4 Likely Complications From Poor Wound Care
If you have a normal wound, such as from a nasty fall or animal bite, your body is naturally capable of activating its repair mechanism. In such a case, you can assist your body in speeding up the healing process by stopping the bleeding, cleaning the wound, applying an antibiotic topical, and changing the dressing at least once a day. However, you need professional wound care Warner Robins to ensure fast healing and avoid wound poisoning, which can lead to amputation. A wound care specialist can help treat and manage a wound that does not heal, is slow healing, or is complex. That may involve treatment or management of conditions such as diabetic ulcers, venous diseases, peripheral vascular disease, and complications from a surgery site.
Without caring for your wound correctly, you may have various complications that may put your life at risk. A wound care specialist understands the right approach in dealing with different injuries to promote healing and complete recovery. Consequently, below are potential complications you may get from incorrect care for your wound.
1.Infection
Your open wound is always at risk of getting infected because the injury area no longer has a covering of the skin that can protect it against dangerous external materials, including harmful bacteria. Because microorganisms can enter your body through the wound, they grow within the damaged skin and cause bacterial infections.
A wound with an infection may have signs and symptoms such as a discharge, producing an unpleasant smell, and the damage feeling warm and painful. A wound infection delays the healing process.
2.Healing delay
A health specialist caring for your wound promotes faster regeneration of new tissue and healing. For instance, you may experience a non-healing or slow-healing injury when you do not bandage it.
Leaving your wound open makes it susceptible to bacterial invasion that slows healing and recovery.
3.Scarring
A wound care specialist has extensive knowledge and experience to ensure that your wound heals correctly, which is vital for eliminating scarring. For example, your doctor understands it is not good to bandage an excessively dry wound since that can lead to a scab. A scab is a protective tissue or crust formed to cover the site with damaged or broken skin.
Therefore, your health specialist will apply antibacterial ointment to keep the damaged area damp and soft before bandaging it. Also, an antibacterial ointment helps prevent an infection that can make your wound bigger, leading to a more pronounced scar.
4.Long-lasting wound
Poor wound care may lead to a wound that does not heal or worsen the effects of a long-lasting injury.
If you have too much sugar in your blood, you are at high risk of a diabetic wound. A diabetic sore takes longer to heal since the blood vessels cannot deliver sufficient levels of oxygen and other nutrients to the injury site. You may need an amputation if you have a diabetic foot ulcer.
You are also at high risk of wounds that do not heal if you have cancer or a cardiovascular illness.
Contact Middle Georgia Vascular Surgery Center & Vein Solutions today to book a specialist consultation about care for your problematic wound.