How long should you apply wound care ointment before you need to apply it

For ordinary superficial acute wounds without infection, the wound care ointment can be applied for 7 to 14 days at most. If it heals quickly, it can even be stopped in 3 to 5 days. There is no need to deliberately extend the use time.

A while ago, I helped a friend who fell while camping to treat a bruise on his forearm. There was only a little blood but no deep wound. I disinfected it with povidone iodine every day and applied a thin layer of zinc oxide-containing nursing cream to isolate bacteria and prevent infection. On the fourth day, the wound scabbed and there was no pain to the touch. I asked him to stop using the cream and the scab fell off naturally within two days and he was completely healed.

However, this time is not a hard and fast standard. There are currently different clinical treatment ideas. If the wound happens to be in a location such as the elbow socket or knee that is frequently moved and easily rubbed by clothing, or the elderly or diabetic people heal slowly, you can also apply it for 2 to 3 days for consolidation, but try not to exceed the 2 week threshold. After all, the core functions of ordinary wound care creams are to moisturize, block external bacteria, and reduce friction and irritation. Once the wound has completely grown new pink epithelial tissue, the skin barrier has been rebuilt. If you continue to use the cream, it will leave the delicate new skin in a high-humidity environment for a long time. The tolerance of the stratum corneum will be weakened, and it will easily become red and itchy at the slightest touch, which will slow down the recovery.

Of course, it’s a completely different story if you encounter chronic wounds. When I was helping to sort out cases in social health, I met an aunt with pressure ulcers who was bedridden for a long time. The doctor prescribed a medical care ointment with ingredients that promote epidermal growth. It took almost two months for the wound to completely flatten out. In this case, there is no need to stick to the upper limit of 14 days. You have to follow the dressing change rhythm of the attending doctor. Don’t stop the medicine or increase the dosage at will.

Many people now confuse ordinary wound care ointment with scar removal ointment, thinking that they are both applied on wounds and that applying them for a while can reduce scars. In fact, the two are completely different. Ordinary nursing ointments only apply to the stage before the wound is completely healed. If you want to reduce the scars, you have to wait until the scabs have completely fallen off and the wound has fully grown, and then you can switch to a specialized silicone scar removal product. That kind of product can be used for two to three months, but if you apply ordinary nursing ointments as a scar removal product for a few months, it really has no effect except dulling the skin.

Oh, yes, there is another special situation that you should pay attention to. If you suddenly find a rash or severe itching around the wound while applying the nursing cream, you must stop immediately regardless of whether you have only used it for a day or two. Rinse it with saline and seek medical attention immediately. There is a high probability that you are allergic to the bacteriostatic and preservative ingredients in the cream. Don’t insist on using it and may cause contact dermatitis.