How many times have we had small wounds, scratches or grazes on the skin? Often if the wounds are not very serious, we don’t bother to disinfect or protect them with a plaster. Children especially tend to be impatient with gauze and hydrogen peroxide, and don’t take care of wounds. But after disinfecting the wounds, is it necessary to put a plaster or not? That’s why always put the band-aid, even on the smallest wounds.
Some advise not to wear it
Often many advise us not to cover a wound once it has been medicated. The wound, in fact, would need to “take air”, so that the crust forms more easily. According to this idea, the wound will heal much faster if we leave it uncovered. But is it really so? In reality, the patch performs a fundamental function and if we do not use it, our wound risks not only not healing well, but could even become infected. That’s why always put the band-aid, even on the smallest wounds.
The patch has two functions
In cases of minor abrasions or wounds, the patch performs two basic functions. The first is to protect the wound from external agents. If we have an open wound, it could be vulnerable to virus attack and battery. The main function of the patch, therefore, is to protect the wound from dirt. The dirt particles, in fact, could be the vehicle of pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria. But in addition to this obvious function, the patch also performs another.
The patch, in fact, allows to conserve humidity. If a wound remains exposed to air, it risks drying out too much. Wounds, on the other hand, need a moist environment so that an elastic crust forms, which is not likely to split. This is especially important when the wound is on a joint, or in more vulnerable parts such as the fingers. That’s why always put the band-aid, even on the smallest wounds.
