Butler Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Wound Care Questions: Cover It or Air It Out?

You’ve probably heard both sides of this story. Should you cover a wound with a bandage or let it air out? Butler Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has the answers you’re looking for.

According to the experts, some truth lies in both methods. It just depends on the kind of wound.

When Should a Wound be Covered?

Most wounds –cuts, scrapes, and punctures — need moisture to heal. Without that moist environment that ointments and dressings can provide, surface cells may dry out, which can both slow the healing process and increase pain.

Using an antibiotic ointment and covering it with a bandage or gauze keeps skin cells alive, allowing them to heal faster. The covering also protects the wound from getting dirt or other foreign substances in it.

When Can a Would be Left Uncovered?

If the wound is small in size, it can be left uncovered once a scab forms. The scab creates protection so dirt doesn’t get in the wound, and the healing process is well underway by this point.

Another would that doesn’t need to be covered are pressure ulcers — also known as bedsores — on the heels. Tight stockings or shoes, along with prolonged time in bed, can cause these. The wound should be left uncovered, and you can use phone books or other books to keep the heels elevated while lying in bed.

In any case, whether you cover it or not, monitor the wound daily, and if you don’t notice any improvement (or if you see signs of infection like a foul odor or discoloration), seek a doctor’s care at once.