topic Re: Road Rash Question in Wellness

Road Rash Question

HonnyBrown — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:22:29 GMT

I took a nasty spill while hiking and got road rash on my forearm above my elbow. Because of the location, it's uncomfortable to bend my arm.

It's scabbed over and I keep it moisturized with Neosporin or an oil, but that wears away after an hour.

Does anyone have suggestions for comfort?

Re: Road Rash Question

feline groovy — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:30:18 GMT

Hey honeybee, sorry to hear about your boo-boo!

I use 100% aloe vera gel (& antibiotic cream if needed) on skin irritations and other problems.

It's natural, soothing, cooling, moisturizing, and healing.

My fave is from Fruit of the Earth, and you can get it at Walmart and other places.

At least you were doing something good for your health when you took your spill. ;-)

Props for hiking for exercise!

Re: Road Rash Question

Kachina624 — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:33:25 GMT

I just had a skin cancer removed from my face leaving quite a long incision. They told me to keep it covered with Vasaline.

Re: Road Rash Question

RedTop — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 21:58:33 GMT

My husband's skin is thin, and because of his diabetes, we take every cut or scratch very seriously. One of the things he does to keep ointment on longer, is cut the foot off one of his cotton diabetic socks, and use the upper part of the sock as a slip on bandage. Since his injuries are usually on an arm or leg, this type of bandage works very well to keep whatever ointment he has used on the scratch or cut, but not on his clothing, recliner, or the bed sheets. Now that you have an established scab, I would also choose Vaseline, or Vitamin E oil. Best wishes to you.

Re: Road Rash Question

HonnyBrown — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 22:04:02 GMT

Hi groovy, thanks! I completely forgot about alo vera!

Since it's pink and scabby, it itches like mad. When I bend my arm, it's even worse.

Re: Road Rash Question

HonnyBrown — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 22:05:47 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
I just had a skin cancer removed from my face leaving quite a long incision. They told me to keep it covered with Vasaline.

I'm so sorry to hear that! Here's to a speedy recovery and thank you for the tip.

Re: Road Rash Question

HonnyBrown — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 22:08:50 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
My husband's skin is thin, and because of his diabetes, we take every cut or scratch very seriously. One of the things he does to keep ointment on longer, is cut the foot off one of his cotton diabetic socks, and use the upper part of the sock as a slip on bandage. Since his injuries are usually on an arm or leg, this type of bandage works very well to keep whatever ointment he has used on the scratch or cut, but not on his clothing, recliner, or the bed sheets. Now that you have an established scab, I would also choose Vaseline, or Vitamin E oil. Best wishes to you.

Great advise, RedTop! When I put the Neosporin on it, it rubs off because I set my arm on something.

Re: Road Rash Question

feline groovy — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 23:18:59 GMT

@HonnyBrown wrote:
Hi groovy, thanks! I completely forgot about alo vera!

Since it's pink and scabby, it itches like mad. When I bend my arm, it's even worse.

Anytime!

I always keep aloe around, as it's great for skin irritations everywhere.

Use cortisone cream for the itchiness that tells you that your owie is on the mend. 8)

Re: Road Rash Question

MaggieMack — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 02:42:58 GMT

@HonnyBrown I would just caution you to keep your eye out for a blood infection. I had a similar road rash on my forearm and noticed about 5-6 days in that I had red lines going from the injury up to my arm, an indication of blood poisoning. Sure enough, went to the doc and he confirmed it, treated with antibiotics. Important to catch it early!

Re: Road Rash Question

HonnyBrown — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 22:33:27 GMT

@feline groovy wrote:

Anytime!
I always keep aloe around, as it's great for skin irritations everywhere.

Use cortisone cream for the itchiness that tells you that your owie is on the mend. 8)

Hi groovy! I picked up some aloe vera this morning at the drug store. It was a different brand, a gel. It soothed on contact and the itching wasn't as bad today.

I cut one of my husband's new socks open at the toe and put that over the gel and bandage. It prevented the goo from getting all over everything.

Re: Road Rash Question

HonnyBrown — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 22:39:31 GMT

@MaggieMack wrote:
@HonnyBrown I would just caution you to keep your eye out for a blood infection. I had a similar road rash on my forearm and noticed about 5-6 days in that I had red lines going from the injury up to my arm, an indication of blood poisoning. Sure enough, went to the doc and he confirmed it, treated with antibiotics. Important to catch it early!

Oh no! Maggie, that's horrible!

I don't have those symptoms. I think the trail debris that got stuck in my wounds did more good than harm in this case. It's been a week and a day and both wounds are healing steadily.

Re: Road Rash Question

feline groovy — Mon, 24 Aug 2015 23:34:17 GMT

@HonnyBrown wrote:
@feline groovy wrote:

Anytime!
I always keep aloe around, as it's great for skin irritations everywhere.

