A graze usually affects the surface of the skin and in these cases usually heals without complications. Depending on the severity of an abrasion, doctors recommend different treatment measures after an injury.
What is a graze?
According to its name, a graze is a skin injury that can be traced back to an abrasion. In most cases, a graze on the affected person is accompanied by corresponding wound pain. See beautyphoon for What is Hypothyroidism Disease.
Often there is also a weeping of the abrasion due to the leakage of tissue fluid. Depending on the severity of the injury, a graze can either be associated with or without bleeding from the wound; if blood leaks from a severe abrasion, there is a risk of germs penetrating the wound.
However, most abrasions do not result in blood leakage, as abrasions often affect the upper layers of the skin that are not traversed by blood vessels. Characteristic of an abrasion are, among other things, their often irregular wound edges.
Causes
A graze is usually the result of grazing falls, which can occur, for example, in the context of various sports. Corresponding sports include cycling, skateboarding and inline skating.
However, grazing falls and a resulting abrasion can also occur, for example, when falling against a wall or a wall that is rough or has rough edges. Scratching past such rough or rough-edged materials can also cause an abrasion even without a previous fall.
Symptoms, Ailments & Signs
A graze is caused by abrasion of the skin and is characterized by fairly definite symptoms. The most typical symptoms include minor bleeding, which should subside after a short time. In the case of larger and deeper abrasions, heavy bleeding occurs, which may even need to be stopped accordingly.
Externally, abrasions are usually irregular and flat. In addition, the affected area is red and there is a strong burning sensation. In many cases, the affected region becomes inflamed in connection with a graze. When the wound is grazed, germs and bacteria often get into the wound and cause such an inflammation.
Anyone who lets an inflammation persist without any treatment or medication must expect a significant deterioration. There is a strong formation of pus, so that the wound should be treated urgently by a doctor and medication. A graze is usually accompanied by clear symptoms, which can vary in severity. If the abrasion is dirty and infested with germs, then a significant worsening of the individual symptoms must be expected. Anyone who seeks medical treatment at an early stage can combat the symptoms that occur quickly and effectively.
Diagnosis & History
If an abrasion is diagnosed based on the appearance of a wound, a medical professional will often ask about other factors, such as the incident that led to the abrasion. For example, it can be assessed how high the risk of foreign bodies penetrating the abrasion is.
Since abrasions can lead to infections in the wound, the affected person ‘s current tetanus vaccination protection is usually checked; if necessary, this vaccination protection is refreshed.
The course of an abrasion depends, among other things, on the severity of the injury; a minor abrasion usually has a good prognosis: it usually heals after a few days. Even minor abrasions rarely result in scars.
If an abrasion not only affects the epidermis, but also deeper skin layers, the healing process can take a few weeks. The risk of suppurating infections of an abrasion and leaving scars is higher with a deep abrasion than with a superficial wound.
Complications
Contamination can lead to infection of an abrasion. This can lead to inflammation, tetanus and, in rare cases, blood poisoning. Should the wound become infected, this can lead to serious wound healing disorders. Large, profusely bleeding abrasions can sometimes lead to anemia. In addition, the injury can cause shock. Injuries that occur as part of a serious accident can lead to trauma that needs to be discussed with a therapist.
If an abrasion does not heal properly, a scar is likely to form. Occasionally, sensory disturbances also occur in the area of the injury. In addition, the wound or scar can weep and cause unpleasant sensations on the skin. If an abrasion is treated incorrectly, infections can occur or scars can form.
Allergic reactions to the materials and agents used can also occur. Especially when creams and powders are used improperly, unpleasant skin reactions can occur and the wound can become inflamed or scarred. The use of painkillers is accompanied by the typical side effects and interactions such as aching limbs and muscles, fatigue and headaches.
When should you go to the doctor?
Whether a doctor should be consulted is usually decided based on the extent of the wound. If the abrasion is so deep that there is a high blood loss, a doctor should be consulted in any case. Even if the wound has a yellowish coating after a few days, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
Also, if the sufferer feels a throbbing or warm sensation in the area of the injury, it is imperative to seek medical help. If the doctor is not contacted in these cases, painful inflammation can occur. Furthermore, blood poisoning can result from insufficient disinfection. In order to avoid these unsightly late effects, a doctor should be consulted in the event of serious abrasions. If it is only a small, non-oozing or bleeding wound, treatment by a doctor is not absolutely necessary.
Treatment & Therapy
Just like the course of an abrasion, the appropriate treatment of an abrasion also depends on the severity of the injury: If there is a superficial abrasion that does not bleed, it is often sufficient to close the wound under cold running tap water within the first hour after the injury clean and provide with a disinfectant.
Further treatment measures are often not necessary because the natural healing process begins immediately after the injury. A small abrasion that has been treated in this way can remain without a plaster or, if it is covered by clothing, be protected with an appropriate wound covering.
If there is a severe abrasion that is bleeding and showing signs of inflammation, it often makes sense to have the wound treated by a doctor: The abrasion is now usually cleaned professionally and provided with a bandage that should be changed daily to monitor the healing process.
In consultation with the treating doctor, the bandage can often be dispensed with if a protective scab has formed on the abrasion. This scab protects the newly formed skin on the injured skin area.
Prevention
A graze can only be prevented to a limited extent, for example by providing appropriate protective clothing for risky sporting activities or corresponding professional activities. When inline skating, appropriate protective equipment can include knee and elbow protectors. In order to prevent possible infections in the case of a severe abrasion, for example, appropriate wound treatment and appropriate vaccination protection are important.
Aftercare
In most cases, abrasions heal quickly and without complications, provided that the initial treatment is carried out properly. However, patients with abrasions should regularly inspect the injury to determine if there are any problems with wound healing. In particular, severe redness and a feeling of heat that does not go away after a few days indicate an inflammation that should be examined by a doctor.
Otherwise, it is advisable to rest the injured body region. Depending on the location of the injury, protective wound dressings, for example, are recommended. In the case of abrasions on stressed joints, you should avoid exercising until the wound has completely healed. If the size of the wound has made a bandage necessary, the first bandage change should take place after 24 to 48 hours at the earliest.
If the bandage sticks to the wound, it can be loosened with saline solution. Under no circumstances should a bonded bandage be torn off suddenly, because then the wound can tear open again. If the abrasion is already closed, a wound and healing ointment can accelerate healing and prevent annoying itching. The latter is important because scratching the wound can disrupt wound healing and lead to inflammation.
You can do that yourself
The abrasion is a common and often harmless medical event that in many cases can be adequately treated with self-help. It is important in this context that the wound is largely free of contamination. This applies to dirt particles as well as traces of rust, paint, chemicals or similar negative influences. Disinfection, for example with iodine, may be advisable.
It is often enough to simply let an abrasion in the fresh air dry and heal. The bandage is sometimes only necessary for larger areas or when the affected skin area is exposed to constant stress in everyday life or at work. In the case of an abrasion, it is usually sufficient to simply wait until the natural scab has formed. It protects the superficial wound until the skin underneath it has regenerated. After that he falls off alone. In return, this means that the scab should not be removed in one go because it may be annoying.
A graze should be protected as best as possible from infection and observed in this regard. Throbbing and redness indicate infection at the site, which should then be cooled and rested. In order to rule out blood poisoning, it is often helpful to go to the doctor for a short check-up.