Airing wounds isn’t the right way to treat them: Dr Rochford

He’s one of Australia’s favourite doctors and media personalities and Andrew Rochford is encouraging Aussies to forget everything they think they know about treating wounds.

Speaking exclusively to Starts at 60, the presenter explained that while as many as 65 per cent of Aussies think letting a wound air out and scab is the best way to heal it, it may not actually be the case. It’s something your own mother or grandmother probably taught you and something you’ve probably passed on to your own kids and grandchildren.

“Leaving wounds open increases the chance of additional infection leading to more pain and potential for scarring,” he explained. “A cleaned then covered and cushioned wound helps the body’s natural processes efficiently heal the injury, while the cushioning helps reduce the pain.”

Still, he said people shouldn’t be too hard on themselves if they’ve been doing this for years.

“One of the biggest misconceptions that has been held true for centuries is the idea that wounds should be dried out for proper healing,” Rochford said. “In the past, clinicians and well-meaning parents alike would advise people to leave their wounds un-bandaged to let it air out or to apply absorbent bandages to keep the affected area free of moisture. Only recently has it been discovered that an enclosed, moist wound environment makes for the most effective wound healing.”

The former Project star said different wound dressings are available and provide different healing environments – depending on the wound.

“Moist, hydrocolloid dressings provide multi-day protection to allow natural processes to heal the wound by aiding in protection from outside infections, pain and discomfort,” he explained. “They provide an ideal choice for those wounds that aren’t simple, but not complicated enough to warrant a trip to the doctor.”

When a wound is kept moist and covered, it allows blood vessels to regenerate faster, while the cells that cause inflammation drop more rapidly than if a wound was left to air out. On average, a wound should be covered for a minimum of five days.

And, while some may be wondering if there’s a quick way of speeding up the healing process, Dr Rochford said wound healing is often a reflection of the body’s state of overall health.

“Keeping any opening in the skin clean, moist but not wet and protected from further damage using a hydrocolloid dressing promotes healing,” he said. “While decreasing glucose and increasing the nutrient density of the diet and especially the amount of protein, zinc, vitamin C and vitamin K helps aid the process from the inside.”

He added a moist wound healing process, such as BAND-AID Advanced Healing, is the best way to reduce scarring and heal a wound quicker.

Have you always tried the air-it-out method?