Wound care
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Our bodies are amazing natural healers, but there are certain wounds that won't get better without extra medical assistance. The Emanate Health Wound Care Department provides the specialized care needed to heal those chronic wounds.
Do you need a wound care specialist?
The reasons why a wound won't heal varies. Everything from diabetic foot ulcers to failed skin grafts and other deep wounds often need advanced healing methods.
If left untreated, a nonhealing wound can result in serious complications, such as infection or loss of limbs.
If you have a wound that hasn't healed within 30 days, you need to see a wound care specialist.
Emanate Health's wound care team includes doctors who are certified in hyperbaric medicine, nurses and physical therapists. Every member of the team is dedicated to the goal of helping you heal.
Reviewed 2/25/2021
Wound care: True or false?
Punctures, cuts, tears in the skin. Even minor wounds require some attention. Take this quiz to find out how to take care of minor wounds.
True or false: Most wounds should be cleaned with a disinfectant like hydrogen peroxide.
False. Disinfectants can sometimes delay healing. Instead of using hydrogen peroxide, hold the wound under clean running water. Use a soft washcloth and soap to clean the area around the wound. If there's dirt in the wound, gently remove it with a clean, moist cloth. But try not to get soap inside the wound.
True or false: Wounds generally heal best if they are kept moist and protected.
True. After you've stopped the bleeding, cover the cleaned wound with an adhesive bandage. Or cover it with gauze—and wrap with more gauze or an elastic bandage to hold it in place. Change your dressing and clean the wound daily. Change it sooner if it gets loose, wet or dirty.
True or false: You can use butter to soothe a burn.
False. Do not put butter, oil, toothpaste or antibiotics on burns. Soak small, minor burns in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes. Then apply petroleum jelly, and reapply two or three times daily. Cover the burn loosely with nonstick gauze, and change the dressing daily. Put a cool wet cloth on it for a few minutes every day. For more severe burns, including any that are larger than 2 to 3 inches across, see a medical provider.
True or false: You don't need to worry about tetanus unless your skin is punctured by rusty metal.
False. You can catch tetanus by stepping on a rusty nail. But you can also get it from an animal scratch or bite, bug bites, or even a burn that breaks the skin. Tetanus infections can be serious. So for just about any wound that breaks the skin, it's better to be safe than sorry. Get a tetanus shot of you're not up-to-date on your boosters.
True or false: You should always call your doctor if you're bitten by a cat.
True. Cat bites often get infected. You may need antibiotics or a tetanus shot. Your provider can clean and treat the wound appropriately.
You'll be ready to take care of minor wounds, cuts and scrapes at home if you have a well-stocked emergency first aid kit. Find out what supplies your kit should contain.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology; American Academy of Family Physicians; Association for Advancement of Wound Care
We also work with your primary care doctor to ensure all aspects of your treatment are coordinated.
Treatments for chronic wounds
Treatment for most chronic wounds often begins with our LUNA Fluorescence Angiography System, which lets our doctors see just where blood flow is impaired. This enables us to craft your healing plan with extreme accuracy.
We make every effort to try the least complicated treatment methods first. Common treatment methods include:
- Blood cultures or biopsies
- Compression therapy
- Nutrition therapy
- Removal of dead tissue
- Wound monitoring and assessment
If a chronic wound isn't responding to treatment after 30 days, we may recommend that you undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Our high-tech hyperbaric chamber allows you to breathe pure oxygen, which in turn helps your body fight bacteria and promote cell regrowth for faster healing.
This treatment method is most helpful for people who need serious diabetic wound care, and those who have problematic skin grafts or tissue damage following radiation treatment.