When it comes to wound care, cleaning the wound properly is crucial to prevent infection and promote healing. While there are many products on the market that claim to clean wounds effectively, saline solution remains the gold standard for wound care. In this blog post, we’ll explore why saline solution is the best way to clean wounds and how Nao Medical can help you with your wound care needs. What is Saline Solution? Anglen JO. Wound irrigation in musculoskeletal injury. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2001 Jul-Aug. 9(4):219-26. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Should you decide you no longer want the piercing, simply remove the jewelry (or have a professional piercer remove it) and continue cleaning the piercing until the hole closes. In most cases only a small mark should remain. Owens BD, White DW, Wenke JC. Comparison of irrigation solutions and devices in a contaminated musculoskeletal wound survival model. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009 Jan. 91(1):92-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Please read Warning before using. USE ONLY AS DIRECTED, IF SYMPTOMS PERSIST SEE YOUR DOCTOR/HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL.

You want to use a bandage or dressing on the wound after cleaning. Make sure you gently pat the area dry with a clean towel or washcloth. Then, apply a sterile bandage. It’s important to note that saline solution should not be used to clean wounds that are deep, bleeding heavily, or have debris that cannot be removed with gentle wiping. In these cases, seek medical attention immediately. Tips from Nao MedicalIt is important to change the bandage or dressing regularly and to keep the wound clean and dry to prevent infection. How Nao Medical Can Help with Wound Care If you’re dealing with a burn, apply a cold cloth or run the area under cold water. Then, wash the burn with soap and water. Bandages are helpful tools for keeping your wound clean,” says Minior. “They also help maintain a moist environment that promotes healing. But that doesn’t mean you should put on a bandage and not take it off.” ON THE VERY FIRST USE: Hold the head of the actuator from the side and try to lift it up with a gentle pull. If the plastic head does not lift off the base with a tug, tab is intact. If the plastic head lifts off, tab is broken and the spray canister should not be used. Upon confirmation of the intact tab, proceed as directed. It is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial that is effective against a variety of pathogens, including MRSA, P. aeruginosa and other bacteria.

The Fernandez et al review points out several limitations. In 8 of the 9 studies reviewed, randomization methods were not fully explained or were subject to selection bias. Inconsistent criteria to measure the outcomes of wound infection and healing among the studies lessened the ability to replicate the comparisons. As a result, the strength of the evidence is reduced. Fernandez et al attempted follow-ups with the researchers to obtain additional data, but no responses were received. The follow-up periods in the studies reviewed, with a maximum of 6 weeks, prevented investigation of the long-term effects of water on wounds that were not healed. Before you begin, prepare a jar to store your saline solution in. Wash the jar and lid thoroughly with hot water and soap or run it through the dishwasher. This will help prevent bacteria from contaminating your solution. Stovetop method Gannon R. Fact file: Wound cleansing: sterile water or saline? Nursing Times. 27 February 2007. Available at: https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-archive/wound-care/fact-file-wound-cleansing-sterile-water-or-saline/201829.article [accessed April 2018]Gabriel A, Shores J, Heinrich C, et al. Negative pressure wound therapy with instillation: a pilot study describing a new method for treating infected wounds. Int Wound J. 2008 Jun. 5(3):399-413. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Lammers RL, Hudson DL, Seaman ME. Prediction of traumatic wound infection with a neural network-derived decision model. Am J Emerg Med. 2003 Jan. 21(1):1-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. While hydrogen peroxide and alcohol are commonly used to clean wounds, they can be harsh on the skin and damage the tissue. These products can also kill healthy cells and bacteria, which can lead to delayed healing and increased risk of infection. Saline solution is a safer and more effective option for wound care. How often should I change the bandage or dressing on a wound? Avoid Bactine®, pierced ear care solutions and other products containing Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). These can be irritating and are not intended for long term wound care. Superoxidised solution is also known as superoxidised water, anolyte solution, electrolysed water, and oxidative potential water. It is an electrochemically processed solution made from water and sodium chloride (salt), resulting in a pH neutral combination of hypochlorous acid and sodium hypochlorite.

Gabriel A. Wound irrigation. Medscape. Updated 14 December 2017. Available from: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1895071-overview [accessed April 27 2018] Leave jewelry in at all times. Even old or well-healed piercing can shrink or close in minutes even after having been there for years. If removed, re-insertion can be difficult or impossible. Kramer A, Dissemond J, Kim S, et al. Consensus on wound antisepsis: update 2018. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2018; 31: 28–58. DOI: 10.1159/000481545. PubMed Chisholm CD, Cordell WH, Rogers K, Woods JR. Comparison of a new pressurized saline canister versus syringe irrigation for laceration cleansing in the emergency department. Ann Emerg Med. 1992 Nov. 21(11):1364-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

Putting on the New Dressing

You should change the bandage or dressing on a wound regularly, at least once a day or more often if it becomes wet or dirty. It is important to keep the wound clean and dry to prevent infection. Conclusion Fernandez R, Griffiths R. Water for wound cleansing. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; (2): CD003861. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003861.pub3. Journal Longmire AW, Broom LA, Burch J. Wound infection following high-pressure syringe and needle irrigation. Am J Emerg Med. 1987 Mar. 5(2):179-81. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing; do not force it. If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine, normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate. With so much focus on dressing choices, it’s easy to forget the importance of wound cleansing. Cleaning a wound removes loose debris and planktonic (free-floating) bacteria, provides protection to promote an optimal environment for healing, and facilitates wound assessment by optimizing visualization of the wound. You should clean a wound every time you change a dressing, unless it’s contraindicated.