If
you’re still patching up cuts the same way your grandma did, here’s big news:
Those time-tested techniques can actually do more harm than good.- Delusion #1: You should clean a cut thoroughly with hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol.
- FACT: Both of these cleansers can damage healthy tissue around the wound and delay healing.
- Delusion #2: You should apply a topical medication, such as iodine, Mercurochrome®, or Merthiolate® to fight germs.
- FACT: Ultra-strong antiseptics can interfere with your body’s natural healing mechanisms. Instead, look for a product that contains natural ingredients, such as St. John’s wort, calendula, or vitamin E oil.
- Delusion #3: You should keep the cut dry and let air get to it so that a scab can form.
- FACT: Keeping wounds moist and scab-free helps them heal more efficiently and minimizes scarring.
Here’s
the simple four-step plan for treating cuts that’s recommended by healing gurus:
1. Stop the bleeding. Cover the injury with clean
padding, and apply firm pressure.
2. Clean it right. Rinse the cut under running
water, or wipe dirt away with a wet cotton ball or pad.
3. Apply a natural
antiseptic.
Cover it with a nonstick bandage.
4. Keep it clean. Every few days, clean the
wound with a mild saline solution (2 teaspoons of salt per quart of boiling
water, cooled to room temperature).
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