About Treating Skin Sores
Dealing with skin sores can be painful and irritating, but it is crucial to treat them carefully.
As mothers often warn their children, you do not want to pick or scratch your sore, or you could cause an infection, cause more sores to spread, or cause a scar to form later.
While this is a good piece of advice, there are many other tips to be remembered when treating your skin sores.
Keep it Clean
A sore is usually an area of broken skin, which does leave the potential for an infection to enter the body. The sore should be cleansed using a very mild cleanser and warm water.
The sore should only be rinsed and patted dry; avoid rubbing the area. Antibacterial ointments can be applied to the sore to further protect against infections.
Keep it Covered
Especially if the sore is broken, bleeding, or oozing, it is crucial to keep it dry and bandaged, using clean bandages. This will not only protect the sore itself, but it will reduce the risk of new sores spreading to other areas of your body, or to other people, if your sore is infectious. Proper bandaging can also help reduce your desire and ability to scratch the sore.
See a Doctor
Regardless of the type of skin sores that you are experiencing, with proper care, they should begin to improve within a few days. If the sores are not showing signs of healing, there may be an infection present, or a more serious underlying problem. In this case, a doctor should be consulted to determine future treatment options.
The doctor will likely be able to diagnosis the causes of your sores and prescribe medications and creams to better enable you to treat the problem. Of course, any sore that is causing concern or pain should be examined by a doctor as soon as possible.
If you have questions or concerns about skin sores contact your local doctor, who will arrange for you to see a dermatologist.
