Talk:Abrasion (medicine)

What's the exudate/ooze?

In the days after a serious depth abrasion, there is a thick, sticky, yellow-tan exudate/ooze that comes out of the abrasion. What's this? It's stretchy, and sticks to a cotton bandage, if it happens to come in contact with it. It also can dry out, and become like glue. But will soften again, if soaked with water. I absorb it with a paper towel. But within an hour, more is produced. DaveDodgy (talk) 11:03, 17 February 2010 (UTC)DaveDodgy (talk) 14:20, 5 October 2015 (UTC)(corrected a typo, stick > sticky)

Its lymph. Its normal for lymph to be produced for days/weeks or longer, depending on the depth of the injury. Use teflon-based non-stick pads. If there's no scab, and you've cleaned it out really really well, so that there's no sand or other dirt/gunk left under the wound, then try tegaderm or hydrocolloid bandages (no wikipedia article for these? WTF!) Be sure to read and follow the instructions! In my experience, a few days/week of antibiotic+bandages is enough to expell all the dirt, after which the hydrocolloid bandages become safe to use. Make sure that there is no infection (red, angry skin around the edges); it there is, you must treat the infection first. Topical antibiotics, and if you've been out getting it wet, dirty, e.g. swimming, then povidone-iodine each time. If it itches, povidone. If you let a scab form, its too late; sometimes bandages and antibiotics will melt away scabs if they'e still thin. Heals much much much faster, better, cleaner if you never let the scab form. Unlike the photoessayist for the article, who clearly couldn't be bothered with taking care of himself. linas (talk) 19:34, 16 June 2012 (UTC)

Thanks! Years later, still having wounds of one kind or another. Who doesn't? Recently did some more research, as I've had some boils. Instead of lymph, could it be one of the following 3: granulation tissue, yellow granulation tissue, or slough ?? And as it's like a sticky blanket, sometimes, and in later stages of the healing, does it impede the optimal healing or assist it? If I remove it, if it doesn't hurt to, is that beneficial ? My mum says 'just leave it! Let nature take its course'. Hahaha. But I know, sometimes nature gets it wrong. DaveDodgy (talk) 14:26, 5 October 2015 (UTC)

To the user who posted pictures of the recovery of an abrasion

How does this contribute to the article? There is no info on how the wound was treated, if it was treated at all. The healing process of this individual's wound wasn't part of a scientific study that should be presented as a standard for how abrasions heal. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mendelay (talk • contribs) 18:43, 3 August 2011 (UTC)

Judging from my experience, this user failed to properly treat their injury. There are clear signs of an infection after a few days, the user allowed a scab to form, which will almost invariably lead to scarring, and indeed, the wound healed very badly, leaving quite a scar. This wound was simply not that bad/deep; it healed quickly enough, but was mistreated. Blechhh. linas (talk) 19:27, 16 June 2012 (UTC)