SKIN ABRASION |
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DESCRIPTIONA skin abrasion refers to scraped skin or mucous membrane. An abrasion is usually a minor injury, but it can be serious if it covers a large area or if foreign materials become imbedded in it. The most common sites are usually over bone or other firm tissue.
Appropriate health care includes:
Self-care for minor, non-infected wounds.
Doctor's care for extensive contaminated abrasions.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Skin that looks scraped or irritated.
Bleeding at the abrasion site.
Immediate pain that lasts a short time.
Crusting over of the abraded area in 3 to 5 days.
CAUSES
Falling on a hard, rough, or jagged surface.
Rough fabric, seams in clothing, ill-fitting shoes, or other parts of athletic equip ment such as helmets and shoulder pads that constantly irritate the child's skin.
RISK FACTORS
Athletic activity on rough terrain, such as bicycling, or playing football or baseball (sliding).
Skin that is not properly covered or protected, especially when the child is playing on rough terrain.
PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS OR RECURRENCEInstructions for your child:
Wear protective clothing, including long sleeves, high socks, knee and elbow pads, and special clothing designed for your sport.
Wear good-quality, well-fitting footgear to help avoid falls and to prevent foot abrasion.
Choose athletic clothing wisely to avoid irritating fabric and poorly placed seams. A combination of cotton and synthetic may be the most comfortable. Seams on the inside of the thigh of shorts can be particularly irritating, and should be checked for roughness before purchase.
Avoid poor-quality playing fields.
BASIC INFORMATION
MEDICAL TESTS
Your own observation of symptoms.
Medical history and physical exam by a doctor.
X-rays of underlying tissue (sometimes) to rule out other injuries.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Infection.
"Tattooing," if imbedded dark-colored foreign material is not carefully removed.
Scarring, if deeper layers of skin are affected (rare).
PROBABLE OUTCOME
The child's wound will heal in 3 to 10 days, depending on its location.
TREATMENT
FIRST AID
For a scrape, wash the abraded area with plain soap and warm water as soon as possible. Scrub the child with a soft brush if possible. Soap acts as a solvent for imbedded dirt.
For an irritation, protect the area against further abrasion. Use gauze or moleskin.
HOME CARE
If foreign material is imbedded too deeply or the wound is too painful to the child to cleanse thoroughly, seek medical help.
Cleanse lightly each day. If crusting or oozing occurs, soak in warm water with a little dishwashing or laundry detergent.
Between soakings, apply non-prescription antibiotic ointment.
Cover lightly with a bandage during the day, but leave the wound open to air at night.
If infection occurs, use warm soaks more frequently. Keep the injured area elevated above the level of the child's heart, when possible.
MEDICATION
Your doctor may decide to administer a tetanus booster to the child.
Apply non-prescription antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
Spray with tincture of benzoin to reduce the child's pain, if necessary.
Don't use strong antiseptics such as iodine, Merthiolate, mercurochrome, or alcohol. They will further irritate the child's skin.
For minor discomfort, use aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the abrasion becomes infected.
ACTIVITY
Your child can resume normal activities as healing progresses but should not overuse the abraded area until it heals. Protect it against repeat injury.
DIET & FLUIDS
No special diet.
OK TO GO TO SCHOOL?Yes, when condition and sense of well-being will allow.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF
You cannot clean all the debris from your child's abrasion.
Signs of infection begin (fever, headache, or tenderness, increased oozing, redness, swelling, and pain at the injury site).
New, unexplained symptoms develop. Drugs used in treatment may produce side effects.
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