and when there is tissue loss to help remove foreign matter or dead tissue, such as pressure sores, purulent wounds, surgical wounds that are infected and the wound edges are separated, etc. It is suitable for wounds that have secretions and inflammation in the wound area.
Interested in receiving wound care and wound cleaning services?
Steps for wound care and general wound cleaning
Every step of the procedure must use strict aseptic techniques to prevent external pathogens from entering the patient’s wound and prevent the spread of pathogens from the wound to the outside.
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Prepare equipment and position the patient to facilitate wound dressing and cleaning.
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Open the patient’s wound. If it is a plastic wound dressing, peel it off in the same direction as the hair growth, not against the growth of the hair, as this may cause pain to the patient. Use your fingers to press the surrounding skin to reduce skin pulling. If it is a cloth wound dressing, peel it off slowly and carefully. If the wound is dry, the patient may feel pain and there may be some wound tissue peeling off. Using saline to clean the wound and thoroughly cover the entire wound dressing before peeling it off can help.
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Open the wound cleaning kit and pour in the wound cleaning solution, such as 0.9% saline, 70% alcohol, or 10% povidone-iodine.
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To clean a dry wound, use forceps without teeth to hold a cotton ball soaked in wound cleaning solution, about 2/3 of the ball or just damp. Place the forceps with teeth on it and wipe it close to the edge of the wound and circle outward from the edge of the wound about 2-3 inches until clean.
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Wet wound cleaning: Clean the wound edges in the same way as dry wound cleaning, and use a cotton swab soaked in wound cleaning solution to wipe the inside of the wound until clean. Then use gauze soaked in the solution and put it in the wound to kill germs, absorb secretions, and moisturize the tissue.
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Cover the wound with gauze and apply a plaster across the body.
Wound care steps, cleaning of abscess/pus scars
Wound irrigation is performed on open wounds that are deep, have pus draining from the wound, and have dead tissue stuck to the wound. The procedure is the same as for wet wound irrigation , and a syringe is used to draw up the solution into the wound. The wound is irrigated until clean, and the wound is closed.
Why do we need to clean and treat wounds every day?
- Wound care to prevent contamination of dirt or germs from entering the skin wound.
- Promote wound healing process
- To observe wound changes, monitor wound inflammation and infection.
What to do if you forget to clean the wound?
See a doctor or health officer to assess the wound condition, including swelling, redness, and pus, to properly clean and treat the wound , and consider taking antibiotics if infection is found.
- Excision surgery is performed to prevent the accumulation of exudate in the wound, which makes the wound shallower.
- Nail extraction procedure because it results in a condition suitable for complete tissue growth.
How to care for wounds at home
- Avoid getting the wound dirty or wet, as this will cause the wound to heal slowly and become inflamed and infected.
- The wound should be cleaned at least once a day, or more if the wound is very oozing, and the stitches should be removed as scheduled, which is usually around 7 days.
- Take care not to wrap the bandage too tightly for the first 24-48 hours after the injury.
- Cold compresses cause blood vessels to constrict, reducing the amount of blood flowing to the wound, which helps reduce swelling.
- Applying heat after applying cold compresses will cause blood vessels to expand, increasing blood flow to the wound, and relaxing the muscles, thus reducing pain.
- Elevate the wound area to facilitate blood and lymph flow back, which helps reduce swelling.
- Get adequate nutrients that are beneficial to the wound healing process, such as vitamin A.
- Vitamin B, Vitamin C and protein because nutrients are necessary for the production of red blood cells and collagen fibers.
- Resting the body and the injured organs as much as possible will help prevent further injury.
Hot Line 
Suphansa Niawbupha ,M.D.
General Practitioner
Last modified: 08/02/2024
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