Incision wounds, treated alone or by a doctor

Incision wounds, for example because a knife is cut when cutting food, can cause pain and risk of infection if not handled properly. For that, you must first know what incision wounds that can be treated alone, and what incision wounds should be treated by a doctor. Based on the severity, the incision wound is divided into shallow and deep. Shallow incisions only cover the skin. While deep cuts, can reach more than 1 cm and can affect the tendons, muscles, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, and even bones.

Incision wounds that can be treated alone at home

Shallow incision wounds we can handle independently. The following are the steps for wound care that can be done at home:

1. Wash hands with clean water and soap before cleaning the wound.
2. Wash the wound with running water. If the incision is large or long, do not use disinfectant or antiseptic solutions (hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or povidoine iodine) to clean the wound, because this solution can damage and irritate the skin.
3. Press the wound with a clean cloth or sterile gauze, and position the injured body part higher than the chest to control bleeding and swelling.
4. If the wound is large enough, cover it with sterile gauze and bandages. As for small wounds, just leave them open until they heal on their own.
5. Aloe vera gel can be applied to superficial incision wounds to speed healing. You can use aloe vera gel products in packages or gels from the inside of fresh aloe vera plants that have been cut and thrown away.
6. To reduce the pain, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol. Avoid taking aspirin to relieve pain, because this drug has the risk of causing bleeding.
7. If there are bruises or swelling around the wound, do a cold compress, for example using ice cubes wrapped in cloth. Remember, avoid putting ice cubes directly on the wound. Press the area that is bruised or swollen with the compress.
8. Keep the wound dry and clean for 5-7 days.
9. Avoid scratching or peeling scars or scabs that form on the wound.
10. Avoid smoking, consuming alcohol, and excessive stress during the healing period of the wound, because these things can interfere and slow down the recovery process.

Incision wounds that must be treated by a doctor

Deep incision wounds need to be treated by a doctor and often require stitches. In a deep cut, for example due to a cutting machine, a layer under the skin can be seen and bleeding can occur quickly and a lot, especially if large blood vessels come along cut. Immediately seek medical help at the nearest health facility. Do not delay for more than 6 hours, if the wound is wide or deep. Delaying medical treatment for injuries such as these can result in shock due to continuous bleeding, or severe infections. In addition to deep incisions that need immediate medical attention, there are also several wound conditions that need to be examined by a doctor, namely:

1. The wound looks very dirty and difficult to clean. In this wound condition, doctors can give tetanus vaccine and tetanus immunoglobulin to prevent tetanus, especially if you have never received a tetanus toxoid vaccine (TT) or haven't received a TT booster in the last 10 years.
2. Incision wounds caused by scratches or animal bites.
3. The sores are in sensitive or sensitive areas, such as the face, scalp, and around the genitals; or in the area around the joints.
4. Injury caused by an accident or a strong impact and there may be bleeding that is difficult to see under the skin tissue.
5. There is fever, wounds appear reddish and swollen, or pus appears from the wound. Injuries like this are likely to have been infected so that it requires treatment from a doctor, for example in the form of antibiotics.
6. Wound sufferers have a history of diabetes, blood clotting disorders, are taking blood thinning drugs, or undergoing chemotherapy.
7. The bleeding did not stop after the wound was pressed for more than 10 minutes or blood came out profusely.
8. Pain in the wound does not disappear despite taking pain medication.
9. Numbness in the area around the wound.
10. The wound did not heal for weeks.

Treat incision in the right way, and don't hesitate to see a doctor if necessary. During the recovery period, calm your mind and take care of your health condition by eating nutritious food, getting enough rest and sleep, drinking enough water, and not smoking and drinking alcohol.