Get your hands wet under clean, running water. Then, lather your hands with soap. Make sure to get between your fingers, under your fingernails, and the backs of your hands. Make sure to scrub for at least 20 seconds. To help you keep track of time, try humming the “Happy Birthday” song twice. Rinse your hands and dry them with a clean, dry towel.
In addition to preventing infection, your antibiotic cream can also speed the healing of your wound by keeping it moist and free of bacteria. If you are allergic to any ingredient in a product, don’t use it. Discontinue use and consult your doctor if you develop a rash, hives, itching, skin irritation, burning, cracking, peeling, or worsening of your injury.
If you are allergic to adhesive, apply a non-stick gauze pad and wrap it with paper tape, rolled gauze, or a loosely applied elastic bandage.
It’s especially important to keep wounds on joints, like your knees, moist because they endure a lot of movement.
Early on, you may have to change the dressing more. If the bandage gets wet from pus or blood, change it.
If any dirt or bodily fluids from another person got in the wound, you’re at an increased risk for infection. A wound caused by a human or animal bite is at a greater risk of infection, though these wounds are usually deeper than a graze. [10] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source If your wound is longer than 5 centimeters, or 2 inches, it’s more likely to become infected.
Pain, redness, or swelling around the graze Pus around the wound A feeling of sickness A high temperature Swollen glands