Use cortisone cream for the itchiness that tells you that your owie is on the mend. 8)

Hi groovy! I picked up some aloe vera this morning at the drug store. It was a different brand, a gel. It soothed on contact and the itching wasn't as bad today.

I cut one of my husband's new socks open at the toe and put that over the gel and bandage. It prevented the goo from getting all over everything.

That's great, honeybee!

You can also use a bandaid, depending on a boo-boo's size.

I buy the antibiotic ones with the ointment already 'built into' the pad, so that I only have one layer of "goo" to cover instead. 8)

Re: Road Rash Question

HonnyBrown — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 00:11:11 GMT

groovy, I went last week looking for Band-Aids. Having two teenaged step sons quickly depletes my home supply. There were so many! I needed the extra large, durable bandage and the ones that were left didn't have the built-in antibiotic.

Re: Road Rash Question

feline groovy — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 01:24:47 GMT

@HonnyBrown wrote:
groovy, I went last week looking for Band-Aids. Having two teenaged step sons quickly depletes my home supply. There were so many! I needed the extra large, durable bandage and the ones that were left didn't have the built-in antibiotic.

They come in different sizes, honeybee:

plus Antibiotic, Extra Large 8's

plus Antibiotic Waterproof All One Size 15's

plus Antibiotic Assorted Size 20's

plus Antibiotic, Decorated Assorted Sizes 20's

I just order them online (usually from Amazon or Walmart), so that I can stock up.

They're important to keep around for those times when an antibiotic plus protection is crucial or a preventive measure.

This way, the boys won't deplete the family's supply so fast! 8)

Re: Road Rash Question

HonnyBrown — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 22:50:42 GMT

Thanks groovy! It turned out that the Extra Large bandages didn't completely cover the road rash. It covers the deep gash, so that's good.

It's been over a week. The wounds are pink, so tomorrow, I will start using vitamin e so I don't get scars.

Re: Road Rash Question

feline groovy — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 19:31:51 GMT

@HonnyBrown wrote:
Thanks groovy! It turned out that the Extra Large bandages didn't completely cover the road rash. It covers the deep gash, so that's good.

It's been over a week. The wounds are pink, so tomorrow, I will start using vitamin e so I don't get scars.

You're most welcome, honeybee!

Good to hear that the crucial part is covered and protected.

In a pinch, you can always "Macgyver" bandaids side by side - or even make a square - so that a boo-boo is covered.

I'd recommend that you still keep applying (2-3 times/day) the aloe to the road rash.

The vitamin E will help the healing, too.

You're on the mend, girlfriend!

P.S.:

I also use them after applying bug bite stuff, as a preventive measure.

It keeps me from scratching the bite, too.

Re: Road Rash Question

HonnyBrown — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 23:01:55 GMT

groovy, I love that kitty!

The problem with the rash is that it took up so much surface area, for the first few days, I had to use gauze and tape! The sticky part of the band aid would have been on raw flesh, no matter how I positioned it.

Aloe vera is amazing. When it wears off and I bend my elbow or knee, the mending flesh feels tight. My body's way of saying "More aloe vera!"

Re: Road Rash Question

feline groovy — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 00:35:16 GMT

@HonnyBrown wrote:
groovy, I love that kitty!

The problem with the rash is that it took up so much surface area, for the first few days, I had to use gauze and tape! The sticky part of the band aid would have been on raw flesh, no matter how I positioned it.

Aloe vera is amazing. When it wears off and I bend my elbow or knee, the mending flesh feels tight. My body's way of saying "More aloe vera!"

*Glad she brought you a smile, honeybee!

*Been there many times with gauze and tape as I'm naturally klutzy.

*I keep a tube (or small bottle) of 100% aloe in both my purse and tote bag, plus a big pump container in the bathroom.

*LOL

*If only we listended more often to what our bods are trying to tell us...

Re: Road Rash Question

HonnyBrown — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 00:46:21 GMT

Moron move: the road rash on my arm is healing nicely. The shallow parts of the wound are pink or spotted, and the long deep gash has a scab.

The edges of the scab were peeling, so I pulled it. This pulled the scab from the deep gash. Gushed blood.

Yeah, groovy, it would be nice if we listened to our bodies!

Re: Road Rash Question

MaggieMack — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 10:32:28 GMT

@HonnyBrown, this may not be as moron as you think. When I had my road rash that led to blood poisoning, I went back to the dermatologist for a checkup and he got out this big scraper and I, perhaps a little too loudly, asked, "What's that for?!?!" He said he was going to scrape the scab off to make it heal faster and leave a smaller scar. I said No Way Jose! Not picking MY scab off! Maybe they don't recommend that anymore. All I know is I didn't wind up with a scar anyway. (Don't pick the next one. )