Treating minor wounds and irritations.

• Position: Skin - First aid - Brief Article

While it is true that small cuts and scrapes usually do not require a visit to the emergency room, proper care is still necessary to help prevent infections and other complications, such as scarring. "Wounds heal best when they are cleaned properly, kept moist, and covered with a hydrocolloid bandage that promotes a moist healing environment," explains David J. Leffell, chief of Dermatologic and Laser Surgery, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn. "This means that, this time, Grandma's advice is wrong--using peroxide and letting a cut `dry out' is not beneficial to the healing process." Moist wounds will heal up to 50% faster than wounds that dry out and develop a scab, he indicates.

Here are some basic tips for treating minor wounds and skin irritations:

* If there is bleeding, apply pressure with a sterile...